Grape Wall of China

A China Wine Blog: The Scene in the World’s Largest Market

Contributors: Full List

The following are contributors to Grape Wall of China (listed in alphabetical order). More profiles will be added shortly.

Nicolas Carre, sommelier

Nicolas Carre graduated from the Wine University (Suze la Rousse) in France. In Beijing, he has been restaurant manager and sommelier at Maxim’s Solana, been a representative for wine distributor DCT Wines, and taught wine courses. He is founder and editor of the French-language newsletter Ping Pong. He previously worked as a wine store manger in France and as a news anchor for CCTV in Bejiing.

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Chantal Chi, writer

Based in Shanghai, Chantal has written for publications such as Century 21, Wine Business International, and Decanter China, and recently published a book about wine. She has traveled extensively to wineries around the world and judged at wine competitions.

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Yvonne Chiong, consultant

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Yvonne Chiong was chief sommelier at Three on the Bund’s Jean Georges from 2003 to August 2007, before joining WHM Group, and is now a consultant. She has been featured on radio and in publications in China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and the United States, been a wine judge, and holds numerous wine certificates and diplomas. She is currently studying in France.

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John Gai, owner, Palette Wines

John Gai started Beijing-based distributor Palette Wines in 2002 and wine shop / restaurant Palette Vino in 2005. He is a former country manager for Zonin and brings management experience from the Chinese and European restaurant sectors.

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John Isacs, author, bilingual wine books

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John Isacs is principal author of bilingual (Chinese and English) wine books, founder of EnjoyGourmet lifestyle magazine, and author of articles in GQ, Apple Daily, and China Times. He founded Enjoy International and is an educator and consultant for companies and trade offices.

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Judy Leissner, CEO, Grace Vineyard

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Judy Leissner is CEO of Grace Vineyard, a family-owned boutique winery in China’s Shanxi province. She is involved in everything from wine-making to sales and marketing to finance to overall strategy, and has been interviewed by TV, radio and print outlets. She previously worked in the Hong Kong office of Goldman Sachs.

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Alain Leroux, wine consultant

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Alain Leroux was general manager of Taillan winery, in southern Beijing, for 13 years. Taillan, a Sino-French joint venture, produces its owns wine and does bottling for other makers and distributors. Leroux has also been involved in wine-making in Xinjiang.

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Li Demei, wine maker

Li has been heavily involved in China’s wine scene as a wine maker, consultant, writer, and speaker. A graduate of ENITA in Bordeaux, he is secretary of the China Viticulture & Enology Association and has long been associated with Sino-French Demonstration Vineyard, considered by many to make some of the best wines in China. He also teaches a wine appreciation course to university students in Beijing.

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Huiqin Ma, professor, China Agricultural University


Huiqin Ma, associate professor at Agricultural University of China, leads the school’s grape and wine research group. She was a research fellow in the Institute for Wine Biotechnology in South Africa’s Stellenbosch University, is vice general secretary of the Chinese Society for Viticulture (CSV), and has lectured in Europe and China about the wine market and marketing in China. She has taught a wine appreciation course to Chinese university students for a decade.

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Campbell Thompson, co-owner, The Wine Republic

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 Campbell Thompson grew up in south Australia, close to Coonawarra – one of Australia’s most respected wine regions. He has lived and worked in Beijing for over 10 years and previously worked for China’s largest wine importer for over four years. He is a fan of red Burgundy, good Riesling and Coonawarra Cabernets (though not all at once).

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Brian Yao, consumer

Brian Yao hails from southern China but has lived in Beijing for about a decade and worked in the IT/Telecom industry for about 20 years. He became interested in wine about about two years ago and attends many tastings in the city. He was one of the judges in the Grape Wall of China Wine Challenge.

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  • About Grape Wall of China


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  • Grape Wall Contributors


    In alphabetical order (see full list)


    Nicolas Carre
    Sommelier


    Chantal Chi
    Writer


    Yvonne Chiong
    Sommelier, consultant


    Judy Leissner
    Grace Vineyard CEO


    Alain Leroux
    Wine maker, consultant


    Li Demei
    Wine maker


    Huiqin Ma
    Professor


    Campbell Thompson
    The Wine Republic co-owner


    Brian Yao
    Consumer


    Frankie Zhao
    Pro-Wine Training & Consultancy owner


    Jim Boyce
    Consumer, blog administrator