Wines to soothe the senses

Although the Chinese capital has seen many wine-tasting events over the past few years, a recent celebration of 12 top Australian wines was given a new twist with a comparison of wine with Chinese tea.

"In Australia, we are learning to appreciate tea as the Chinese do, and to understand the characteristics and nuances of the many different styles and flavors," said Paul Henry, general manager of Market Development for the Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation (AWBC), which organized the event. "At the same time, wine is becoming more popular in China and sophisticated wine lovers are keen to explore all that is available."

Jin Er, owner of Green T. House, co-presented with Henry, to draw parallels between wine and Chinese tea. Indeed, both wine and tea are natural products, and the flavor, aroma and appeal are determined by where the grape or tea is grown and how it is processed. Both are traditional drinks that go back nearly 3,000 years.