Qingdao is famous for, among other things, the Tsingtao brewery and is close to Yantai, which is regarded as Asia’s wine capital, since it is on the same latitude as Bordeaux, France, which makes it the ideal location in Asia for wineries. Wine connoisseurs, vacation makers and corporate professionals who find their way to Qingdao would be best accommodated at a quality Qingdao hotel such as the Copthorne Hotel Qingdao. Featuring luxury interiors and five-star service, this elegant hotel in Qingdao serves as the crème de la crème of all hospitality experiences. Explore the scenic region around the city with a wine tour, and start off with the iconic Baili Winery Qingdao, which is the city’s finest winery modeled after the continental style. It has the disctinction of being the region’s first international winery, started by a British citizen. Soak in the breathtaking panorama of the Laoshan Jiulongpo countryside, with verdant rows of vines snaking through a scenic expanse of white villas. The Shandong region has the honour of being the only Asiatic area that is evaluated by the International Wine Clubs Association. No trip to the Shandong region is complete without indulging in a few wine tours to sample some choice vintages that may put its French and Californian counterparts to shame. Visit the Zhangyu Wine Museum, which chronicles the region’s wine-producing history and boasts Asia’s first underground wine-cellar, which was completed in 1903. Today, it contains over 600 barrels in its unique, climate-controlled facility. Head over to the prestigious wine bar to sample a few select offerings of the classic vintages and perhaps even take a bottle or two of red or white wine to enjoy with dinner.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and intends to visit them all someday.
