可以搜索公号【璐璐的英文小酒馆】或者添加【luluxjg2】咨询课程or加入社群，查看文稿和其他精彩内容哦~
The project is funded by “Top Taste Original, High Quality Products from Europe,” an European Union campaign promoting the Consortium of Abruzzo Wines and the Piave DOP Cheese Consortium.
Hi everyone, and welcome back to your favorite segment Global Village. In today's episode, we have in our studio two special guests, Michele and Elliott.
Michele is an old friend to the show and has appeared in a few episodes. He's currently based in Shanghai and owns a wine importing business, specializing in Italian wines. Elliot is the founder of his own wine import business as well as the owner of the popular wine bistro in Shanghai. Both are wine experts, obviously. Welcome to the show, Michele and Elliott.
Hi, lulu. (Michele)
Thank you. Great to be here.(Elliott)
Great to talk to you again.
Today we're going to be talking about Italian wines from the Abruzzo region. But first of all, can you guys give us a brief self introduction about your businesses? Let's give the opportunity to Elliot first.
Hi, my name is Elliot Shay, I’ve been in the wine business off and on for about 20 years. I started my wine import company in China about 10 years ago, focusing mostly on wines from Europe, one of my specialties with Italian wines; and then a couple of years ago I started a wine bistro called Crush that aims to pair amazing wines with more American pan-Asian fusion food.
Okay. It sounds fantastic, I Love sort of the fusion in food.
And Michele, I know that you've introduced yourself several times on the show, but could you still briefly give us an introduction?
Sure. So I'm Italian. I live in Shanghai since almost 15 years and I am in the wine business since ten almost. I'm also a sommelier from the Italian Sommelier Association (品酒师协会). I know Elliott since long time and we also sometimes work together within his bistro.
Okay, all right. So after the self introduction, I would like to jump directly into the whole Abruzzo wine topic. First of all, I would like to ask you to as individuals, what is your impression, not just as an importer or restaurant owner, but as just a wine drinker, wine lover, what is your impression of Abruzzo wine? Elliot?
I think that the ones from Abruzzo are quite versatile, really easy drinking, but also unique and complex at the same time, both the reds and the whites. I was actually quite surprised when I first tried them because I didn't think that they were gonna be as good as they really are.
Okay, what about you? Michele?
I totally agree with Elliot on this part of the versatility of the wines they have. They are very good in different kinds of occasions. And according to the style, you can use it really, have a very wide applicability in the food pairing, and also not to forget that value for money, it's extremely high for an Italian wine especially.
So that was your individual opinion. What about as an importer? I know for a fact that Elliot, as your import business actually carries... actually sells some of the Abruzzo wines and you also serve them in your bistro, right?
Yes, that's correct.
And can I ask about like your customers, do they like Abruzzo wine?
I think at first, they were kind of questioning what is this wine and then also confusing Montepulciano with the Tuscany region as well. But after explaining it to them, and having them tried multiple wines, I think they've gradually become more acceptable to try more wines from the region and have really enjoyed them.
Sounds great.
Michele, you're from Italy, then back in Italy, what's people's opinion about Abruzzo wine? Is it one of those, I know Italy has so many famous, world famous wine regions. How does Abruzzo feature Italian ranking?
Actually, in Italy, we have this problem that we are this huge, wide range of varieties of grape, varieties and wine varieties that we have. It's also sometimes a limit. So we drink a lot of local wines.