On the vine: Junior sommelier session, Oregon wine tasting, Hilton wine fair

An offshoot of the China National Sommelier Competition, a ‘junior sommelier‘ session will be held in Beijing on July 5 and in Shanghai on July 6. According to the Asia Wine Institute, it is aimed at “less experienced wine service staff, or simply F&B professionals looking to upgrade their knowledge in wine service.” The event involves a three-hour seminar that covers everything from wine serving skills to pronunciation of wine terms. It will be held from 1 PM and costs RMB200. To sign up, download this form and send it to Francesca Xu at Francesca.xu@asia-businessgroup.com /010-5828-7720.

Oregon wine tasting events are few and far between in this city, so this Friday offers a good chance to try vino from the northwest United States. Sequoia Cafe on Guanghua Lu in Beijing will present five wines from Oregon, including a pinot noir, a pinot gris, and a Sokol Blosser Evolution that is made with nine grape varieties. The tasting starts at 6:30 PM, costs RMB150, and includes snacks. Call Frank Siegel at 13701178073 to reserve a spot.

Arguably the best annual wine event for consumers in Beijing, the Hilton wine fair is slated for November 9. The trade portion of the event will be in the morning, with consumers getting a shot at trying hundreds of wines during the afternoon. I hope that, unlike last year, Sopexa hosts its Bordeaux Grand Cru tasting on a different day.

See also:
– The Hilton Food & Wine Experience: Ten thoughts

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