Interview with Loulan Winemaker Gregory Michel

Let's meet Gregory Michel, a winemaker from southern France (who called him Gree in Loulan). He holds a French winemaker diploma and has worked in wineries in southern France, Turkey, and even Vietnam. However, he has spent 15 years brewing experience, most of the time spent in China's Loulan, which also makes him to become one of the longest foreign winemakers in China to drink.

In June 2011, he had had a brief contact with him at the winery. He was very close and he introduced his Chinese wife and daughter to us after the visit. Seeing such a happy family built on the grounds of wine can not help but feel moved. In October this year we visited Loulan again and conducted an exclusive interview with him.

Reporter: How did you first learn about China? What is the reason for coming to China?

Gree: Before I came to China, my understanding of China came mainly from the school's history and geography textbooks. In 1997, the French media reported not much on China.

It was no accident that I came to China. After graduating from college, I originally planned to go to California. At that time, I had a good relationship with my former friend Lou Lan and brought me to China. When I first came to China, I was completely driven by curiosity.

Reporter: After Loulan, did you like the work at that time?

Gree: I chose Loulan to make quality wine. This challenged me and gave me the opportunity to participate in the construction and development of famous brands.

Reporter: What was your specific job during your stay in China?

Gree: From 1997 to 2003, I worked in Loulan for 5 years and then left for some reason. After returning to Loulan in 2010, I shouldered two important responsibilities: The first is the formation and management of the technical department and the quality management department. In fact, it is to establish all technical processes and ensure that these standard processes can be implemented in the brewing workshops, bases, laboratories and packaging workshops; the second is to monitor new wine fermentation, wine aging, and the deployment of different quality wines.

Reporter: Please tell us about some difficulties in making wine in Loulan and Turpan areas. What is the potential for brewing quality wine in this area?

Gree: In the past few years, the work of winemakers has become easier and the environment has improved a lot. Many famous brands of wine accessories and equipment in the world are sold to every corner of China. What is even more pleasing is that it is not difficult to find those colleagues who graduated from the wine industry and have certain brewing experience.

According to terroir conditions, southern Xinjiang has great potential for brewing top wines. In the future, the cultivation methods of wine grapes in the Xinjiang region should be emphasized and new methods suitable to the local climate and soil must be found. This will help us improve the quality of the grapes and reduce the production costs. In addition, the problem that has not been solved in Xinjiang is that the transportation distance from Other regions and even abroad is too long, and the time and cost of logistics are high.

Reporter: As a winemaker, what qualities do you think winemakers need?

Gree: hard work, keen wine tasting and rigorous work style.

Reporter: Can you talk about your views on Chinese wine? For example, quality, price, vineyards, etc.

Gree: The quality of wines produced in recent years in China has been greatly improved and improved. Most breweries have imported advanced equipment and have outstanding employees who graduated from the China Wine Academy, and sometimes also graduated from overseas wine academies. Excellent staff, this is a big improvement.

At the moment, I think what needs to be improved is the production of grapes, and the relationship between grape growers and brewing companies needs to be strengthened. In addition, compared with the Western market, the wine price in the Chinese market is still high. We know that in the face of mature consumers, the market will become more and more transparent.

Reporter: What do you think is the problem with the Chinese wine industry? What advice do you have?

Gree: I personally think that the Chinese wine industry has the following problems: First, the variety of wine grapes is relatively single; Second, the breweries do not have sufficient control over the bases, and they need to strengthen measures to improve the vineyards. At the same time, they also need to improve the grape growers and breweries. The third is that the lower level of mechanization will lead to an increase in the management costs of vineyards; the fourth is that the market is also flooded with counterfeit wines.

I think there will be more and more countries in the world that produce wine. China is expected to become an important country in wine consumption and production. Regardless of how the image of Chinese wine will change in the future, China will first need to improve its existing laws and regulations. In addition to the basic standards for wine production and wine analysis standards, China has no specific regulations in these areas, such as limited production at the vineyards, production site specifications for wine grapes, vintage and labeling of grape varieties on wine labels, etc. . More detailed wine regulations must be developed and more people must be involved in the supervision and enforcement of these regulations.

Reporter: In addition to the Xinjiang region, you also tasted wines in the producing areas? How to evaluate them?

Gree: I didn't drink much wine. I had the opportunity to taste Ningxia wine and the quality was very good.

Reporter: Ask a private question. How do you evaluate Chinese culture? How did you fall in love with a Chinese girl? We know that you already have three children and you are very envious of having a happy family.

Gree: I am very happy with my wife and three children. Fifteen years ago, in a deserted Gobi, especially in a place like Taklamakan, it was not easy for any French youth to find a suitable wife. I had the privilege of finding my own love. Today, I am still very pleased that it is in the two cultural backgrounds of our children's lives, which is very beneficial to children.

Reporter: What are your plans for the next few years? Will you work in China?

Gree: My plan for the future depends largely on the development of Loulan. I estimate that I will not work in Loulan for a long time. I think my career will be shifted between France and China.