When Mr. Aubert de Villiane singing the song of harvest… The 2018 International Wine Symposium also had these touching moments
The Third International Wine Symposium on Terroir and Renaissance with the theme of Terroir and Grape was successfully held in Shanghai, November 30th – December 2nd, 2018, which aroused great repercussion among Chinese wine lovers and wine professionals.
Click on the video below to watch the highlights of the 2018 International Wine Symposium：
This year, the Wine Symposium was organized by TasteSpirit Wine Magazine & Education, and co-organized by Association des Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne, Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot, International Federation of Vine and Wine of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Antai College of Economics & Management, Union des Crus Classés de Graves, Famiglie Storiche dell’Amarone, Biodyvin Association and Shanghai Morning Post Dawen Information Development Co., Ltd.
Following the great repercussions of the previous two wine symposiums, the 2018 International Wine Symposium with the annual theme of Terroir and Grape once again took its scale and influence to a new level. The CCTV French Channel also reported the wine symposium, click on the video below to watch the interview and report:
In this year’s Wine Symposium, we not only invited more than 20 experts, owners of famous wineries and wine critics of world class to explain the concept of terroir through the 9-hour seminar, but also presented 10 exciting master classes and a prestige dinner. This year’s Grand Tasting brought a selection of 196 top-class wineries from 50 classic production areas in the world, including more than 800 terroir wines with a total value of over 1 million RMB. Top famous wineries participated in the grand tasting were more than double those of last year. What’s more, there were 31 Burgundian famous wineries and 42 Italian famous wineries. Such high-level and large-scale grand tasting is really unique in China. The three-day activities were rich and have enhanced the understanding and dissemination of the concept of terroir in China.
Our guests are of world class. The key figure of the concept of terroir, the honorary president of Association des Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne and the co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Mr. Aubert de Villaine once again attended the symposium, gave a closing speech and presided at the master class of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Mr. De Villaine is a staunch supporter of Wine Symposium on Terroir and was the main speaker of the past two symposiums. Many people were greatly inspired and touched by his speeches of Terroir is the dream of Mankind for thousands of years and Spirits of Burgundian winegrowers.
In addition, we’re honored to invite our distinguished guests: representative figure in the Chinese wine regions, president of International Federation of Vine and Wine of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill, Mr. Hao Linhai; president of Union des Crus Classés de Graves, the owner of Château Malartic Lagravière, Mr. Jean-Jacques Bonnie.
And world-renowned wine critics, Mr. Bernard Burtschy and Mr. Ian D’Agata; champion of the world’s best sommeliers, Mr. Paolo Basso; famous Burgundy wine writer Mr. Jacky Rigaux; president of Musique et Vin au Clos Vougeot, which is the most important cultural event in Burgundy, world-renowned winemaking consultant, and special advisor of TasteSpirit, Mr. Bernard Hervet; one of the world’s leading authorities on the origin and parentage of grape varieties through DNA profiling, Dr. José Vouillamoz; president of Austrian Wine Marketing Authority (AWMB), Mr. Wilhelm Klinger.
And the most influential consultant of biodynamics in France, Mr. Alain Moueix; general manager of Château Palmer, which is the Third Growth Grand Cru Classé in the Médoc Classification of 1855, Mr. Thomas Duroux; owner of Maison Louis Jadot, one of the most influential wineries in Burgundy, Mr. Pierre-Henry Gagey; owner of the historic family-owned Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, the distinguished representative winegrower, Mr. Thibault Liger-Belair; president of Famiglie Storiche dell’Amarone, Ms. Sabrina Tedeschi; Chief Winemaker of Grgich Hills Estate, Mr. Ivo Jeramaz; and owner of Domaine Dugat-Py, which is one of the most representative wineries in the heart of the great terroirs of Burgundy, Mr. Loïc Dugat.
We’re also fortunate to have Chinese wine master, inheritor of the intangible cultural heritage “Shaoxing yellow wine brewing skills”, Mr. Pan Xingxiang; senior tea expert in China, Ms. Ji Mingqiu; chief physician, professor and doctoral advisor of Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Mr. Hao Wanshan as our guests of honor. There were nearly 20 top experts from all over the world who gave speeches at the symposium in order to decode the concept of terroir in the wine world.
