Wine lovers develop a thirst for knowledge

Basic know-how

Learning about the origins, varieties and vintages of wine, how to properly decant it and the right variety to accompany dishes help broaden the consumer experience, he added.

"For industry insiders, basic know-how will help them better run their business, while for consumers, it will help them better choose and appreciate different kinds of wine."

Walker said that just a decade ago, wine education was rare in China. "But since around 2012, the number of people learning about wine and the number of training schools have both seen explosive growth."

She started Dragon Phoenix with her husband, who is also a Master of Wine, and it took them eight weeks to recruit the first batch of four students.

Wine courses at the school are offered under a number of categories, including "foundation" for beginners, "intermediate" and "advanced". It also offers the WSET level 4 diploma in wines. The duration of the courses ranges from just a few hours to several years.

Once, only those working in the wine industry took part in the courses, but now, more than 75 percent of Walker's students are consumers.

"The progress has been huge," she said. "In 2007, few Chinese had heard about WSET wine courses. Now, almost every industry insider knows about them, and many of them have achieved WSET certification and various other global certificates."

Rebecca Li, a Beijing etiquette expert, was awarded a WSET certificate in 2013, enabling her to hold a wine course for her clients.

"Wine does not traditionally feature in Chinese dining culture," she said. "Many people still have a very limited knowledge of it. I'm glad that my courses introduce customers to a new world, letting them in on some of the mysteries of wine."

In the seven years since she opened her etiquette school, she has noticed a rapid increase in people's passion for wine and to learn more about it.

"Wine is now served at most formal banquets in China," she said. "Also, more ordinary consumers want to know how to taste a particular type of wine properly, how to drink it at the table politely, and where to find quality wine," she said.