macaulifestyle.com 发布于2021年12月3日；作者：KSENIA KUZMINA

身为亚洲获奖最多的酒庄之一——怡园酒庄（Grace Vineyard）的董事长，陈芳（Judy Chan）小时候并没有梦想成为家族企业的负责人。她在密歇根大学获得心理学、妇女研究和组织研究双学位，之后选择投资银行作为她的职业道路。此外，陈芳女士对葡萄酒业务了解不多，甚至不喜欢喝。然而，在2002年，陈芳的父亲陈进强先生提议让她接手他创办的怡园酒庄时，陈芳同意了。从那时起，怡园酒庄历经波折，如今成为强有力的品牌。这是怎么发生的，陈芳在其中扮演了什么角色？我们采访了陈芳女士来寻找答案。

关于怡园酒庄

怡园酒庄由香港商人陈进强先生于1997年创立，是一家来自山西太谷的葡萄酒生产商。尽管有些人可能会对其地理位置产生怀疑（由于山西省以煤矿工业而闻名），但其独特的气候和波尔多式的排水砂质土壤确保了完美的葡萄酒葡萄种植和生长条件。为了实现自己的梦想，陈进强先生请他的法国朋友、著名葡萄酒学者Denis Boubals来指导完成建庄过程。

由于陈进强先生认为酒庄是一个家族企业，五年后，他邀请他的女儿陈芳接管怡园酒庄。当陈芳（Judy Chan）成为怡园酒庄董事长的时候，中国葡萄酒市场只有大约10个酒庄是竞争对手。今天，中国有超过200家葡萄酒生产企业，到2020年，中国葡萄酒市场排名世界第三，仅次于法国和美国。但即便是在竞争如此激烈的市场中，家族企业怡园酒庄（Grace Vineyard）仍能在国际行业竞赛中屡获奖项，并在陈芳的带领下进一步扩张。

2021年12月4日周六，陈芳（Judy Chan）将出席在澳门瑞吉酒店雅舍举办的“怡园酒庄美酒晚宴”，这是澳门瑞吉酒店雅舍本季最精致的活动之一——多道菜品与葡萄酒搭配的晚宴，庆祝中国精品。

怡园酒庄生产什么样的葡萄酒？

陈芳：我们有很多种类的葡萄酒。从入门级到往上的酒款，有82元-530元人民币（澳门元103元-667元）区间的。有单一品种酿造的酒款，也有混酿酒款。我们还有起泡酒。

山西产区的中国葡萄酒有哪些独特的品质？

陈芳：我认为我们需要问自己的问题是“在哪里种植，种植什么葡萄品种”。在山西，我相信我们可以酿造出非常优雅的葡萄酒。我们的霞多丽有很好的酸度，我们的红葡萄酒丝滑。

您会带哪些怡园酒给亲友们品尝？为什么？
陈芳：这要看场合而定。我要么会带我们的德寧起泡酒，因为在中国没有多少生产商酿造生产起泡酒。或者，我会带怡园“深蓝”（混酿的红葡萄酒），因为“深蓝”是我们的招牌旗舰酒。

在中国种植和销售葡萄酒面临哪些挑战？

陈芳：最初（注：15年前），很难种植和销售葡萄酒，因为没有多少人知道它。因为很少人有种植葡萄和酿造葡萄酒的经验，所以很难找到人才。许多顾客以前从未尝过葡萄酒，所以要花很多时间来解释。现在的挑战是如何与进口葡萄酒竞争，以及与其他500家本土生产商竞争。

您认为中国葡萄酒能与知名葡萄酒品牌竞争吗？

陈芳：是的，我确实相信许多中国葡萄酒的品质和其他国际知名品牌是相匹配的、兼容的。

很难说服国内外的葡萄酒鉴赏家选择中国葡萄酒而不是更知名的产区吗？

陈芳：大多数葡萄酒鉴赏家仍然不知道我们在中国生产葡萄酒，或者还没有尝过。

您从投资银行转到了酿酒厂。在你父亲提出邀请你加入家族企业之前，你有考虑过这事吗？您为什么会同意？

陈芳：此前我不知道我父亲做了什么。当他邀请我加入怡园酒庄时，我想和我爸爸一起工作会很有趣。他过去是，现在仍然是一个梦想家。与他一起工作的15年确实非常有教育意义和鼓舞人心。

