Shanghai Reds

Chinese amateurs looking to french wine bottlesOn my Shanghai excursion , and elsewhere in the country , I could see firsthand the evolution of the wine culture in this country . New to the wine world and curious of its health benefits, much publicized here , these chinese check bottles in this picture during Shanghai's french week . This was on Yandang pedestrian street , between Huaihai lu and Nanchang lu . The french first lady was supposed to visit that day but her program was tight and the visit was skipped . Gathered on this short street were a few wine importers , car dealers , Airbus representatives and importers of other french products . The wine landscape here is still limited by high import tariffs . The chinese production , wich has gone through rapid improvement not only in terms of quantity but also in quality , has still a long way to go , for the quality and the diversity of its wines .But the tremendous changes seen in many aspects of life here allow to contemplate the possibility , in a not so far future, of another country in the list of new world wine producers : China . The government wich already encouraged beer production & consumption as a way to disminish high alcoholic spirits intake, now considers wine both as another economic opportunity for development and a a health issue that would benefit its people : Less strong alcohol and the potentially anti-cancer effects of the red wine. But it is still far to be in the ordinary chinese lifestyle to drink wine . It is now something between luxury and exotism .

The weather in this country is often warm , but precautionary measures to store the wine are rare . Bottles are stored in unregulated rooms , both the ordinary wines and expensive big names , Champagnes or wines . This is not a question of money as even the convenience store around the corner has regulated temperature shelves and fridges with glass doors . This is because they need more time to understand the wine world and its laws . My big disappointment is I could'nt reach the Huadong winery when I was in Qingdao . For some reason my phone call would'nt get through . Although not very close the city , this winery was at a reasonable distance and I thought I might have a visit there . I did not stay long enough in the town to make repeated attempts . The Huadong winery is one of the estates of interest in China , and it happened to be at my reach . It will be for the next time . The following picture shows one of the many Great Wall posters . Great Wall seems to have a poweful advertising strategy in China . Then, you have these Shanghai Tobacco Group stores , where you will find a selection of bottles . This one is on Nanjing Lu ( picture at bottom ). I looked at several of the bottles : Pomerol Jean Pierre Moueix 19999 , 348 Y . Chateau Puy-Blanquet St Emilion Grand Cru 1998 , 428 Y . Domaine Laroche Chablis 2001 , 288 Y . Brut Imperial , Moet & Chandon , 350 Y . Veuve Cliquot 370 Y .Moet & Chandon cuvee Dom Perignon, 998 Y .

Comments

[Alder]

Here's an interesting story about some Oregon Pinot Noir on its way to China.

http://www.bend.com/news/ar_view%5E3Far_id%5E3D19440.htm

[POUCHARD]

Hi,
My name is Michel, I'm french and I live in the city of Lyon.
My wish and goal since a long time now is to go in China, mainly In shanghai.
I'm working in wine sector as wine counsellor in a Wine shop here: "The Savour Club"
My main skills for this job is to greet, to advise the customers about the numerous kind of wine available in this wine cellar.
I wish to apply and send my resume towards to the wine bars in Shanghai.
Can you help me to find where are located these bars.
thank you for the time which you will definitely want to grant me

Thanks for your help

kindest regards

Michel POUCHARD

[hardik bali]

very good

[Aurélie]

I've been to huadong winery without making an appointment cause i could not reach them. We asked the taxi to take us over there, cause it's quite far from qingdao, somewhere in the countryside...however it's impressive to visit this place, and if you don't speak a fluent chinese, i would recommend you to go there with an interpret cause the explanations in english are too short.
Hope you'll have the opportunity to visit the place!