This grand “wine symposium” consisted of four major parts: the 9-honor seminar, top master classes, grand tasting and the prestige dinner. It was not only a cultural feast during which top wine experts shared and explored the terroir with wine lovers, but also an effective channel for a deeper understanding and dissemination of the most important values of wine world in China and in the world.
In the terroir seminar, the key figure of the concept of terroir, the honorary president of Association des Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne and the co-owner of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Mr. Aubert de Villaine, a low-key gentleman almost 80 years of age, came to China and brought a thought-provoking speech about the Climat for all the wine lovers and professionals who’re interested in terroir.
As Mr. De Villaine said: “If Climats are born, lived, and perpetuated until today, when they are more alive than ever, it is because they have been carried by the stubborn will of men. Climats are a human construction, a long construction, which was done with, I repeat, stubbornness. (…) The harder the environment is, the harder to cultivate are soils, the more nature excels at producing excellence. From the difficulty of the environment came out the quality.”
While president of International Federation of Vine and Wine of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill, Mr. Hao Linhai gave a touching speech with the theme of Terroir, enlightenment in China and Practice in Ningxia. Mr. Hao was moved by the perseverance of TasteSpirit team for popularizing the concept of terroir in China, and was also very happy to see the gratifying changes in Chinese market. In his speech, he talked about characteristics of terroir in Ningxia and showed the development of Chinese terroir wines to the audience at home and abroad.
TasteSpirit will continue to publish the wonderful texts of the experts on social media, so that our readers can experience the highlights of this 2018 annual event of Chinese wine world.
The 10 wonderful top-level masterclasses held at the Wine Symposium also received favorable comments. By sharing their understanding and profound knowledge of wines accumulated for decades, authority figures in the wine world widened the horizon of Chinese wine lovers.
The Grand Tasting held on December 2nd brought a selection of nearly 200 top-class wineries from 50 classic production areas in the world, including more than 800 terroir wines with a total value of over 1 million RMB. Top famous wineries participated in the grand tasting were more than double those of last year. What’s more, there were 31 Burgundian famous wineries and 42 Italian famous wineries. Such high-level and large-scale grand tasting was really unique in China. More than 1,000 wine lovers and wine professionals participated in this grand tasting.
The prestige Dinner in the evening of December 2nd was a perfect ending for the Wine Symposium. Senior wine lovers and elites from all walks of life, together with 20 world-class wine critics, champion of world’s best sommeliers and owners of top-ranking wineries, have tasted the representative wines of these famous wineries. People gathered together, toasted to each other, shared wines, and celebrated an unforgettable night.
This year, a special live broadcast was included in Grand Tasting, which brought a different kind of wine tasting experience to wine lovers who haven’t been able to participate in the event. Scan the QR code below to review the highlights of Grand Tasting!
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We would like to thank the busy staff and volunteers for their hard work, which ensured the success of the symposium.
Terroir is the foundation of all great wines. Because of this spiritual feast of wine culture, the concept of terroir has taken root and spread throughout China and the whole world. This is undoubtedly a blessing for all mankind in this era of lost, when we are far from nature.
A truly great wine has a natural soul; a great people have a heart that is close to nature. The concept of terroir has taken root in China and has flourished thanks to the participation of every wine lovers and wine professionals. We look forward to seeing everyone again next year.
At last, once again, we would like to express our gratitude to all the guests who spoke, to all the friends, staff and volunteers who came to participate in the symposium.
Thanks again to the co-organizers of this symposium:
Association des Climats du Vignoble de Bourgogne
Musique & Vin au Clos Vougeot
International Federation of Vine and Wine of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill
Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Antai College of Economics & Management
Union des Crus Classés de Graves
Famiglie Storiche dell’Amarone
Biodyvin Association
Shanghai Morning Post Dawen Information Development Co., Ltd.
And thanks to our partners:
CVJ & Company Limited
St. Regis Hotel Shanghai Jing’an
© TasteSpirit