{"id":11186,"date":"2025-07-18T20:31:31","date_gmt":"2025-07-18T12:31:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/terroirsense.com\/?p=11186"},"modified":"2025-08-22T20:52:27","modified_gmt":"2025-08-22T12:52:27","slug":"8th-discover-china-inaugural-2025-china-france-terroir-wine-tea-symposium-highlights-recap","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/terroirsense.com\/en\/p\/11186.html","title":{"rendered":"8th \u201cDiscover China\u201d Inaugural 2025 China\u2013France Terroir Wine & Tea Symposium: Highlights Recap"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dates:<\/strong>\u00a0July 7\u201310, 2025
\nLocation:<\/strong>\u00a0Burgundy, France<\/p>\n

The 8th\u00a0Discover China<\/em>\u00a0program was held together with the\u00a01st China\u2013France Terroir Wine & Tea Symposium & Exchange<\/strong>, achieving a resounding success in Burgundy!<\/p>\n

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Over the past decade\u2014and thanks to the strong support of the International Terroir Association (AIT) and many partners\u2014TasteSpirit & TerroirSense has successfully organized seven International Terroir Symposiums and seven\u00a0Discover China Wine Summits<\/em>. These initiatives have connected 1,000+ leading terroir-driven estates from 20 countries, nearly 300 top growers & experts, and tens of thousands of Chinese trade professionals and enthusiasts.<\/p>\n

This year\u2019s China\u2013France wine & tea terroir activities naturally extend and elevate the\u00a0Discover China Wine Summit<\/em>\u00a0by bringing\u00a0Chinese terroir products beyond wine\u2014beginning with tea\u2014into direct, face\u2011to\u2011face dialogue with the international community of top terroir wines.\u00a0It marks the first exploratory practice of taking multiple Chinese terroir products abroad for real, on\u2011the\u2011ground exchange.<\/p>\n

I. Global & Bilateral Institutional Support Converges<\/strong><\/p>\n

Jointly organized by the\u00a0International Terroir Association (AIT)\u00a0and\u00a0TasteSpirit & TerroirSense, the event was officially included in the\u00a0\u201c10th Anniversary of the Burgundy Climats\u2019 Inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List\u201d\u00a0commemorative program. It received full support from:<\/p>\n

the\u00a0International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV);<\/p>\n

Burgundy Wine Interprofessional Council (BIVB);<\/p>\n

Embassy of the People\u2019s Republic of China in France;<\/p>\n

Embassy of France in China;<\/p>\n

Metropole Government of Dijon (capital of the Burgundy Region);<\/p>\n

Climats of the Burgundy Vineyards \u2013 UNESCO World Heritage;<\/p>\n

F\u00e9d\u00e9ration des N\u00e9gociants\u2011\u00c9leveurs de Grande Bourgogne (FNEB);<\/p>\n

and other key institutions.<\/p>\n

OIV listed the event among its officially supported activities for the year and published it on its website\u2014an important milestone recognizing China\u2019s terroir industries on the world stage.<\/p>\n

Aubert de Villaine<\/strong>, global terroir luminary, Honorary President of both AIT and the Climats Association attended in person to deliver opening remarks.<\/p>\n

Hao Linhai<\/strong>, founding President of the Ningxia Helan Mountain East Foothill Wine Federation and recipient of the OIV Honorary Award\u2014sent a congratulatory video message and delivered a video keynote:\u00a0\u201cChinese Terroir Goes Global\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

Representing the\u00a0Chinese Embassy in France, Ms. Li Qiaoqiao and Mr. L\u00fc Jianan<\/strong> traveled from Paris to Burgundy to show support and participate throughout the symposium.<\/p>\n

Sophie Pallas<\/strong>, Director of External Relations at OIV, personally addressed the congratulation speech on July 9, and on July 10 welcomed the Chinese delegation to OIV Headquarters for meetings with departmental heads.<\/p>\n

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Aubert de Villaine, Jacky Rigaux, Thibault Liger\u2011Belair.<\/p>\n

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II. A Historic Deep Dialogue Between Sino\u2011French Terroir Heartlands \u2013 Burgundy\u2019s Leading Names Gather in Support<\/strong><\/p>\n

Held in Burgundy\u2014celebrated worldwide as a terroir wine holy land\u2014the event brought together leading domaines and maisons representing world\u2011class terroir standards, including:\u00a0Domaine de Villaine; Domaine Jacques Prieur; Maison Bouchard P\u00e8re & Fils; Domaine Faiveley; Domaine Arlaud; Maison Edouard Delaunay; Domaine Ponsot, Domoaine Muzard, Domaine William F\u00e8vre, Domaine Boris Champy, Domaine Ren\u00e9 Bouvier; Domaine Thibault Liger\u2011Belair, <\/strong>and others (12 top Burgundy estates in total). Principals attended personally to share and engage in dialogue. Core Burgundy terroir research, governance, and communications bodies\u2014Climats Association, BIVB, FNEB<\/strong>, and more\u2014participated in full support.<\/p>\n

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III. Chinese Terroir Wine & Tea Delegation Makes Its First Collective Appearance in a core international terroir wine region<\/strong><\/p>\n

