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by Andrew Catchpole
Published: June 27, 2024
Andrew Catchpole meets a boutique importer of high-quality Chinese wine who could change the perception of this country's winemaking capabilities.
I went to the University of Edinburgh and led the blind tasting team for a long time, but I also worked in trade and beyond in Edinburgh; Majestic, some wine bars and wine shops. We founded Vinum Eurus, Greek for east wind, last December, seeking to change the perception of Chinese wine.
Many people have doubted the quality of Chinese wine, so we want to become experts in representing Chinese wine in the UK. At the moment we have seven wineries from all six major wine regions, and we hope to show people the diversity as well as the varieties – new styles, new styles, not just Cabernet and Chardonnay.
I was blown away by some of the wines we tried, which were mostly from higher elevations and more remote provinces, so we decided it was time. Before that, as with many others, Chinese wine didn't seem good enough to compete in the global competition. But this has changed now. Producers have become more experienced, more skilled, and more focused. After visiting China, talking to people on the local scene, and with wine consumption in China declining, we thought we could help with export. We also have government support to help in export.
We are focusing on the UK, because it is a mature and highly competitive market, and we now have wines that we are proud to showcase as Chinese wines. We want to show that these wines can compete here. If we succeed, it will give us the confidence to look at other markets.
