Chinese wine sighting

I need some advice. Yesterday on a run through one of the local grocery stores, a sign on an aisle-end display caught my eye: "Marco Polo Red," I believe it read. It turned out to be a first in my experience, wine imported from China. Complete with a plastic fishnet mesh sleeve on the bottle and a descriptive tag hanging on the neck, it was priced at $10 - for three bottles. I picked up a bottle to check out the label and then stood there, torn between curiosity and fear (of several kinds) about what the bottle might contain. In the end, caution won out and I reluctantly returned the bottle to the display. Did I do the right thing or in the name of scientific research should I correct my mistake when I next visit that store?

Did I do the right thing or in the name of scientific research should I correct my mistake when I next visit that store?

I would say that decision would rest entirely on just how much of a risk taker you are!

I would say that decision would rest entirely on just how much of a risk taker you are!

I have nothing against inexpensive and I'm perfectly willing to taste something that might taste bad in order to satisfy my curiosity. Given the source and the price, though, I wonder about what besides the traditional constituents of wine might be in the bottle. Melamine in milk and funny pine nuts come to mind. I recognize the odds of a problem are probably low but are they lower than the odds of a pleasurable tasting experience in this case? I guess I could compromise on one mouthful

Melamine in milk and funny pine nuts come to mind.

...yes, and leaded dinnerware, antifreeze in the cat food, poison wallboard, etc.,etc. No, I think I'd pass on it Mark. You don't want to take that fateful mouthful only to find out down the road about the plutonium you've ingested!

Mark,

I travel to China regularly on business. The food and beverage industry both have modern practices and controls, so I don't think that you need to be concerned about contaminants. However, the quality of Chinese wines is another matter entirely. I have tasted many, none of which have even been remotely palatable. If you have the $10 to spare it might be interesting to give the Polo a swig and see what you think. I have not tried that particular Chinese wine, but would be interested in hearing your opinion. Based on my personal experience Chinese wines I would suggesting chilling the wine a bit and giving it about an hour in a decanter.

PS: The Chinese love Bordeaux of an level. The stuff sells for a king's ransom over there. I may have told the story before, but it is common for a dinner host to have his Chateau Lafite/Margaux /etc. brought around for the dinner party to view before serving his guests another wine of much lower quality.

If you have the $10 to spare

Sam, thanks for the reassurance. Note that the price on this stuff is *three* for ten bucks, which means I had more reason than just country of origin to make me skeptical about the quality of the wine. I'm constantly in search of good value in wine but Chinese or otherwise, that's price point I don't often visit. I think I will pick up a bottle if it's still there on my next visit to that store. As long as I know I'm not going to be poisoned it would be a very inexpensive way to indulge my curiosity

As long as I know I'm not going to be poisoned it would be a very inexpensive way to indulge my curiosity.

Mark,

The price makes it worth a shot. If it's really bad toss in some fruit, sugar, lemonade and triple sec and make Sangria.

I've traveled to China many times over the past five years. Other than the occasional case of "Chairman Mao's revenge" sending me scurrying to the restroom, I have never had a serious issue with food or drink.

Mark, I've never seen a Chinese wine in Florida and would be dying to know what you think of it. I also have been in China many times on business and never had the slightest problem with anything I ate or drank there. In fact, most of the food was pretty darn good. I stopped traveling there quite a few years ago so I have no experience with Chinese wine. Let us know if you work up the courage to try it.


PS.... I think we're going to be seeing a lot of Chinese wine here soon. The Chinese equivalent of Two Buck Chuck is probably already here and might be what's in your store. I expect higher quality wines pretty soon. It'll be very interesting to see the effect on the wine industry here and around the world.

Here is a wine I pointed out to Bart Broadbent when he started to import a chinese wine...he got a good laugh about it.

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=htt ... BA&dur=702

Mark,
Have you never poured a $10 or more bottle down the drain, disdaining even to think about putting in in a vinegar jar?
So what's the big deal about pouring out three $3.33 bottles? (Ok, one of them cost a penny extra.)

Over the years, I've had many wines from China. A long time back, I tried a couple which were available at the local Asian supermarket. Then I started taking regular business trips there, and was frequently served Chinese wine at KTVs (karaoke bars) or at other social events on someone else's tab.

Can't say I cared for any of them - but it's certainly worthwhile to try one, just to indulge one's curiosity. I do it all the time when I see wines from countries like Moldova, Montenegro, or Peru.

By the way I ended up getting sent to China on a two-year assignment. Other than the odd Inner Mongolia wine, I stuck to stuff like Montepulciano D'Abruzzo and Valpolicella during my stint there.

I've traveled to China many times over the past five years. Other than the occasional case of "Chairman Mao's revenge" sending me scurrying to the restroom, I have never had a serious issue with food or drink.

Likewise, only got mildly sick from food once during two years living in China. It was at a Russian restaurant. Though some of my fellow expats avoided it, I ate street food all the time because it was quick, cheap and very convenient - many vendors right on the street on which i lived. Ate from many different vendors and a wide variety of food, and never had a problem.

Mark,
Have you never poured a $10 or more bottle down the drain, disdaining even to think about putting in in a vinegar jar?
So what's the big deal about pouring out three $3.33 bottles? (Ok, one of them cost a penny extra.)

Lots of times. Or more often, if the wine wasn't interesting enough to drink but also not faulty, reserved it for cooking. As I wrote before, I was torn. Wanting to taste my first Chinese wine balanced against the long odds of finding something drinkable from anywhere for $3.33 per bottle. Or even $3.34 It was a close thing but a slight but non-zero concern about the safety of the contents tipped the balance, I think. Having been reassurred by folks here on that score, though, I plan to pick up a bottle this week if it's still around. As thrills go, it would definitely be a cheap one.