The ultimate Shanghai wine shop guide

Fancy a little vino but not sure where to go? Or perhaps you're looking for a new place to sample a new varietal. Here's our rundown on the top wine merchants in Shanghai, that can provide knowledge, variety and a lot of good drinking, whatever your taste and budget.

Just Grapes 

Keeping it simple for the layman 

The Shanghai wine shop breakdown: A boutique wine shop chain with a selection of 400 wines, Just Grapes is all about making wine more accessible to the uninitiated and casual wine drinker. Every bottle of wine is labeled with stickers that indicate the flavor structures. Your wine can be "fresh," "smooth," "rich," "special" or all of the above. Borrow one of their wine reference books and read all about terroir and tannins as you sip your wine in the quiet, second-floor wine lounge. Just Grapes gets brownie points for late hours (they are open until 1am) and a yummy lasagna.

Keep in mind: Not every staffer can offer wine recommendations, so you might have to rely on just those stickers. When we’re looking for a new wine to try, our go-to guy is manager Ian Dai. He's obsessed with wine.

Best for: Casual wine drinkers who want (some) guidance, range and affordability. 

Recommended (under RMB 250):
Red: Warwick Pinotage (RMB 248).
Description: “Minty chocolate and raspberry nose, sweet and spicy on the palate. A great choice with soy-braised meat and fish,” according to Dai.

White: Casa Lapostolle Sauvignon Blanc (RMB 218). 
Description: “Fresh on the nose, full with sweet citrus, white flower and pear flavor and a slightly mineral finish.”

Not-to-be-missed bottles:
Red: Col d'Orcia Rosso di Montalcino (RMB 348). 
White: Arboleda Sauvignon Blanc (RMB 358).

"These wines can really represent the terroir, the culture, the grape and work people put into making a good wine,” says Dai.

Management says:
"Our objective is to make wine more accessible and the flavors more approachable. Diversity is key to our selection -- we carry wines that represent the majority of terroirs around the world."

462 Dagu Lu, near Shimen Yi Lu 大沽路462号, 近石门一路, +86 21 3311 3205; 162 Anfu Lu, near Wulumuqi Zhong Lu 安福路162号, 近乌鲁木齐中路, +86 21 5404 6505

Globus Wine

Hip to small producers, high quality 

The Shanghai wine shop breakdown: With a selection of (almost) 300 retail wines and up to a dozen wines by the glass, Globus is a nifty wine shop with a slight wine bar bent. Expect a selection of boutique wines and lots of Champagne, the company’s specialty import. Globus Wine’s Ferguson Lane shop looks so nice you expect to be gouged, but the range of prices and wines is surprisingly diverse. 

Keep in mind: We’ve had mixed luck with staffers here in terms of getting general recommendations. Best to bring a friend who knows wine or narrow it down to a few bottles and then ask for advice from the attendants.

Best for: Casual wine lovers looking for a hip neighborhood wine shop.

Recommended (under RMB 250):
Red: Le Pensees de Pallus Chinon (RMB 228)
Description: Retail manager Russell Lichtenthal says, “This wine is medium body with an intense nose of pure, red fruits, hints of bell pepper, balanced acidity and medium length finish. It is 100 percent Cabernet Franc from the Loire valley.”

White: Prudhon, Bourgogne Blanc (RMB 220)
Description: “A-well made entry level wine from an outstanding producer. This wine is young and fresh, vibrant with fresh, well integrated acidity, citrus notes, exotic fruits, and a clean finish with a hair of complexity to it.”

Not-to-miss bottle:
Egly-Ouriet "les vignes de vrigny" first cru RMB 598.

Lichtenthal says, “This producer is one of the most acclaimed producers in Champagne today. This particular wine is made from a single vineyard and is 100 percent Pinot Meunier, a grape that is usually used for blending, never as a pure wine. They produce their wines in a biodynamic and organic practice. It is truly one of the star wines of Champagne.”

Management says:
“Globus caters to many different types of customers. Our most modest wines range from around RMB 60 all the way up to RMB 19,500! But that is an extreme case of one bottle of Screaming Eagle. In general we do have wines in almost every price point.”

Ferguson Lane, 376 Wukang Lu, near Hunan Lu 武康路376号, 近湖南路, +86 21 5465 2774, +86 21 6466 8969; Highstreet LOFT, Jianguo Xi Lu, Lane 283, Bldg 5, near Jiashan Lu 建国西路283弄5号, 近嘉善路, +86 21 5466 1575

Yangjiu

Everything from top of the line to bargain basement wine

The Shanghai wine shop breakdown: If you’re looking for a decent to good bottle of wine for under RMB150, Yangjiu.com is your best friend. This website is always offering ridiculously low prices on wine, with boatloads on sale during any Chinese or Western holiday. Competitive prices on Champagne (they are currently selling Moet & Chandon for a steal at RMB 399), Wine Spectator Top 100, Robert Parker rated wines and an inventory of 500 products (including wine, liquor and gourmet food items) also attract big spenders. Delivery is free and within 24 hours.

Keep in mind: You’ll get lower prices, but no help in selecting your wines, although Yangjiu does offer wine classes every Friday where you can taste some of the product. 

Best for: 1. Budget winos 2. People who purchase in bulk or 3. experienced wine drinkers who know exactly what they want.

