Wine can turn into an expensive luxury, particularly with China’s high import duties (at nearly 50 percent). In addition, lack of quality control by some importers and retailers can make buying wine a gamble when you do decide to splash out. Here are some tips for enjoying good wine without blowing the bank. Buy directly from importers like ASC, The Wine Republic or Palette, but first ask whether they ship wine in refrigerated containers. Second, ask for discounts. Most importers will provide free home delivery. Finally, look for restaurants with good wines and low mark-ups, like Café Europa, Aperitivo and W Wine & Dine. Some regions offer better value wines. For example, Sonoma in the U.S, offers cheaper options than the neighboring Napa Valley. In France, Provence and the Rhone often provide better value than Bordeaux. Personally, I’d recommend trying the Yering Station‘Little Yering’ Cabernet-Shiraz (￥125) from The Wine Republic, Gerard Bertrand 6eme Sens Rouge (￥68) from EMW wines and Columbia Crest ‘Two Vines’ Cabernet-Merlot (￥161) from ASC.

Campbell Thompson