Frankie Zhao is one of the older hands in the Chinese wine trade. A journalist, communicator and public relations' expert, he also works for Wang Jiu, a high end mail order company that sell only online. This is obviously an excellent way to target consumers in such a large market where in which there are only a limited number of knowledgeable merchants. Further, how do you allocate certain wines like those of Giacomo Conterno or Quinterelli, who have only ten cases of some bottlings for all of China? We went to a hidden restaurant that only the locals know, the Palace in Choayang not far from the Forbidden City. He brought with him a 2008 Chiaro di Stelle Rosé from Tenuta la Pala in Sardinia for our fish and vegetables. It rained so hard that I had to borrow an umbrella to make my way home, but on light feet…and with a smile. Comments