Wine lovers develop a thirst for knowledge

Range of tasting courses offered for beginners

Everyday wine drinkers may struggle when asked to describe the contents of their glass. Typical comments, which are inadequate at best, range from "delicious" to "not very good".

But Fongyee Walker, one of around 400 people worldwide recognized by the Institute of Masters of Wine, has no such problem.

At her Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting School in Beijing, which she founded in 2007, 3,000 wine traders and enthusiasts are trained each year.

Holding up her glass, she pronounced judgment.

"This wine is ruby in color and has a subtle aroma. It contains hints of strawberry and mulberry. It balances natural acidity and sweetness with smooth tannins. It could be a good match for many meals, because its delicate bouquet does not mask the flavor of the food."

Such professional analysis shows the way it's done. It serves Chinese people's desire to raise their level of sophistication.

Zhu Yong, of consultancy Roland Berger China, said there is an increasing demand for wine education among merchants and consumers because of China's economic development and consumption upgrades.

According to the Wine& Spirit Education Trust, the largest global provider of wine, spirits and sake credentials, 108,557 candidates qualified for a WSET certificate in the 2018-19 academic year, a year-on-year rise of 15 percent.

The Chinese mainland market, which has grown for 11 consecutive years, is the second-largest for the WSET, after the United Kingdom. In the 2018-19 academic year, 18,206 Chinese candidates sat for a WSET certificate, a rise of 20 percent on the previous year.

Zhu said Chinese, especially those born in the 1980s and '90s, are seeking quality lifestyles.

China's economic development and consumption upgrading means that wine is increasingly being served to accompany meals. Among the younger generation in particular, drinking wine is viewed as being elegant and fashionable.

"Continuous growth in wine consumption has triggered a demand for knowledge, and 'wine culture' has also become a topic discussed on social occasions," Zhu said.