China Wine Chick goes Advanced!

I finally commenced my Advanced Level 3 AWSEC course last Tuesday night. The first thing I noticed was the number of people in my class. When I took the Intermediate class, there were at least 30 people, but the class last week had only 15 of us (and would be even less for the Diploma level course, if I get to the Diploma level).

Our instructor gave us a bootcamp disclaimer about his role. He said he was to get us through the exam, not to entertain, so if we found him a bit harsh, then too bad. And we were to read the book, read the book and read the book, because while a lot of people would pop a few caffeine pills 2 nights before the exam and just cram all 50 chapters in their heads, they'd probably be suffering from severe brain damage by the time they'd stepped into the exam hall, so he strongly advised against that. He was quite a funny chap really. I was thoroughly entertained by his dark british humor.

So in all, there are 50 chapters in the Level 3 book, all of which get into much more detail than the Level 2. Where the chapter on France in the Level 2 book had 5,6 odd pages in total breezing on about Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Rhone region and Loire Valley (was Alsace even mentioned?), we now have the same number of pages talking about each region in fine detail in a much wimpier 8-point font.

I actually bought the book a month before the class started (mid August), after having made some practical calculations: the exam was to be this coming January, which gave me 5 months or so, and taking into the account that my body and mind was probably going to drift off to lala land from end December to early January, I actually had about 4 months. 48 divided by 4 (as some chapters like Portugal and Switzerland are not on the exam as I had just been told), I still have to learn 12 chapters per month, very well.

As of now, I have read through 20 or so chapters but if you asked me what I had learned I'd be petrified. I'm sure I retained some information somewhere, but obviously, I would need to try much harder, if I were to pass Level 3 . This actually means more weekends spent at home and less pool parties + social gatherings after work.

dun dun DUUNNNN.... the pressure's on!

Pinot Grigio - the less girly choice for the young urban male?

For the finance professional in his early 30s who enjoys a drink or two in slick banker hangouts during HH with some decent looking female friends, Pinot Grigio seems to often be the designated choice of beverage in the heat of summer - if he is not otherwise going for a beer or a macallan on the rocks. 



Smirnoff used to be a cougar drink once upon a time.

My friend ordered that just yesterday, when we were doing happy hour at Lily, it reminded me of the numerous previous occasions where my male amigos would be ordering wine of this very same grape variety, regardless of the vintage, estate or region.

So what's wrong with the Chardonnay? This once popular and tasteful choice seems to be not so popular with the lads at all (and less and less so with the ladies - do I hear someone whisper the word 'cougar'?). And the Sauvignon Blanc? Those two words will never slip the tongue of any sane male, unless he's ordering the drink for a female counterpart.


Apparently, Pinot Grigio is a safe choice for the young urban male, just like a Laichee Martini (or Sauvignon Blanc) is a safe choice for the ladies. It's all about the image. No you say, it's the taste. Really? If you're looking for something crisp and light, there are very dry Chardonnays, Sauvignon Blancs and Rieslings out there that actually fit the bill. But at the end of the day, when the stock market's crashing on our heads and we're feeling crap about our day's performance in the office, we just want to switch off, de-soberize ourselves and order something without being made fun of by some jackass coworker standing across the bar. Pinot Grigio becomes the bona fide choice. There, your dignity's intact and you get to play suave with the ladies.



Some hunks are unafraid of their girly drinks.


In a city where status and self-image seems to be the bargaining chips to get ahead in the Game of Life, and exclusive club and VIP memberships define how important or how well-liked one is, even ordering a beverage has become a tough decision for many of us who do in fact care very much about our images, whether or not we'd like to admit it.
So if you completely disagree with what I'm saying, and feel that you do not really give a crap about your image at all (or it's not so important), or you believe you have a self-confidence that rivals Donald Trump's, then please, let me know who you are. I will personally buy you a refreshing glass of Pinot Grigio from the hottest spot in town because you my friend, are pretty damn cool.

ChinaWineChick Loves to Wine

And so, this is my first blog.

I'll keep it short as it's getting quite late, but I am hoping that this first blog will mark my official embarkment on a long, exciting and probably arduous journey to learn the fascinating world of wines.


" I wine, therefore I'm a lady!"


I do not intend to turn back.

Like many 20-something going on 30 ladies living out here in HK, I have a job, earn a decent living, have a somewhat balanced and healthy social life, go on multiple long and short haul trips every year, spend quite a deal on beauty products, take yoga classes, have a stock portfolio, had just recently bought an apartment, and rightfully considers myself a generally happy and blessed soul.

However I also seem to be perpetually single, and unlike those who can fill their weekends and vacation times with boyfriend and husband-activities, I end up with quite a great deal of time to ponder on the myriad other things that I can do with my life to make my perpetually manless existence a little more colorful. Hence on a serendipitous solo trip to Burgundy a few years ago, I found myself falling in love. I fell in love with wine.

So I decided to start this wine blog. To talk about this new-found passion of mine and to learn more about it. In a nutshell, I hope to achieve the following few things from this wine blog:

1. to talk about my passion for wines, freely and openly
2. to share what I know (and don't know) for the purpose of self-entertainment and self-development
3. to engage other winers out there, and hope we can teach and empower each other with what we know
4. get a toe or foot into the wine industry in the near enough future (i'm giving myself 1.5 years from now, before I turn 30)
5. ... by becoming an expert first. fast.

Hence, now, at precisely 12:04 am, I am officially deciding to carve my determination in words, in this vast blogging universe. As I said, there's no turning back.Wish me luck.