Delving Deep Into Wine at the Hilton's Food & Wine Experience

On November 6, the Hilton Beijing’s Food & Wine Experience is bringing its impressive array of indulgences to the capital for the thirteenth time. This event will feature an entire day of food and wine tasting, more than 1,000 different labels, molecular gastronomy, the Beijinger charity wine auction and much, much more. Sommelier and Harbin native Julia Zhu sits down with Agenda to share, in her own words, her thoughts on the ever interesting world of wine.

How we understand and appreciate wines depends a lot on our cultural background and experience with them. Luckily for me, I was able to work in Beijing, one of the most vibrant and quickly expanding wine cultures in the world, after studying wines in Canada. When Agenda suggested I share my wine thoughts with its readers, I asked myself: “Why not talk about what I have learned about wine and experienced over the years? Perhaps I can inspire the readers and spark in them a more profound interest in wines.

We all know that wine is an alcoholic drink made from fermented grape juice, but what it does and represents is more than just a beverage. It contains the culture and tradition of each individual wine house, the microclimate of the vineyard, and the terrain of each region. This is what makes it fascinating to discover the vintage variations, Chateaux stories, and wine characteristics for a lot wine enthusiasts. I suspect that the demand for this is the reason that marketing focuses on evolving wines. For instance, wine authorities release vintage charts, and there is even an application on vintage ratings you can download to your iPhone. In addition, a lot of wine tours to France, Spain, or the States are designed and advertised as a unique travelling segment to suit the demands of wine lovers.

These days, wine represents lifestyle and taste, serious wine drinkers would not only store a collection of wines, but also wine accessories such as crystal wine glasses, a wine decanter, or even a pricy Chateau Laguiole corkscrew. Further more, wine fridges and built-in wine cellars at home are getting more and more popular as the best way to enjoy and store wines. In a restaurant setting, apart from helping to optimize the dining experience with ordering a bottle of wine, the guest receives services that are much more detailed and intricate than being served any other beverage. Because of this expectation, customers judge the class or quality of the restaurants and wine shops according to the number of the wine labels they carry. Under my influence, many of my friends have been convinced that it is much classier to open a bottle of wine at home than to grab a beer. Indeed, the careful treatment of wines and its preparation, such as serving it at the correct temperature, contributes not only the wine’s special identity but also the drinkers’ enjoyment.

And ever since the “French Paradox” spread worldwide, more scientific studies have proven that both white and red wines are beneficial to one’s health when consumed in regular moderation. Nowadays, the benefits are no longer a secret, and lots of drinkers have switched from beer or rice liqueur to wine. I recently talked to a guest at the Wine Club who insisted that one glass of wine every night not only helps her fall asleep, but greatly improves the quality of her sleep. However, the effect of wine consumption may vary from person to person, and there are some consumers who have allergic reactions, such as headaches. Therefore, if you are drinking for solely for health, you should find out whether it is suitable for you. My advice to those who would like to benefit from wine drinking is to follow the golden mean of “moderation.” A 150 ml glass or two a day is ideal – saving it up and drinking it all in one night is not!

Because of the international recognition, wine has also become the bridge connecting different cultures as the best social tool for individuals. That is why we see wines being served on different occasions, such as cocktail parties, dinners and celebrations At my Wine Club event at Hilton Beijing every Thursday, lots of my guests agree that wine plays an important role, and all praise the versatility of different wines in suiting the tastes of people from different backgrounds. Particularly in China where good etiquette and respect for one another is highly valued, wines are often served or given as gifts to impress others and maintain good relationships.

Earlier I wrote an article about the trends in wine consumption in China, and I talked about how often people encounter wine in their daily lives. Now we see more and more wine related periodicals being circulated, more and more TV commercials and programs, wine shops are growing by leaps and bounds, and different wine exhibitions are hosted. These events indicate that not only is China catching up with other countries, but that it might be surpassing them in wine consumption as well. Wines are becoming a common commodity more than luxury good in our society.

To wine professionals of a small but growing number, wine is more than a passion, but a lifetime commitment and a career path. Cafa Bordeaux wine school, WEST, ISG, and so on all offer their wine courses in China’s major cities. Along with those, wine related trainings and seminars have become ever more popular among wine enthusiasts.

To me, this beverage has brought along with it a huge wave of wine related phenomena, and though some of them I may not promote or encourage, the fact is that it can serve as many purposes as you wish it to do, even if you’re drinking it “bottoms up”…