Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
Women impact Asian tipplers
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Women impact Asian tipplers
AFP - Sunday, April 4
Send
IM Story
Print
Women impact Asian tipplers
BORDEAUX, France (AFP) - – Asian women are having a profound impact on the evolution of the world's fastest growing wine culture, including the emerging Asian palate.
"The American or European palate is better understood, especially with respect to wine," said Jeannie Cho Lee.
A popular Hong Kong-based wine critic, she is the first ethnic Asian to earn the notoriously difficult title of Master of Wine.
"We don't have the answers but it's important to begin to ask the right questions now," she said.
In 2009, China outpaced America as the number one client for Bordeaux outside the European Union, with a seemingly unquenchable thirst and increasingly sophisticated palate.
"Wine appreciation advances very quickly in Asia, partly because of our discerning palates for food!" Lee said.
While wine consumption in China started with expats on expense accounts and free-spending tycoons, it's quickly taking on popular appeal.
"The consumer profile of wine lovers is changing rapidly -- Asia, with about half of the world's population, is just discovering wine," said Lee. "That is incredible buying power which is being fuelled by one market."
Lee sees a trend in the growing number of young urban women enjoying wine.
"I used to run women-only wine classes and these were always sold out ... There is a definite need to cater to this growing number of sophisticated Asian women."
An increasing number of these Asian women are seeking careers in the wine trade, many earning solid credentials in France's premier wine region, Bordeaux.
"In our sommelier school in Bordeaux, there are more Chinese women than men," said Ma Lin, director of the Chinese branch of Cafa Formations, the Bordeaux wine school for professionals.
And these women see definite opportunities to improve what's being uncorked in China.
"I find there is a lot of cheap wine on the market -- for one to two euros -- I'm not happy about that." said Fangyuan Zheng, a Shanghai native with a masters degree in oenology and viticulture from Bordeaux University.
Zheng, who is currently honing her palate at Chateau Haut Brion, foresook a career as a chemical engineer and sees a future for herself as a wine buyer.
"People don't know very much about wine and I want to choose good wines at a good price for Chinese consumers."
Clara Yip, in charge of the inflight wine programme on Cathay Pacific Airways, has already carved out an enviable job of buying wines "that can fly."
In Bordeaux to secure her allocations of Chateaux Lynch Bages and Branaire-Ducru, her inflight programme was voted the best business class cellar, beating out 34 other airlines.
"I like my job, it's exciting and never boring. When I meet wine people I see their passion -- they have such passion. I love to talk to them."
If Judy Leissner achieves her goal, Yip will one day pour Chinese wine alongside the Medoc's finest.
"I want to try to find out where to grow wine in China," said the 30-something chief executive of Grace Vineyard, China's pioneering fine wine producer.
The former investment banker, who also oversees operations and finance for her family's empire of power plants, property development, waste-treatment plants and department stores, admits it will take years to find the right combination of soil, climate and grape varieties.
"My inspiration is that my daughters will be able to say, 'you can make this style of wine in this place'."
Leissner has more to overcome than matching rootstock with terroir.
While her 500,000 bottle production is substantial by Western standards, it's considered positively miniscule in China and the locals don't understand why she's "holding back."
"In China because everything is going fast, most people look for scale. To explain to them that you want quality and to stay small, that is something they cannot understand. They always say, 'Let's be bigger!'"
There are other obstacles to overcome.
"Most of the time, people think my driver is my boss and I'm his secretary," said Leissner, who was just 24 when she took over Grace Vineyard eight years ago. "You get used to it."
Cho Lee added, "there are challenges to being an Asian woman working in the wine industry. Many times people make quick judgements, especially in the traditional wine growing regions in Europe and see an Asian woman and think, 'What can she possibly know about wine? Especially our wines!'"
For Zheng, wine is so new in China that she admits "wine is something very far from their life. My father is very supportive but my mother cannot understand. She thinks I'm drinking all the time."
"In Hong Kong it doesn't matter if you are a man or woman working in the wine trade but China is difficult," admitted Leissner. "They still perceive people who drink wine as a bit 'loose.' You just ignore it."
Ma Lin looks at the positive side.
"I like wine and still relatively few Chinese women know the wine business. It gives me a mysterious allure."
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
US-BUSINESS Summary Reuters - 36 minutes ago
Stocks may fly on jobs, profit hopes Reuters - 36 minutes ago
Yuan needs to respond to market forces - Romer Reuters - 44 minutes ago
Saudi's Halwani Q1 net profit increases 68 percent Reuters - 59 minutes ago
Wall St Week Ahead: Stocks may fly on jobs, profit hopes Reuters - 1 hour 20 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
White House cautious over taming US joblessness
Pope shuns paedophilia scandal as Christians mark Easter
Polish central bank, government squabble over money
Britain's Mandelson attacks 'unacceptable' Barclays banker
Gunmen in army uniforms massacre 25 people in Iraq
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
Gunmen in army uniforms massacre 25 people in Iraq
Abortion doctor killer gets life; no parole for 50 yrs
Did comet smashup unleash Earth's mini Ice Age?
