Despite the fact that Ningxia in northern China has only been growing grapes for wine production for the last decade, it has beaten off competition from the Bordeaux region of France in a blind wine tasting which was help in Beijing.

10 wine experts, 5 from China and 5 from France sampled a mixture of 5 wines from each region and ranked each wine individually. Surprisingly to everyone involved and the wine lovers across the world, a Cabernet Sauvignon from Grace Vineyards in Ningxia came out as the favorite bottle! In fact, the top 4 spots were all taken by bottles of wine from Ningxia, with a 2009 Medoc from Bordeaux being the highest ranking French wine in 5th position.

A similar wine test was carried out in 1976, which also had similar results, with Bordeaux wines being beaten by the New World wines.

Each bottle of wine that was used in the taste test was produced in either 2008 or 2009, with a price tag in China of 200-400yuan, which is around $30-$60. Many have argued this caused an unfair test as imported wine is levied with a 48% import tax!

Even taking into account the price difference though, the French wine experts all admitted that the Chinese wine has enormous potential and could become one of the world’s finest wine producing regions. There has been a huge increase in wine drinking over the last few years in China, and it is now the single largest export client of the Bordeaux region. The wine consumption in China is growing at such a rate that they expect it to overtake the USA within years to become the largest wine consuming nation in the world.

Many wine companies are now looking to purchase and grow their own vineyards in the Ningxia in order to cash in on the new area.

The event was arranged when a bottle from Ningxia was crowned the best Bordeaux style wine at the Decanter World Wine Awards in London.

So, when you start seeing Chinese wine on the shelves of the wine merchants in the coming years, don’t dismiss it as being cheap or inferior wine with giving it a taste first!

The author has worked in the wine and gourmet food industry for years and is interested in the development of new world wines.

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When you learn to drink an Oregon Pinot Noir the right way you discover all of its flavors, experience more strength, perceive imperfections very easily, and drink it slower.

We could say there are two phases in the process of drinking a Pinot Noir wine:

• The first is the preparation phase, which happens before drinking the wine and has to do with the tools, ambiance, and environmental factors that will make the wine taste superior.

• The second is drinking the wine.

There are 4 steps to follow in the first phase to ensure the Pinot Noir reveals itself in all its glory:

1.  Make sure the temperature is perfect

The right temperature is vital when drinking top Pinot Noir. The perfect temperature is cool: around 65deg F, but not excessively cold. Red wine needs to be a bit cold to release its flavors without tasting alcoholic; but when too cold it loses the flavors and taste.

If you are in a very cold room, warm up the glass with your hands before drinking the wine. If it is very warm, put the wine in the refrigerator for a few minutes.

2.  Decant it

The majority of red wines need some contact with air to reveal their magnificence, because this softens the tannins and intensifies their fruit manifestation.

Pinot Noir must be decanted into a container capable of holding the whole content of the bottle – but don’t decant it all if you’re not planning to drink it all. If the vessel is wide, the wine will be ready to drink faster, as more of the wine’s surface area is in contact with oxygen. 

Decanting may not make a big difference when drinking a young wine that is light and fresh, and if the wine is very old it may speed up the oxidation process that turns the wine into vinegar; however, the majority of young and middle-aged red wines that have some body require decanting.

3.  Use the right glass

There is no question about it; the glass you use to drink your wine makes a big difference in its flavor.

Want to waste your time and money? Drink Pinot Noir from a small glass that does not allow strong swirling.

Without exception, when drinking Pinot Noir, use a glass with a large bowl, so that you can swirl that baby around briskly.

4. De-groom yourself

No, we don’t mean you must get filthy to drink a Pinot Noir from Oregon; it is just that toothpaste, cologne, and perfume don’t agree with it!

If you’re serious about wine tasting and drinking Pinot Noir, make sure the last time you brushed your teeth was over two hours before the experience, allow yourself to smell the wine, not the latest Dolce & Gabanna scent, and plan your wine tasting session way before or after the onion festival hits the town.

Wendy Jones is a freelance writer who enjoys living so close to excellent Washington wines.

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I highly recommend this! You don’t have to be a wine fanatic to have a wine gadget!

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There is no reason to spend more that $37 max this year on a great bottle of bubbly! Here are some suggestions that are sure to make you sing!

Nv Nicolas Feuillatte Brut (pictured above). Great wine, great taste and perfect for toasting! Only $36

Reginato Blanc De Blancs, really good blend of Argentinean zest with Chardonnay and Chenin Blanc. Crisp and very refreshing. Only $15!

NV Jeio Cuvee Rose Brut, My favorite! Floral with a nice zest of citrus from Veneto, Italy. Only $18

Hope these suggestions help!

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