Wine pioneer Changyu has storied history, bright future(2)
Changyu chosen by celebs
During its 120 years in business, Changyu has always had a connection with celebrities from home and abroad.
In 1927, Kang Youwei (1825-1927), a pro-reformist scholar, thinker and artist who advocated constitutional monarchy during the late Qing Dynasty period, wrote a poem for Changyu in the last year of his life, indicating Changyu wine was kind of a lifelong companion for him.
In the early part of the 20th century, when "developing industries to make the country strong" was a theme in China, Sun Yat-sen visited Changyu and praised the wine's top quality.
Such adulations also came from Zhang Xueliang (1901-2001), known as the Young Marshal who played a vital role in persuading Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek to join hands with the Chinese Communist Party to fight the Japanese invaders in the 1930s and Song Ziwen (1894-1971), China's famous financier and diplomat.
Praises continued after the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949.
In 1956, the late Chinese leader Mao Zedong once suggested that Changyu expand its wine production so that more ordinary people could enjoy it. Former Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai allocated 650,000 yuan to support the company's development.
In July 2010, Vice-Premier Li Keqiang encouraged Zhou Hongjiang, general manager of Changyu, to develop the company through innovation.
Going global
The aroma from Changyu wine has not only intoxicated Chinese but also foreign wine lovers.
In 2004, Jack Welch who is known as the "world's first CEO", gave a thumbs up to the wine made in Chateau Changyu-Castel, saying "Wonderful! The wine is very good!"
Jim Rogers, the US investment guru, had good experiences investing in Changyu, which according to him was one of his first major shareholdings.
UN Under-Secretary-General Sha Zukang collected Changyu wine on behalf of the United Nations in 2010, and it was the only China-made wine the UN collected.
Robert Tinlot is honorary president of OIV and now honorary head of Chateau Changyu AFIP Global.
The current president of OIV, Yves Benard, visited Changyu in 2009 and remarked that it is an example for international-class chateau wine.
Prime Changyu wine is also selected as state gift to foreign elites, such as former American President Bill Clinton, former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and financier Warren Buffett.