Hamilton fastest in Malaysia GP, but cautious
Britain's Mandelson attacks 'unacceptable' Barclays banker
More Most Viewed »
'Rare' fossil of new dinosaur species found in US
Hollywood stars help prevent suicide after Twitter alert
Junkies and junk-food addicts share craving mechanism
Toad is a telltale for impending quakes: scientists
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
World Cup 2010
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Sunday, 4 April 2010 Gunmen storm Sunni enclave in Baghdad, kill 24
Gunmen in army uniforms massacre 25 people in Iraq
Holy Fire brings Jerusalem Easter to joyful climax
|
Much hyped iPad hits the market
Amazon routes Kindle books to rival iPad
Obama urges Hu to get behind Iran push
American Red Cross, United Sikhs Sign Disaster Cooperation Deal
Apple iPad unearthed: Samsung, Broadcom, TI appear
Senegal unveils African Renaissance statue
|
Obama Stresses Unity Of Purpose During Weekly Address
Authorities Shoot Two Dogs During Massive Drug Sweep
Medical Board Reprimands Doctors Who Found No Baby After C-Section
Hackers hit China foreign correspondents club website
News
Afghan leader's anti-West comments draw fire
Apple iPad unearthed: Samsung, Broadcom, TI appear
Divers enter Chinese mine where 153 are trapped
Liang closes in on Chengdu Open
Webber on pole as champions sent skidding out
German friendly fire kills 6 Afghan soldiers
SKorea stops underwater search for missing sailors
China pledges $2 bln loan for Indonesia infrastructure
US delays currency report that could target China: Treasury
Kumar goes from White House back to Hollywood
|
IMAX puts 3D spin on science films with Hubble 3D
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Kumar" goes from White House back to Hollywood
Swiss bring manga, anime, video-games characters to life
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
IMAX puts 3D spin on science films with "Hubble 3D"
Private sector urged to take leading role in Syrian film
"Kumar" goes from White House back to Hollywood
Sudan says election to start on time despite protest
Explosion derails goods train in Russian Caucasus
South African far-right leader Terre'blanche murdered
|
Much hyped iPad hits the market
Colombia slams Rights court over Israeli's extradition
Blast derails Russian freight train: reports
|
French police fired first in clash that killed officer: ETA
Protesters defiant in siege of key Bangkok district
|
US-TECH Summary
Anglican leader regrets Irish Catholics comments
Apple iPad unearthed: Samsung, Broadcom, TI appear
Putin, Medvedev, issue Easter messages to Russians
Oregon Ends 87-Year Old Ban On Religious Dress For Public School Teachers
Britain's Mandelson attacks 'unacceptable' Barclays banker
Gunmen storm Sunni enclave in Baghdad, kill 24
|
News
An Error has occured |
Apple iPad unearthed: Samsung, Broadcom, TI appear
Polish central bank, government squabble over money
5 charged in gang rape of girl, 7, in NJ apartment
Levada brought back accused priest with conditions
Official: Troops kill 21 militants in NW Pakistan
Holy Fire brings Jerusalem Easter to joyful climax
Protesters defiant in siege of key Bangkok district
Philippine business icon quits over borrowed speech
Apple's iPad hits shelves; testing begins
|
Aussie NBA star Bogut taken to hospital after fall
Up for sale: Gandhi items -- and his ideals
Australian floods help ease the 'Big Dry'
Turkey's gays, transsexuals decry increasing homophobia
New York in a pickle over disappearing tradition
Rwandan pygmies facing squalor and exclusion
Singer to be cited for stripping at JFK killing site: report
Chinese ship leaks oil in Great Barrier Reef zone
Rescuers prepare for search in flooded China mine
Bob Dylan cancels Asia tour after Beijing rejection: report
Officials fear ship breaking apart on Barrier Reef
Cardinal defends pope, denounces petty gossip
|
Triple blasts target Baghdad embassies, killing 30
French strike cripples Channel ferry
Australia warns stranded Chinese ship could break up
|
Pakistan troops repulse attacks, kill 40 militants
|
Maoist rebels kill 10 policemen in eastern India
|
Teens Find Man's Body During Iowa Easter Egg Hunt
ETA says France to blame for policeman's death
|
Apple Big Shots Surprise iPad Shoppers
Termite gangs tunnel into third French bank
|
Karzai, US general meet with Afghan tribal leaders
Thai protesters pledge to leave commercial area
Sikhs Express Concern Over Extra Screening At U.S. Airports
Rescuers prepare for search in flooded China mine
Suspected Maoist rebels kill 9 Indian policemen
Thai govt tries to oust protestors from tourist hub
IMAX puts 3D spin on science films with Hubble 3D
|
UN's Ban calls Aral Sea "shocking disaster"
Endangered rhino 'may have miscarried' in Indonesia
Afghan leader meets US commander amid tensions
Mekong River countries meet China over dam fears
PETA Warns Families Against "Bunny Fever" During Easter
Report Warns FBI's Computer Project Is Still Late, Over Budget
Women impact Asian tipplers
Peace breaks out on S.Korean factory floors
Elton John performs at Mayan pyramids
Baghdad blasts 'kill 30'
Massive blasts rock central Baghdad
Iraqi village killers 'posed as US soldiers'
Sumatran rhino miscarries in Indonesian sanctuary
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights