Wynn Macau launches largest international Chinese wine competition
In an effort to celebrate China’s growing winemaking quality, Wynn Macau and Wynn Palace hosted the inaugural Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards. This event, supported by the Macao Government Tourism Office, marks the first awards program dedicated entirely to premium Chinese wines, attracting over 750 submissions gathered from nearly 200 China’s premium wineries.
The competition described as “the world’s largest competition of Chinese wines of international standard” will announce the top winners at an awards ceremony at Wynn Palace on April 13, after being judged by an international panel of 27 esteemed judges, including seven Masters of Wine.
From March 1-5, wine enthusiasts gathered in Macau to partake in exclusive wine dinners and masterclasses presented by some of the globe’s most authoritative wine experts. Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman of the Board, and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, Limited, expressed the company’s honor in hosting such globally recognized wine experts and highlighted the awards’ role in showcasing premium Chinese wines on a global stage. “This event not only celebrates the excellence of the Chinese wine industry but also reinforces Macau’s status as a UNESCO-designated ‘Creative City of Gastronomy’,” Chen stated.
Cheng Wai Tong, Deputy Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office, praised the initiative for adding diversity to Macau’s tourism offerings and providing travelers with a variety of experiences.
The awards aim to elevate Chinese winemakers’ presence in high-end markets, with winners receiving the “Wynn Signature Award” label and opportunities to participate in national masterclasses and hospitality events. Over 750 submissions from nearly 200 of China’s top wineries were judged by an illustrious panel that included Masters of Wines, Master Sommeliers, winemakers, educators, and journalists. Eddie McDougall, Chair of Judges, led a prestigious lineup, emphasizing the competition’s commitment to an authoritative and professional evaluation system including Chris Ashton, Chief of Stewards and three Vice Chairs who are highly accredited Master of Wines: Fongyee Walker MW, Gus Zhu MW and Andrew Caillard MW.
Other esteeemed judges include Kenichi Ohashi MW; Julien Boulard MW; Tim Triptree MW; Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux author); Ronny Lau (Chairman, Greater China Wine Critics Association); Simon Tam (Commentator and former Christie’s Head of Wine, Asia); Erin Larkin (Wine Advocate Editor); Reeze Choi (World No. 3 Sommelier); Xiao Pi (China’s leading Wine KOL); David Xing (China’s leading Wine KOL), Della Tang (Best Sommelier of Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2023), Janet Wang (The Chinese Wine Renaissance author) and many more.
In addition to the competition, the event featured eight exclusive wine-related events hosted by the distinguished experts at Wynn Palace and Wynn Macau. These included masterclasses, specialty wine dinners, and presentations, offering unparalleled insights into the wine industry.
The Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards not only aim to spotlight the finest in Chinese winemaking but also foster international exchange, supported by rigorous evaluation and auditing to ensure the highest standards. This initiative establishes a new benchmark for wine competitions, promoting the richness and diversity of China’s wine industry on the international stage.
