Uncorked: Christian Zhang

Christian Zhang, the chief sommelier of the swanky Noahs Yacht Club on the Bund in Shanghai, is among the brightest rising stars in mainland China’s drinks industry. Having worked in the hotel food and beverage industry for nine years, Zhang rose through the ranks while working for Amanfayun luxury boutique resort and JW Marriott in Hangzhou, Park Hyatt in Ningbo before being tasked with Noahs Yacht Club’s sprawling wine cellar. The young sommelier has won many accolades and competitions including the most recent Canadian Wine Sommelier competition of Greater China 2017. In this interview, Zhang reveals why he is sometimes seen carrying an odd Longchamp bag at tasting events, and why he sees himself as a young Semillion from Hunter Valley.

What vintage are you? 

1986. 100-points for Château Mouton Rothschild but no classic Port vintage was declared.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

Nederburg from South Africa as it was the very first bottle of wine that I encountered in my sommelier career, and luckily I won the championship of Wines Of South Africa Sommelier Cup in 2013 and had the chance to visit this winery.

What would you be as a wine? 

Semillon From Hunter Valley because it will be easily misunderstood at the early stage, but will mature as years goes by. It takes quite a long time to reach the peak and you will get rewarded with your patience.

Where are you happiest?

On a flight. I enjoy taking any flight to any destination, and I aim to be a pilot one day. That was my dream in my childhood.

What’s your greatest vice? 

I like to collect all kinds of labels including wine, spirit or even water. I am just very obsessed with this, and people around me thought that I am just too crazy because of this. I always carry a big Longchamp bag to collect empty bottles.

Best advice you ever got? 

It is not how you get here, it is where you go!

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save? 

Sadly, I couldn’t swim that far so that I couldn’t save any. I really need to learn to how to swim especially as my hometown is a port city (Ningbo).

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business? 

The best thing is you could always find something new in the wine world, like I am an explorer exploring the tierra incognita in the age of discovery. The worst thing is this industry still hasn’t invented a certain instrument to test for wine faults.

What’s on your wine bucket list? 

The Canary Islands. I would like to visit this island and see how vines are grown there. I like the feeling of being on any small island in the world, isolated from the reality and just feel the sea breeze.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party? 

My beloved one and drinking Georges Roumier Chambolle Musigny 1er Cru Les Amoureuses.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)?

So far, I think it is 92 out of 100. I still need years to mature like younger Semillon from Hunter Valley. I quite agree with the philosophy of Penfolds, there are rewards in patience.

Which wine would you like to be served at your funeral?

1986 Château Mouton Rothschild for this is my vintage wine and I would pair it with the songs Made in Heaven and The Show Must Go On by Queen because those two inspire me so much when I’m down.