Recommended (under RMB 250):
Red: Croix-Belle Caringole Red 2007 (RMB 78).
Description: According to manager Matthieu Liard, “This is a Syrah, Carignan and Merlot blend from the Languedoc area in France, a simple, very well made wine with aromas of dark berries and a bit of spice. Domaine Croix Belle was elected best value winery in the Languedoc area by Wine Spectator in 2009.”

White: Bojador White 2007 (RMB 98).
Description: “Made with Sauvignon Blanc from Bordeaux, France. This wine is crisp, fruity, and refreshing. A perfect summertime white -- summer might be finally coming," says Liard. "It’s made by JM Cazes, owner and winemaker at Chateau Lynch Bages (one the best Bordeaux classified growths)."

Not-to-be-missed bottle:
Chateau Dalem 2005 (RMB 660).

Made with 90 percent Merlot, 10 percent Cabernet Franc from Fronsac AOC (in Bordeaux) this wine boasts 88 out of 100 from Wine Spectator and 89 out of 100 Robert Parker. Not too shabby. "2005 is also the best vintage of the past 50 years in Bordeaux," explains Liard. "This Chateau Dalem wine is packed with ripe fruits with a very complex structure. It’s an extremely elegant wine. This one is a standout because most of the great 2005 Bordeaux are either unaffordable or not ready to drink now."

Management says:
According to Liard, “I don't see online as a threat to traditional shops, we just offer a different type of service. That said, our prices are more competitive than traditional shops. Shopping at Yangjiu.com will also spare you the ordeal of getting out of home, taking and paying for the taxi and carrying your bags.”

Napa Reserve

For the love of California

The Shanghai wine shop breakdown: This shop is a leading supplier of California wine in China. They carry a selection of 140 wines from 60 wineries and 90 percent of the wines come from Napa. The shelves are dominated by bottles from family-owned boutique wineries and some “cult wines” that wine lovers who have spent time in the sunshine state will recognize. Expect to pay a medium to high price for a taste of Napa.

Keep in mind: You’ll find nothing but niche wines from California here. Not that it’s a bad thing.

Best for: People who love Californian wines and love California.

Recommended (under RMB 250):
Honig Sauvignon Blanc 2006 (RMB 219).
Description: 97.6 percent Sauvignon Blanc and 2.4 percent Semillon. Robert Parker writes: “One of California’s top specialists in Sauvignon Blanc, Honig fashions fresh, lively, grapefruit-scented and flavored Sauvignons. Their 2006 Sauvignon Blanc is a classic, fresh, lively example displaying scents of lemon oil and other citrus in a light to medium-bodied style.”

Not-to-be-missed bottles:
Red: Chateau Montelena 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon (RMB 560).
Description: Wine Advocate says: “The soft, round 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon Napa possesses good berry fruit, seductive tannins. It represents a very fine glass of Cabernet for enjoying over the next six to seven years.”

White: Rombauer 2006 Carneros Chardonnay (RMB 392).
Description: According to General Manager Zeon Chow, "Rombauer Chardonnays are known to be rich, creamy, and full-bodied. The 2006 vintage exhibits aromas and flavors of peach, apple and mango, along with the creamy texture of Asian pears, and a complex, lingering finish."

Management says:
When we asked if Chow offering just one region’s wines put them at a disadvantage, he told us, “Californian wines are what we know best and what we have passion for. It doesn’t fit everyone’s taste, but we have a loyal clientele.”

383 Weihai Lu, near Qinghai Lu 威海路383号, 近青海路, +86 21 6340 0493, www.napareservewines.com

Wine Way

The Fudan of wine

The Shanghai wine shop breakdown: Okay, maybe it’s a bit of an exaggeration to call Wine Way the Fudan of wine, but we have our reasons. We’ve noticed that this shop attracts some of the most knowledgeable wine lovers in town, who come to browse the selection of 480 wines, taste the seasonal wines in the enomatic wine system and talk to Marcus Ford, who in turn is always talking to the novices about the virtues of wine. Yep, there’s a definite learning vibe down in this corner of Ferguson lane.

Keep in mind: You might become keenly fascinated by wine and spend all your time here.

Best for: Wine lovers and wine novices who are ready to go beyond the Carrefour selection.

Recommended (under RMB 250):
Red: Merlot blend, Concha y Toro “Trio”, Chile 2007 (RMB 189).
Description: Ford says, “This one is for lovers of big, sweet-fruited and rich wines. Yummy!”

White: Viognier, "The Y Series", Yalumba, Barossa Valley, Australia 2008 (RMB 159).
Description: “There’s soft oak, it’s peachy with a floral palate. Good length and balance. I love this wine, it has an incredibly sweet, floral peachy nose but a wonderful acidity to balance. A much underrated and extremely versatile wine.”

Not-to-be-missed bottle:
Zinfandel blend, Ridge “Geyserville”, USA, California 2006 (RMB 699).
Description: “This one is spicy, full bodied and rich with tons of dark fruit character. It’s a super sophisticated version of Zinfandel. There are so many wines in this not to miss bottle, but this week I feel like this one,” adds Ford.

Management says:
“Balance is the key so that in every region and at every price point we have a quality offering of which we are proud. Our tasting machines are also a great tool for customers and staff alike. For us it provides instant feedback on an individual’s tastes and preferences. The great skill is to be able to interpret a customer’s likes and dislikes and recommend wines according to their feedback.”

376 Wukang Lu, near Tai'an Lu 武康路376号, 近泰安路, +86 21 6090 7075