(Beijing Weekend)
Updated: 2007-08-10 10:20

Wine Bank is probably the most inconspicuous store at Rainbow Plaza. The interior isn't all that big either. But what's inside is impressive, that is, more than 100 varieties of wines from 10 plus Western Australian brands, which constitutes 25 percent of all 400 wines in the region, according to manager, Zhang Fan.

 

"The number of wines in Western Australia takes up less than 4 percent of the total in the country, but the number of good wines takes up 30 percent,?said Zhang. There are four productive regions in Western Australia and the vineyards there enjoy a similar climate to Bordeaux and Burgundy. The winehouse, which opened less than two months ago, is aimed mostly at Chinese white collar workers.

 

Currently, the only way to buy these wines is at the store, or from the only shop that it supplies - the Jenny Lou exports supermarket in Shunyi District. The majority of wines are priced at around 200 yuan with a good bottle costing around 250 yuan. The store claims the general price level is lower than same quality wines in the Beijing market. Brands available include Tall Boy, Optimus Rang, Pierro, Plantagenet Wines, Ferngrove, Peel Estate, and Timber Ridge.

 

A recent tasting of the Wine Bank's Sinclair range revealed a few standouts. Red wine lovers should snap up a bottle or two of the full-bodied 2005 Ricardo Shiraz, which packs a powerful bouquet and is a powerhouse on the palate. Those looking for something with a touch less grunt should snag the 2005 Jeremy Cabernet Shiraz, a surprisingly rich and complex blend. Served chilled, a tipple or two of the 2006 Rose of Glenoran would be a relaxing way to wile away a humid Beijing afternoon. The pick of the Sinclair whites is the 2006 Swallow Hill Sauvignon blanc, a smoky hit that's light yet lingering on the palate. The slightly less impressive Nikstar 2006 Unwooded Chardonnay, however, lacks the body and texture of the Sauvignon blanc.

 

Wine Bank
Location: Rainbow Plaza, 16 North Eastern Third Ring Road, Chaoyang District
Tel: 010-6591-0631