Here Are China’s Top 10 Sommeliers

Christian Zhang

Christian Zhang started his sommelier career in 2012 and has since established himself as an accomplished sommelier winning numerous  awards. Zhang was crowned the champion of the 2015 China National Sommelier Competition and the 2016 China’s Best Sommelier Competition of French Wine.

Before taking on his current position as a consultant and wine educator in Shanghai, he worked for years as the chief sommelier at the now-closed Yacht Club On the Bund. Currently, Zhang provides wine selection and training consultancy for several restaurants. He is also a lecturer of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WEST) program.

Reflecting on the impact of the pandemic, Zhang sees it as a “catalyst” that has transformed the wine industry. “The economy, once soaring, has gradually slowed down, much like the bursting of a bubble. We must go through a period of adjustment, returning to a more rational perspective. Wine should be viewed as a flavorful beverage with alcohol, rather than something overly embellished with various attributes. I believe this is the direction we should take, similar to how tea fits into our daily lives.”

As a wine educator, Zhang aims to make wine more accessible to Chinese customers by breaking down the cultural biases associated with wine. The perceived prestige of wine linked to Western culture, in his opinion, can be a barrier to new wine enthusiasts in China.

“For the average consumer, wine feels distant and foreign. It lacks a place in our cultural context, and many concepts, such as tannins or body, can be confusing without a background in overseas study,” he explains.

Zhang also points out that certain so-called wine culture classes and etiquette lessons—focusing on the right glasses or decanting techniques—can deepen this divide, making wine more esoteric and distant.  

“We need more professionals in the industry to clearly and thoroughly communicate the essence of wine, rather than using flashy, irrelevant jargon,” he stresses.