I brought a bottle of Penfolds 389, as did another punter. Mine was under cork, hers under screwcap. Same vintage, 2004. The two were like chalk and cheese, so completely different. Mind you, we had already consumed more than a dozen bottles by that time, so perhaps our taste buds weren’t quite what they were at the beginning of the evening.

A pity Frank doesn’t put them on any more. Unfortunately too many people were bringing trash wines then expecting to drink our good stuff.

Cheers, Paul.

i spent the next two years flitting about the world – the states, europe, south america – trying to get over him until i realized that he was the standard i was comparing every man against.

so i came home, with a bottle of my favorite malbec that i had bought in buenos aires.

on a sunny day in april last year, we saw each other again for the first time in two years. we sat on a bench in jingshan park, and cracked open that bottle. we people watched, danced with old ladies in the park, talked about our lives. he toasted me on my independence. we’ve been living together ever since.

we’ll definitely put that night at the hilton to good use.

With my Flip recording device in hand, a bag slung over my shoulder carrying the weight of two average bottles of California wine and a ton of a plastic cups, I hit the streets. I offered wine to any DongCheng street vendor, magazine shop salesman/woman, construction worker, shop owner, anyone who was willing to talk and share a pixi-cup of Napa’s mediocre with me. I asked their opinion, what they tasted, what they smelled, what it reminded them of…and the responses were remarkable. For many, this was the first glass of wine they ever had. So that alone was special for us both. Moreover, sharing a drink stereotypically reserved for the upper class with the backbone of China was equally as exciting; I was able to demonstrate that wine can be and should be enjoyed by all.

It was as if the wine was a quasi ambassador of America to China. For example, I spoke with these people about family values. How we, Americans also appreciate family relations. That the wine they were drinking was made on family operated vineyards by families for family and friends to enjoy. We shared personal as well as generalized stories about our countries; over our cup of wine, we gained knowledge of one another’s culture, home, and taste buds!

I hope in my new business endeavor that California wine can permeate Chinese society rather than impose itself. This wine experience suggested that I could potentially reach that goal.

Though my new friends do not have the great fortune of attending the Hilton’s Food and Wine Experience, through my participation, I hope to learn more and taste more so I can proliferate with even more veracity an understanding of wine to China.

About a year ago I was having dinner with friends at FACE when my mobile rang. I picked it up – my Mom was on the other line, voice quaking with excitement and emotion. After several years of battling colon cancer, she’d just returned from the Dr. where she’d received her first clean bill of health – the disease was in remission!

After hanging up we immediately ordered several bottles of Beringer Chardonnay. I’m not much of a fan of white wine, much less Chardonnay (to say even less of Beringer)… but its my Mom’s favorite, and the glasses we raised in her honor tasted better than any Opus One or Domaine Romanée-Conti.

Sure, you often hear a chardonnay described as having hints of vanilla, or peppers, or toasty oak. Well this 2007 Private Reserve Chardonnay from Napa Valley tasted like…

VICTORY

(Did I lay it on a bit thick there at the end? I mean… come on… I invoked an ill mother, drinking to her health with friends, and even tossed in tasting notes that included victory… that’s GOTTA be good for a romp at the Hilton. Look… I promise I’ll get hammered in my Dad’s honor. He’s got the gout…)

“What the…?” I began to inquire, when all of a sudden my companion leapt from his seat and commenced overturning the restaurant tables. There is a reason I don’t often go drinking with Acid Dave. Unfortunately my spidey senses were triggered just in time to feel the first tweaks of this mind bending drug entering my consciousness and yelling to be noticed.

A Gorilla of a man came over and began insisting we leave but Acid Dave could not be placated. It was all I could do to show the bottle of red sat on the table “see?” I pleaded “we are gentlemen and we drink wine” After trying to decipher the gorillas strange language I plucked our Fine Bottle from the table and began beating Acid Dave with it until he came to his senses. We weren’t welcome here. Very well. Men of our stature and fine tastes in wine would be warmly welcomed in more Sophisticated Circles.

Upon arriving at Centro I was pleased to discover that a fine looking woman greeted us at the door. “No” she replied, “Our serving staff are not monkeys”. Very well, this was more like it. Acid Dave was still unfortunately speaking in the language of the Gorillas. I took control and thrust our now nearly empty bottle of Cabernet at the barman “wine wine wine” I informed him. My bottle was no match for his list of wines. “Impressive” I believe I hooted before slugging down the remainder from my bottle. Upon looking down I realized I was wearing a great deal of wine on my chest. This would not do. We were Sophisticated Men in a Respectable Establishment.

Time passed in a most bizarre fashion until shirtless and penniless I was ejected from high society. Gorillas, one and all. I left Acid Dave grappling with some circus performers with tiny mustaches and jumped into the nearest taxi. “wine wine wine” I garbled. A confused shifu can be dangerous so I hooted what I believed to be a friendly noise. Ah ha, we were away.

The Bus Bar had the friendliest of crowds and my choices in wine were beautifully restricted to Red or White. “Yes” I would reply every time I was asked, hilarity ensued. In this condition, too many choices could be dangerous indeed. God bless Acid Dave for the best night ever had in Beijing featuring wine. I hear the Hilton puts on quite a spread and I should return the favor…

Five Chateau owners from Bordeaux rotated tables – during each of the five courses of the meal.

The steak at CRU was the best I’ve eaten in Beijing (note: this was in 2008).

The wines shined…and the event was intimate, not too stuffy and everyone seemed to have an excellent time. Sometimes the wine events with the celebrity winemakers are the least fun while the representatives from smaller wine operations are more personable and the events more fun.

if only i didn’t live out in wudaokou…