The events were hosted by Eduardo Chadwick, President of Viña Errázuriz, along with renowned wine personalities, including Steven Spurrier, Consultant Editor of Decanter Magazine, and Fong Yee Walker, leading wine personality in China and recognized as the first Master of Wine in China.
(Shanghai, September 3rd 2016).- The celebrations of The Berlin Tasting 10th Anniversary reached its worldwide climax with two spectacular closing events held in Shanghai. These included a Master Class followed by a Gala Dinner, both hosted by the protagonists of this milestone that established the world-class status of Chilean wines.
Both events were held to commemorate the legendary blind tasting initiative that toured more than 17 countries and reached over 1,400 wine experts who participated in bias-free blind tastings and consistently positioned the Chilean wines among the top 3 places in 20 out of 22 events, achieving a remarkable 90% success rate if the overall preferences, thereby establishing Chile’s place amongst the world’s greatest wine appellations.
In words of Eduardo Chadwick, “These celebrations we are hosting today in Shanghai are not just commemorating the Berlin Tasting’s 10th Anniversary World Tour, it is much more than that: it is the culmination of this epic journey that started 12 years ago in Berlin, which has reached the status of a legendary event and has become a true milestone for wine history thanks to the consistent recognition of the world-class status of our wines, granted by top connoisseurs worldwide. On this joyful occasion I wish to thank all the professionals, wine lovers, key customers and friends for their contribution in helping establish Chile’s place amongst the world’s greatest appellations.”
Steven Spurrier, creator of the famed Judgment of Paris and Consultant Editor of Decanter Magazine added, “All good things have to come to an end, and Eduardo Chadwick’s Master Class and Gala Dinner held in Shanghai completes the celebratory tour for the Icon Wines Don Maximiano, Seña and Viñedo Chadwick that he launched in 2014. I am honoured to be a part of it”.
Fong Yee Walker MW, on her side, commented: “I am very excited to be taking part in such a historical tasting, not only to celebrate the final climax of the world wine tour of The Berlin Tasting Anniversary Celebration, but also to explore and enjoy the wines that truly made history, which showed the greatness of Chilean wines”.
The Master Class was held at the Jing An Shangri-La Hotel in Shanghai, and gathered top wine specialized press, sommeliers, wine experts and trade members. Wines presented on the occasion were Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 1983, 2005 and 2012; KAI 2006 –the very same vintage that was placed first in The Berlin Tasting held in New York on 2010; Seña 1996, 2007 and 2013; and Viñedo Chadwick 2000 –same vintage that was placed first on the original 2004 Berlin Tasting- and 2014, the first Chilean wine to be recognized with a perfect 100 points score.
On the Gala Dinner, VIP guests enjoyed selected vintages of the Chilean Icon wines that participated in the Berlin Tastings held around the world over the past 10 years, all of which were carefully chosen: KAI 2013 –the current vintage of this iconic Carmenere-, Seña 1997 –to display its ageing potential- and Seña 2013 –awarded with 99 points by James Suckling; Don Maximiano Founder’s Reserve 2005–first place at the 2008 Berlin Tasting in Beijing- and 2013 –current vintage of this emblematic wine for Viña Errázuriz-; and Viñedo Chadwick 2000, plus the unreleased 2014 vintage.
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I don’t think he was expecting at all to do as well as he did, but I think having done it, it was an educational experience further than he had planned, because instead of just educating the 40 or 50 people in the room, he educated the entire world.
When Eduardo and I first discussed the concept of this blind tasting format, I told him to brace himself for disappointment, especially given the popularity of Bordeaux reds in this part of the world. I was completely wrong in my warning and I am truly surprised by the results…
Until that point only Eduardo knew what he had in his hands. Today the whole world knows… By reaching indisputable recognition in the world wine scene, Eduardo Chadwick’s wines have clearly demonstrated Chile’s tremendous vitivinicultural potential and have helped Chilean wines earn greater space and credibility in the international market.
These tastings definitely have had an impact on how many influential members of the American wine trade view Chile today. So I see them as invaluable to promoting Chile’s well- deserved image as a source for world-class wine that can sit alongside the best that the rest of the world has to offer.
One enterprising Chilean wine producer, Eduardo Chadwick of Viña Errázuriz, has managed to organise a similar evolutionary milestone for the Chilean wine industry—or at least of his own wines… at what will doubtless come to be known in the history of Chilean wine as the “Berlin Tasting”
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