Over the last 25 years, no country has had a greater impact on the wine industry than China. From being a negligible market, it has grown to being one of the largest in the world, with a fast-expanding production base of its own. But, even for frequent visitors, this remains a mysterious country where people who’ve never drunk wine – or add garlic to it and take it as a medicine – live almost next door to MW students who can identify Slovenian natural wines in blind tastings.
In this allcast, Lin Liu MW, one of China’s first Masters of Wine, joins Suzanne Mustacich of the Wine Spectator, author of Thirsty Dragon: China’s Lust for Bordeaux and the Threat to the World’s Best Wines. Alongside them we have long-time Shanghai resident Marcus Ford whose resumé includes one of the city’s pioneering top quality restaurants, M on the Bund; the leading importer/distributor, Summergate; the first premium wine retailer Pudau Cellars. Today he runs the Chinese office of Wines of South Africa.
Together this trio offers some rare insights into where wine in China has come from and where it is heading.