这种转变是否具有挑战性？

陈芳：是的。当时从一家知名的投行公司（高盛）转到一家尚不知名的初创公司（怡园酒庄）并不容易。我父亲下定决心让我接管酒庄，但那时我还没有太多的经验，这也不容易。

如今，怡园酒庄是亚洲获奖最多的葡萄酒生产商之一，但在本世纪头十年，该公司曾濒临破产。您是如何克服挑战并带领公司取得如此成功的？

陈芳：我们没有濒临破产，我们只是没赚到钱（笑）。幸运的是，我们有另一家公司能够提供现金流。我们缩小了生产规模，以一个更可持续发展的规模，并继续注重品质。时间也站在我们这边，因为葡萄酒突然变得很受欢迎。我认为我们非常幸运。

您有心理学、妇女研究与组织研究的学位。这对您目前的工作职能有帮助吗？那么高盛的经历呢？

陈芳：我认为我所受的教育对我的工作肯定有帮助。我对了解人很感兴趣。因此，我很容易理解消费者想要什么。在高盛的那段时间培养了我的工作态度。

您监督整个酿酒过程。您最喜欢这份工作的哪一部分？

陈芳：我仍然对销售和市场方面更感兴趣。为什么消费者会选择怡园？我们怎样才能让他们选择我们？（思考）类似这些问题。

GRACE VINEYARD WINE DINNER AT THE ST. REGIS MACAO

澳门瑞吉酒店-怡园酒庄美酒晚宴

时间：2021年12月4日周六，19:00—23:00

地点：中国澳门-路氹连贯公路金光大道，澳门伦敦人，澳门瑞吉酒店-雅舍

澳门瑞吉酒店雅舍-怡园酒庄美酒晚宴 菜单

波士顿龙虾 

海鳌虾、干贝及欧洲西芹头

贝类海鲜清汤、小白菜、Kaluga Queen鱼子酱

怡园德宁喜悦霞多丽起泡酒 N.V. 

石斑鱼 

荷香焗、姜蓉香茅牛油酱、茄子酱颗粒

怡园德熙珍藏霞多丽2019 

云南风味乳鸽胸 

香葱油、混合香料酱汁、原种甘荀

野菌炒饭、黑松露干鲍

怡园德熙珍藏马瑟兰2017 

怡园深蓝2017

日本A5和牛西冷及乳猪 

香甜菠萝及蔬菜、牛肉浓汁

怡园庄主珍藏2013 

芝麻焦糖炖蛋

花胶、八角、肉桂脆粉及奶油

黑芝麻冰淇淋及黄豆粉

原文标题和链接： 
Judy Chan, President and CEO of Grace Vineyard: From Goldman Sachs to an Awarded Chinese Winery
https://macaulifestyle.com/lifestyle/people/judy-chan/

3 DECEMBER, 2021    BY KSENIA KUZMINA

The President and CEO of one of Asia’s most awarded vineyards, Grace Vineyard, Judy Chan, did not dream of becoming the head of her family’s business since she was a child. She obtained a double degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies and Organizational Studies from the University of Michigan and chose investment banking as her career path. Moreover, Ms. Chan didn’t know much about the wine business and didn’t even like drinking it. Yet, when in 2002 Judy’s father, Mr. Chun-Keung Chan, offered her to take over his brainchild, Grace Vineyard, she concurred. Since then, the company went through peaks and valleys, becoming the strong brand it is today. How did it happen, and what’s Judy Chan’s role in it? We spoke to Ms. Chan to find out. 