A six\u2011estate delegation representing terroir heartlands in\u00a0Ningxia, Shandong, Yunnan, and Xizang, together with one\u00a0Wuyi Mountain (Core production zone) rock tea estate\u00a0from Fujian, formed the Chinese contingent. Participating estates included\u00a0Helan Qingxue, Legacy Peak, Shangri\u2011La, Dameiyong, Xiaoling, Longting, and the\u00a0Tianxin Mingyue Tea Estate; proprietors and technical leads attended in person. Through presentations, tastings, and dialogue, the group offered a systematic introduction to Chinese terroir ecology, flavor expression, and the cultural philosophy behind them\u2014sparking lively Sino\u2011French exchange.<\/p>\n

AIT President\u00a0Thibault Liger\u2011Belair, AIT Vice President\u00a0Jacky Rigaux, AIT Secretary\u2011General & TasteSpirit Co\u2011Founder\u00a0Gao Xiang, and TasteSpirit Co\u2011Founder\u00a0Zhu Siwei\u00a0jointly proposed the cultural & industry theme of\u00a0\u201cTea & Wine Co\u2011Flourishing.\u201d\u00a0By placing exemplary Chinese tea and wine alongside top Burgundy top terroir wines for co\u2011tasting and shared interpretation, the program extended Eastern and Western terroir concepts from ecological agriculture & craft into broader industry and cultural dimensions\u2014opening a new conversational pathway for co\u2011creating Sino\u2011French terroir civilization.<\/p>\n

Creatively advancing the concept\u00a0\u201cTea & Wine Co\u2011Flourish; Terroirs Illuminate One Another,\u201d\u00a0the symposium adopted the theme\u00a0\u201cOnly Through Terroir Do We Attain Great Wine & Fine Tea.\u201d<\/strong>\u00a0For the first time, Chinese wine, Chinese tea (Wuyi core zone rock oolong), and French finest terroir wine were placed within the same terroir\u2011culture framework for an enriching dialogue. Terroir is not only the agricultural and technical foundation of quality\u2014it is also a bridge of civilizational exchange, revealing the deep resonance and convergence between Chinese and French terroir worldviews.<\/p>\n

Chinese wine & tea leading producers engaged with AIT and TasteSpirit after and during the event, unanimously praising its success. They expressed strengthened confidence in the outlook for Sino\u2011French cultural & professional exchange around terroir wines and teas.<\/p>\n

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After a year of intensive preparation, TasteSpirit Co\u2011Founder & Editor\u2011in\u2011Chief\u00a0Zhu Siwei<\/strong>\u00a0and an advisory team curated representative Chinese wine & tea terroir estates for targeted invitation and selected the line\u2011up of wines and teas for symposium exchange. With careful planning by all parties, the inaugural China\u2013France terroir exchange program comprised\u00a0five key components:<\/strong><\/p>\n

1. Visits to top Burgundy terroir domaines;<\/p>\n

2. Exploration & understanding of the Burgundy Climats;<\/p>\n

3. High\u2011level Sino\u2011French dialogue on tea & wine terroir;<\/strong><\/p>\n

4. Professional masterclasses;<\/p>\n

5. Public wine & tea showcase.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Day 1| July 7:\u00a0 Burgundy Terroir Explorations<\/strong><\/p>\n

Led personally by world\u2011renowned wine writer & critic\u00a0Jacky Rigaux\u00a0and TasteSpirit Co\u2011Founder\u00a0Gao Xiang, the delegation visited top Burgundy domaines for in\u2011depth tours and tastings. Legendary proprietors and winemakers offered direct instruction on the mysteries of Burgundy terroir\u2014giving Chinese & French proprietors and winemakers the most immediate, immersive, and multi\u2011dimensional opportunity to explore terroir face\u2011to\u2011face.<\/p>\n

Domaine de Villaine<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded by\u00a0Aubert de Villaine\u2014the iconic co\u2011owner of Domaine de la Roman\u00e9e\u2011Conti\u2014the estate sits in Burgundy\u2019s C\u00f4te Chalonnaise. Carrying forward DRC\u2019s spirit of uncompromising excellence, M. de Villaine and his nephew, current proprietor\u00a0Pierre de Benoist, have devoted themselves to revealing the finest terroir expression of the C\u00f4te Chalonnaise. Under their stewardship, the once nearly marginalized heirloom Burgundy variety\u00a0Aligot\u00e9 Dor\u00e9 (Golden Aligot\u00e9)\u00a0has returned to glory, showing outstanding site expression and varietal promise.<\/p>\n

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Domaine Ren\u00e9 Bouvier<\/strong><\/p>\n

Established in 1910, this leading estate in northern Burgundy\u2019s \u201cGolden Gateway\u201d appellation\u00a0Marsannay. Current proprietor\u00a0Bernard Bouvier\u2014forward\u2011thinking and bold\u2014enthusiastically serves as President of the Marsannay appellation association. The domaine\u2019s wines regularly appear on the wine lists of numerous Michelin restaurants in France.<\/p>\n

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Day 2| July 8:\u00a0 Burgundy Climats heritage<\/strong><\/p>\n

