If you’ve ever wondered how a city’s soul reveals itself through wine, Beijing’s latest blind tasting event offered a masterclass. Four tasters, six bottles, and a room buzzing with the tension of guessing origins—this wasn’t just a tasting. It was a collision of terroir, expectation, and the quiet rebellion of blind tasting. The lineup? A mix of Burgundy, Chinese vintages, Southern French blends, and Italian appassimento. The results? A mix of elegance, surprise, and a few moments of quiet confusion.
The Domaine Chanson bottling from Burgundy was the textbook example of restraint. Sour cherry and raspberry on the nose, with a palate that felt like a whispered secret—elegant, precise, and mineral-driven. It was the kind of wine that demands patience, and the tasters leaned into it, noting its delicate finish. But the real standout? Yuan Shi Winery’s Ruyi Cabernet. A Ningxia blend with cassis and blackberry, it carried a structured, almost Old World feel. The tasters were baffled—most guessed French, but the wine’s dry, focused profile was unmistakably Chinese. It proved that terroir can defy geography.
Then there was La Calla’s Appassimento Rosso, a Puglia gem that felt like a warm hug in a glass. Dark chocolate and vanilla notes wrapped around a plush, sweet-leaning palate, ending with a roundness that felt almost comforting. It was the kind of wine that invites you to linger, and the room collectively agreed it was the most interesting. Yet not all was perfect. Caparzo’s Rosso di Montalcino was fresh and savory, but its linear profile left some tasters unimpressed. It’s a reminder that even great wines can feel flat in the wrong moment.
Key points: Blind tasting strips away ego and forces you to trust your palate. The Yuan Shi Cabernet showed how Chinese terroir is carving its own identity. And La Calla’s Appassimento proved that comfort can be a powerful wine trait.
What’s your go-to wine for a night that feels like a revelation.
What’s your go-to wine for a night that feels like a revelation?
Questions & Answers
What is blind tasting in Beijing?
Blind tasting in Beijing is a wine-drinking practice where participants taste wines without knowing their brand or origin, focusing on flavor and quality.
How is blind tasting done in Beijing?
In Beijing, blind tasting involves serving wines in unmarked glasses, often in bars or events, with participants guessing details like region or type based solely on taste.
Information sourced from industry reports and news outlets.
