Formerly a dismal place for wine lovers, a brand-new crop of boutiques and tasting rooms are expanding the city’s palate.
In a country where the harsh Baijiu spirit is often the alcohol of choice, Shanghai had been a dismal place for wine lovers. Five years ago, only a handful of top restaurants even offered wine lists with imported vintages. But, as in the rest of China, things are changing fast and wine bars have cropped up all over Shanghai in recent years. These new venues have attracted the city’s large foreign population and introduced wine to status-conscious locals with money to spend. The budding market means a lot of flux: Some promising wine shops seem to open one day and shut their doors the next. Still, the explosion of interest means there’s never been a better time to enjoy a glass of wine in Shanghai. Here are the city’s most intriguing new options. – From WSJ