Domaine Jacques Prieur<\/strong><\/p>\n

Founded in 1868, Jacques Prieur commands\u00a0many Grand Cru <\/strong>across Burgundy\u2014an extraordinary terroir portfolio that places it among the region\u2019s elites. For many years, the estate\u2019s Director of Winemaking has been\u00a0Nadine Gublin<\/strong>, prot\u00e9g\u00e9 of the legendary Henri Jayer, under her guidance, both quality and precision of terroir expression have continued to advance.<\/p>\n

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 <\/p>\n

Maison Bouchard P\u00e8re & Fils<\/strong><\/p>\n

One of Burgundy\u2019s oldest historic merchant\u2011grower houses\u2014founded in\u00a01731\u2014Bouchard P\u00e8re & Fils is often called a \u201cliving fossil\u201d of Burgundy wine culture. The house holds significant holdings in key Grand Cru terroirs. It is now part of\u00a0Artemis Domaines, the wine group of the luxury conglomerate\u00a0Kering\u00a0. Since joining Artemis, the estate has pursued site re\u2011alignment and portfolio optimization, underscoring a commitment to elevating quality and brand stature. During our visit,\u00a0Gilles de Larouzi\u00e8re\u2014President of the Climats Association and Chair of the Supervisory Board of Artemis Domaines\u2014together with the winemaking team, guided us directly in the Montrachet Grand Cru vineyard.<\/p>\n

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Understanding and tasting of Climats wines<\/strong><\/p>\n

The delegation visited the\u00a0Cit\u00e9 des Climats et Vins de Bourgogne\u00a0to tour the permanent exhibit\u00a0\u201cWorld Heritage: Terroir of the Burgundy Vineyards.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Later,\u00a0Sylvain Naulin, Managing Director of the BIVB, delivered opening remarks, followed by a\u00a0Climats Wines and Terroir Tasting Method Masterclass\u00a0led by\u00a0Jacky Rigaux.<\/p>\n

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Day 3| July 9: East\u2013West Terroir Culture Dialogue<\/strong><\/p>\n

As the centerpiece of the Sino\u2011French tea & wine terroir dialogue, the symposium adopted the theme\u00a0\u201cOnly Through Terroir Do We Attain Great Wine & Fine Tea.\u201d<\/p>\n

The gathering took place in the 300\u2011year\u2011old ancestral home of\u00a0Domaine Thibault Liger\u2011Belair\u00a0in Nuits\u2011Saint\u2011Georges.<\/p>\n

More than 50 proprietors, winemakers, and wine writers participated. Distinguished supporters in attendance included: AIT President\u00a0Thibault Liger\u2011Belair<\/strong>; OIV External Relations Director\u00a0Sophie Pallas; BIVB President\u00a0Laurent Delaunay\u00a0and Managing Director\u00a0Sylvain Naulin; Climats Association President Gilles de Larouzi\u00e8re; Climats Association Co\u2011President\u00a0Cyprien Arlaud; FNEB Managing Director\u00a0Pierre Gernelle; Marsannay Association President\u00a0Bernard Bouvier; noted French wine author\u00a0Jacky Rigaux; G\u00e9rard Ferri\u00e8re, Advisor to the president of Dijon Metropole, and J\u00e9r\u00e9my Penquer, Director of Major Projects for Dijon; and\u00a0Laurent Vialette, President of the International Wine Tasting Panel\u2014among many others.<\/p>\n

AIT Vice President\u00a0Jacky Rigaux\u00a0and AIT Secretary\u2011General \/ TasteSpirit Co\u2011Founder\u00a0Gao Xiang\u00a0co\u2011hosted and delivered opening remarks.<\/p>\n

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Gao Xiang with Aubert de Villaine and Jacky Rigaux.<\/p>\n

They were followed by addresses from:<\/p>\n

Aubert de Villaine, Honorary President of AIT & Climats Association<\/p>\n

Thibault Liger\u2011Belair, President of AIT & GEST<\/p>\n

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Because of scheduling conflicts,\u00a0M. Hao Linhai sent greetings and delivered the video talk\u00a0\u201cChinese Terroir Goes Global\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Sophie Pallas\u00a0(OIV) speaking.<\/p>\n

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Laurent Delaunay speaking.<\/p>\n

\"\"Gilles de Larouzi\u00e8re speaking.<\/p>\n

Wuyi Rock Tea Shared Across Cultures<\/strong><\/p>\n

Following the opening addresses,\u00a0Chen Kechun, 3rd\u2011generation inheritor of the\u00a0Tianxin Mingyue Tea Estate\u00a0in the core zone of Wuyi Mountain rock tea, shared five classic Wuyi rock oolongs with all Chinese and French producers. As the teas opened in the cup\u2014unfurling mineral structure and floral fragrance\u2014vignerons marveled at their intricacy and layered depth. Just as Burgundy\u2019s\u00a0Climats\u00a0capture terroir nuance, Wuyi\u2019s mountain sites embody the harmony of heaven, earth, and humanity. At that moment East\u2011West terroir wisdom met; tea and wine reflected each other, and resonance quietly took root.<\/p>\n