CH’NG Poh Tiong
The inaugural FOREVER series was held in China. Hangzhou Forever was a walkabout tasting on 11 January 2026 at the Dragon Hotel, bringing together industry influencers, journalists, educators, sommeliers, F&B executives, chefs, restaurateurs, wine shop owners, distributors, importers and wine enthusiasts to explore and interact with winery proprietor and winemakers. Founder CH’NG Poh Tiong is a …
Read More »Hangzhou Forever • 11 January 2026
5-Star Recognition • Imperial Treasure in Shanghai & Guangzhou Introduces its First Chinese Wine List
Imperial Treasure Restaurant Group, renowned for its Michelin-starred Chinese dining experiences, launched its first-ever Chinese Wine List at their 2-Star Michelin Shanghai restaurant in Yi Feng Galleria, and 2-Star Michelin and 1-Star Michelin Guangzhou restaurants, which together hold an impressive 5 Michelin stars! Chinese Wine List is available at the …
Read More »Frank Gehry (1929–2025) • The Legendary Architect Behind Marqués de Riscal’s City of Wine
Legendary Architect Frank Gehry (1929–2025) Guggenheim Museum Bilbao in Spain (1997) Museum of Pop Culture in Seattle (2000) Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles (2003) The world of design and architecture recently mourned the loss of a true visionary. Frank Gehry, the legendary architect who reshaped our skylines and imagination, …
Read More »First Portuguese Artist • Joana Vasconcelos Creates Label for Chateau Mouton Rothschild 2023
For the first time ever, a Portuguese artist has created an artwork for the label of Chateau Mouton Rothschild. Joana Vasconcelos joins the contemporary artists who have contributed to the chateau’s iconic label series. Her “Paraíso” (Paradise) illustrates the 2023 vintage. Joana Vasconcelos Born in 1971, Joana Vasconcelos made history as …
Read More »Singapore Goes to the Polls
Singapore holds its General Elections 3 May 2025. I am in England for work because next Tuesday 6 May is the official start of Decanter World Wine Awards 2025. Since its founding by Sarah Kemp and Steven Spurrier (1941 – 2021) in 2004, I have been Asia Regional Chair. In …
Read More »Exceptional Wines at Exceptional Value
ManzWine vineyard in the Douro Valley A Brazilian of Hungarian origin, Andre Manz first visited Portugal in the 1980s as a fitness instructor. In 2004, together with his family, Manz moved to the little village of Cheleiros, 45 km north-west of Lisbon because he had fallen in love with the …
Read More »ABK6 • Projecting a New Image of Cognac
ABK6 Founder Francis Abecassis with CEO daughter Elodie ABK6 is the very clever homonym of Abecassis. Created in 2005 by namesake Francis Abecassis. The fact ABK6 is a cognac brand immediately throws the old stuffy image of the French brandy out of the window. Ushering in a sense of fun, …
Read More »The Woman Who Said “No” to Bill Gates
Jean-Baptiste Mesnage had bought the Negresco because it was the only hotel in Nice to have a lift with wheel-chair access, his wife being paralyzed. He is photographed here in 1933 with their only child Jeanne Augier In her lifetime, Jeanne Augier collected more than 6,000 pieces of art and …
Read More »Disrespect • At Claridge’s London
We can, without sounding rude, be utterly disrespectful. This happened at the bar of the Claridge’s Restaurant in London the Saturday before Christmas. Propped on the high stool, I asked one of the bartenders if they had “Lagavulin”. I was in luck and went on to enquire “8 or 16?”. …
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