ABOUT GRACE VINEYARD 

Founded by a Hong Kong businessman, Mr. Chun-Keung Chan, in 1997, Grace Vineyard is a wine producer from Taigu county, Shanxi Province. Even though some would find the location questionable, as the province is known for its coal mining industry, its unique climate and Bordeaux-like draining sandy soil ensure perfect wine grape cultivation and growth conditions. To fulfill his dream, Mr. Chan asked his French friend and the renowned wine scholar Denis Boubals to guide him through the process. 

As he believed that winery is a family business, Mr. Chan invited his daughter to take over the leadership in five years. When Judy Chan became the president, the wine market in China only had about ten vineyards to compete with. Today there are over 200 wine manufacturing enterprises, and in 2020, the Chinese market ranked the world’s third-largest, after France and USA. But even in such a competitive market, the family-owned business Grace Vineyard is, it manages to snatch award sand trophies at the international industry competitions and expands further under Ms. Chan’s leadership. 

This Saturday, December 4, Judy Chan will be presenting Grace Vineyard wines at one of the most exquisite events this season, the six-course wine pairing dinner, and a celebration of the finest Chinese produce at The Manor, The St. Regis Macao. 

What kind of wine does Grace Vineyard produce?

We have quite a big range of wine–from entry-level RMB $82–530 (MOP $103–667). From single variety wine to blended one. We also have sparkling wines.

What are the distinguishing qualities of Chinese wine in Shanxi province?

I think the question we need to ask ourselves is where to plant and what to plant. In Shanxi, I believe we can make very elegant wines. Our chardonnay has good acidity, and our reds are silky.

Which Grace Vineyard bottle would you bring to friends or family dinner and why? 

It depends on the occasion. I would either bring our sparkling as not many producers in China make it. Or I would get Deep Blue (red blend) as it’s our signature wine.

What are the challenges of growing and selling wine in China?

Initially (read: 15 years ago), it was tough to grow and sell wine as not many people knew about it. It was impossible to find talents as very few people had experience in planting grapes and making wines. Customers had not tasted wine before, so it took a lot of explaining. Now, the challenge is how to compete with imported wines and compete with the other 500 local producers.

Do you think Chinese wines can compete with well-established wine brands?

Yes, I do believe the quality of many Chinese wines is compatible with other well-established international brands.

Is it hard to convince wine connoisseurs in and outside China to opt for Chinese wine instead of more well-known regions?

Most wine connoisseurs still don’t know we make wine in China or haven’t tried it.

You switched from investment banking to winery business. Were you considering joining the family business before your father made the offer? Why did you agree?

No, I wasn’t aware of what my father did. When he invited me to join, I thought it would be fun to work with my dad. He was and still is a dreamer. The past 15 years working with him have been indeed very educational and inspiring.

Was the transition challenging?

Yes. The transition from working at a well-known, well-established firm to an unknown startup company was not easy. It was also not easy as I didn’t have much experience, and my father was very determined to hand off the lead.

Today Grace Vineyard is the most awarded wine producer in Asia, but in the 2000s, the company was close to bankruptcy. How did you manage to overcome the challenges and lead the company to such success? 

We were not close to bankruptcy; we just didn’t make money (laughs). Luckily, we had another business that was able to provide the cash flow. We scaled back down the production to a more sustainable size and continued to focus on quality. Time was also on our side as wine suddenly became very popular. I think we were very lucky.

You have a degree in Psychology and Women’s Studies, and Organizational Studies. Does it help you with your current role? How about the Goldman Sachs experience?

I think my education definitely helps my work. I’m very interested in learning about people. As a result, it’s easy for me to understand what consumers want. As for my time at GS, it trained my work attitude.

You oversee the whole process of winemaking. What’s your favorite part of the job?

I’m still more interested in the sales and marketing side. Why do consumers choose Grace Vineyard? How can we make them choose us? Things like that.

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GRACE VINEYARD WINE DINNER AT THE ST. REGIS MACAO

When: Saturday, 7:00pm–11:00pm, December 4, 2021

Where: The Manor, The St. Regis Macao, The Londoner Macao, Estrada do Istmo, s/n, Cotai