More than 1,200 fine wine lovers eagerly attended the fifth annual Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter and had the opportunity to taste over 600 wines from 134 top producers.
See highlights below.
The tasting, Shanghai’s flagship fine wine event, once again took place at the Ritz-Carlton, Pudong on Saturday 17 November.
Wines of Chile were this year’s featured region, where the very best Chilean wines were showcased at the event, and represented by the areas of Costa, Entre Cordilleras and Andes.
A ‘Chilean Wine Wall’ was also showcased, which showed wines from different appellations.
Three wine talks also took place which were hosted by the first Chinese Master Sommelier, Yang Lu, in addition to the following distinguished wine personalities:
- Aurelio Montes, founder and head winemaker at Montes Wines, who spoke about the extremes of Chile
- Matías Ríos chief winemaker at Cono Sur Vineyards & Winery, who focused on the cool climates from Chile
- Francisco Baettig, winemaker and technical director at Viña Errázuriz, who presented Chile and its wine-aging potential
The first Chinese Master Sommelier, Yang Lu (left) with Francisco Baettig (right), winemaker and technical director at Viña Errázuriz
The day began with an eight vintage vertical tasting of one of Italy’s most prestigious and collectable wines, Masseto. Decanter’s content director John Stimpfig introduced Axel Heinz, estate director and winemaker Elenora Marconi who wowed attendees with these exceptional wines.
Masseto masterclass line-up
Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent Jane Anson introduced Stéphanie de Boüard-Rivoal, managing director and eighth-generation family member of Saint Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé A Château Angélus, who explored three decades’ of vintages including both Le Carillon d’Angélus and the flagship Château Angélus wines.
‘Super Second’ Château Léoville Las Cases also showcased eight of their lauded and long-lived wines, including the château’s top estate wines; the Grand Vin, Clos du Marquis and the second wine, Petit Lion.
Michel Friou, head winemaker from Almaviva (the legendary joint partnership of Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., and Viña Concha y Toro S.A.) presented eight outstanding vintages including the first vintage of 1996, which was the first wine in Chile created under the French château concept.
In the day’s final masterclass, Decanter managing director Robin McMillan introduced one of Rioja’s first and most distinguished bodegas Marqués de Riscal, where Javier Ybañez and Andrew Caillard MW shared a selection of special wines with attendees, including its first signature wine, Barón de Chirel, and the 150 Aniversario, which celebrates the producer’s 150th anniversary and a remarkable Añadas Antiguas 1949.
Sommeliers opening the old 1949 Marqués de Riscal bottles with special equipment.
In addition to these five masterclasses, in the Grand Tasting, attendees could taste over 500 wines from 107 top wineries, from 16 different countries including France, Australia, China, the US, Canada, Greece, New Zealand, Chile, Italy, Spain and many more.
There was also the opportunity to taste an array of medal-winning wines from the 2018 Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA).
2018 Decanter Asia Wine Award winners
Social media presence
Significant social media interaction also took place on the day, as guests shared highlights with many photos and videos.
Live streaming videos shared on DecanterChina.com’s Weibo account from the Grand Tasting and masterclasses also received thousands of views on the day.
‘We were delighted to welcome so many eager wine lovers to the fifth edition of this annual gathering of the world’s greatest wine names in Shanghai,’ said Decanter managing director Robin McMillan.
‘We were also thrilled and honoured that so many incredible producers travelled so far to be with us today and pour their wines. We very much hope that our guests were inspired and delighted by the wines and producers that came today.’
The next Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter will take place on Saturday 16 November 2019.
Official sponsors of the 2018 Decanter Shanghai Fine Wine Encounter
Many thanks once again to our loyal sponsors Acqua Panna and San Pellegrino mineral water for keeping guests hydrated on the day and to Riedel for supplying the glassware and to all Ritz-Carlton staff.
