Beijing Boyce

Events featuring booze from three continents - what more could you want? Four, you say? That’s a good point, so let’s add another tasting. (Apologies to South America and Africa — I hope the Chilean Sauvignon Blanc chilling at home and that Algerian wine tasting at the Sequoia Cafe a few weeks back suffice respectively).

In order of price…

Europe
Blush for free at a Top Cellar tasting of five rose and three white wines from France on June 7 (7-8:30 PM). It’s 10 percent off for those buying bottles of these wines. (Contact Quentin at event@topcellar.com for reservations.)

Australia
Sequoia features two whites and two reds from Western Australia, including one from Leeuwin Estates, on June 8 (from 6:30). Frank’s Friday night tasting is 100 kuai, with snacks. (Email Frank at frank.siegel@gmail.com to get on the mailing list.)

Asia
China World Hotel turns Japanese with a Sake dinner June 22 (from 7 PM).  States the invite, “Esteemed sake masters from Kamotsuru of Japan will introduce the finer points of six kinds of sake accompanied by an authentic seven-course dinner crafted by Japanese master chef Tsuchiya.” Expect to hit the futon full force after this event, which is 888 kuai plus 15 percent service charge. (6505-2266, x39 or nadaman@china-world-hotel.com.cn for reservations)

North America
Doug Shafer returns to China to guide guests through 11 years - 1992-2001 - of Hillside Select. I went to the Shafer and Phelps event last year and it was fantastic, though only one- fourth the 3,888 kuai price tag of this one. But if you have the cash and love wine, this is good value (check wine-searcher.com if you don’t believe me). This ASC event is June 16 at St. Regis Hotel, with a dinner following the vertical tasting. (Contact Dennis Zhang at dennis@asc-wines.com / 6418-1598, x130 for reservations.)

You can knock the wind out of a good man, but you can’t keep him from airing his views or finishing his brews. So goes some ancient saying, with the point being that Shanghai bar expert Winopete has been out of action of late due to a car accident, but even amidst trauma has squeezed out another pub newsletter.

As Pete himself puts it, “Courtesy of the Jin Jiang Taxi Company (the white ones), this issue of ‘Pub News’ has been seriously delayed, for which I profusely apologize, and is coming to you from my room at Ruijin Hospital.”

Among the recent news from Shanghai, our sister city to the south:

- Ex-Senses Wine Maverick Mat Ryan is part of team bringing in Aussie beers Cascade Premium, Cascade Light, Victoria Bitter, Crown Lager and James Boag - the launch party is set for June 10 at Sasha’s.

- A new Italian restaurant - Frankie’s - is set to open with Marco Pierre White as guest chef. White has three Michelin stars and is, according to Pete, “infamous for his John McEnroe-like temper.”

- While the ice bar Taste of Scandinavia has melted away, so to speak, Absolut Vodka is set to open another such establishment, on June 22. “The bar will have an area of 100 square metres and seating for 60 customers, with all the walls, chairs, tables, lights and glasses to be made of ice imported from Sweden,” writes Pete. “[Absolut] claim to have researched the China market for this project, but methinks they may not have thoroughly researched the Shanghai scene. Let us see.”

- Finally, good words for for Martini Bar, on the Bund. “This small bar, with all-black decore and leather sofas, has been Winopete’s latest frequent hangout (before rockin’ Ruijin Hospital, that is). Martini Bar is managed by Fergus, an amicable and experienced Sydney-sider.”

If you’d like to sign up for Pete’s e-newsletter, wish him well, send him a bottle of wine, or all of the above, please email him at winopetechina@yahoo.com