The inaugural Penfolds China Sommelier Competition held in Shanghai saw Xinjiang native Lu Yang take top honors, which includes a trip to the 2009 Penfolds Grange release dinner, reports Aubrey Buckingham in the Shanghai Daily:
The competition, organized by Penfolds’ parent company Foster’s Wine Estates Asia in conjunction with local distributor ASC Fine Wine, drew more than 100 applicants from which three finalists were selected. Besides Lu, Fujian-native Stephen Li from the Hilton Sanya Resort and Spa and Jean Georges’ Shirley Zhu also competed in the September 22 final.
Judging the competition was Penfolds’ Senior Wine Maker Kim Schroeter, who is responsible for making the company’s white wines.
The Australian was assisted by ASC’s Fine Wine Consultant Andy Tan, M on the Bund’s Restaurant Manager Marcus Ford and acclaimed wine writer Chantal Chi.
The finalists were tested on “food and wine service, decanting and a blind tasting,” writes Buckingham.
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