The deal. The winery. The neighbors. The big picture. And more.

Ten things to know about Penfolds' China winery deal. @WineSearcher

www.wine-searcher.com/m/2024/12/10...

#chinesewine #ningxiawine

World Atlas of Wine-centric tasting in Beijing by Suntory, ASC & CITIC Bookstore.

Six wines, six continents by Dorian Tang, who taught ASC's first WSET class 18 years ago (I was in it!).

Robert Weil, Longyu, Woodbridge, Grand Bateau, Nederburg & De Bortoli.

Attentive--and a bit tipsy--attendees.

TWE / Penfolds is dropping nearly USD20 million on a Ningxia winery and I got *lots* to say about that, but a better story is a bunch of boutique China producers crashing Singapore today with their quirky wines.

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/12/10/w...

#chinesewine #singapore

Chinese whisky rising. Laizhou is a leader among dozens of local distilleries popping up in China.

Tried a half-dozen tipples yesterday, including aged in Rioja, Sherry and Huangjiu casks. Plus, gin. Intriguing stuff.

Key issue will be how and to what degree China distilleries localize production.

25 years. 10,000 students. Countless China wine lessons.

A 1998 wine appreciation class at China Agricultural University has matured into a study of wine trends.

Prof Ma Huiqin on a new generation of drinkers, reds vs whites, import & local labels & more.

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/12/04/q...

Vintage Bordeaux: Beijing Edition.

For many Bordeaux people there, the last stop of a tour that started in Tokyo.

Modest crowd although spread over morning and afternoon sessions. Winery reps said Shanghai, Taipei, Seoul etc much busier.

#bordeaux #ugc

Joy of two vineyards. An iconic wine turns twenty. Fighting rot in Ningxia. Wine & burgers.

Q&8 with Lee Yeanyean, chief winemaker at Grace Vineyard in China, who oversees wineries in Shanxi & Ningxia plus a gin & whisky distillery in Fujian.

New Grape Wall newsletter:

mailchi.mp/0c0ba61d1cb9...

Beaujolais Nouveau options for Beijing tomorrow.

La Maison Lyonnais, La Taverne, uh-huh wine bar.

I want to try that Orange Nouveau.

#beaujolaisnouveau #beijing

Is orange wine the new red wine in China?

The tea-like tannins, clay vessels & history all resonate. We see interest from buyers and critics. And wineries already make far more orange wine than many realize, including some excellent drops.

Full post:

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/11/19/c...

China's 'Hutong Winemaker'

For ~30 years, Zhang Bingzhai has made wine at home, now near Beijing's Forbidden City, earning the 90-point scores major producers seek. He's also made wine with ginseng and oyster shells!

A deep dive into three daring decades:

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/11/11/c...

The rise of thousand-dollar wine in China.

Wine consumption keeps falling but local producers keep adding pricy labels, some over 元7000 / USD1000.

What gives hope?

The current status-based buyers, newbies from China's six million millionaires and growing pride in local wine.

(Link in comments)

German Grapes, Hungarian Grapes & The Best China Flight Ever?

I joined critic Shuai Zekun for an intriguing tasting at Canaan & Domaine Franco Chinois (DFC) just outside Beijing.

DFC began as a China-French scientific project & is marking its 25th year.

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/11/07/t...

In da (wine) club. China is the OIV's newest member.

The country's OIV story dates to 1987 and involves Presidents Xi Jinping and Emmanuel Macron, wine regions a thousand miles apart, dozens of delegations, forums and trade fairs, and more in recent years.

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/11/15/w...

Oi oi oi! Penfolds' 2024 Collection launch led Australia's wine surge in China and raised hopes for the market.

My take on the 2014 "East is Red" vibe, Penfolds wines from China, France & US, the promotion of China wine overseas & emphasis on house style.

www.grapewallofchina.com/2024/08/19/h...

What do Benfolds, Chateau de Lafute, Robert Parker and Joseph Stalin have in common?

They have all been spotted on wine labels in China.

Posted a bunch at the link below. And in Grape Wall newsletter. Free signup link in the comments.

grapewallofchina.com/fake-fun-old...

#wine #chinawine