知味君
From November 20–22, 2025, the 8th edition of the International Terroir Symposium — organized by TasteSpirit & TerroirSense — gathered 208 top terroir wineries and tea houses from key producing regions across 17 countries all over the world ( You can find the complete list via this link). The event brought together 76 estate owners, senior representatives, and leading experts in the field of terroir, along with over 3,000 experienced Chinese wine lovers and industry elites. Together, they conducted in-depth tastings and exchanges featuring nearly 800 excellent wines and teas of terroirs.
The program included a full day of International Terroir Seminar, two days of Top Terroir Wine Grand Tasting, 8 high-level masterclasses, a prestigious dinner hosted by the French Embassy in Beijing, and La Paulée Gala Dinner with estate owners and wine lovers.
These events took place in Shanghai and Beijing, each offering different settings, breadth, and depth — aiming to promote terroir culture in a comprehensive way and showcase the charm of terroir-driven wines and teas.
Official photos album of the 2025 International Terroir Symposium can be found via this link.
Though the November 20th seminar did not include tastings, it nonetheless served as a critical component of the International Terroir Symposium — representing intellectual height, depth, and both national and international influence. The seminar acted as a feast of ideas, inspiring the direction of development for the industry.
Review the memorable moments of those great events of the 8th International Terroir Symposium through the video above.
The next International Terroir Symposium is tentatively scheduled to be held on November 27–29, 2026. Please kindly reserve the date. For wineries and exhibitors, you may pre-register by contacting the team via email: application@terroir-symposium.com
Since the first International Terroir Symposium started in 2015, we have been continuously dedicated to bringing terroir — both as a concept and in tangible products — from the source to China, including wines, teas, and other terroir-driven goods. Our guiding principle has been that ideas come before products. We consider ourselves fortunate that great ideas — like fine wines and teas — can travel across oceans and be shared widely.
10 years ago, when the Chinese wine market was still in its infancy, hardly anyone used the word “terroir”. Today, 10 years after, “terroir” has become a word almost always used when people talk about wine. Through a decade of development and accumulation, the number of participants directly involved in the International Terroir Symposium activities has grown from about 1,000 in 2015 to around 4,000 today. The International Terroir Symposium has become an eagerly anticipated annual event for Chinese wine lovers and professionals, and has had a profound influence on both Chinese and international wine industries and consumption market.
Ten years is long enough for a vine to root deep into bedrock. But what the organizer – TasteSpirit & TerroirSense more greatly hope for is that the seeds of terroir will be planted deeply in more minds. Because we deeply believe that terroir — as a “living heritage” — doesn’t live simply to be recorded, but to be touched by each new pair of hands, and to be understood by every young heart.
This year’s International Terroir Symposium was held in the space of the historic Union Church in Shanghai, a building dating back to 1886 — once an early intersection of Eastern and Western civilization on this land. Today it has been given new life. This choice resonates beautifully with a video message recorded at the ruins of the thousand-year-old Abbey of Saint-Vivant de Vergy in Burgundy by Aubert de Villaine, honorary president of Association Internationale des Terroirs (AIT) , co-owner of the famous estate Domaine de la Romanée‑Conti and long term supporter of this event from its beginning— expressing his support and blessings for the 2025 International Terroir Symposium.
This also underscores the theme of this year’s seminar — “Protection and Transmission of Terroir Culture.” The reason terroir can be regarded as a widely acknowledged cultural heritage lies in continuous new life: people willing to listen, to learn, to carry the torch forward.
Opening speech by Mr. Joan Valadou, the French Consul General in Shanghai
Mr. Hao Linhai, former Vice Chairman of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, founding Chairman of the Helan Mountain Eastern Foothill Grape and Wine Union, and recipient of the OIV Distinguished Service Award, delivered the opening speech for the seminar titled “The Chinese Value of Wine Terroir Culture.”
Mr. Zhu Siwei, co-founder of TasteSpirit & TerroirSense representing the organizer of International Terroir Symposium, delivered an opening speech
Mr. Jacky Rigaux, Vice president of International Terroir Association, renowned French wine critic and writer, delivered the speech titled “Protection and Transmission of Terroir Culture”
Ms. Saskia de Rothschild, Chairman and CEO of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) delivered the speech titled “Comparing the Terroirs: Pauillac and Qiushan“
Round Table: The Climats of Burgundy
Round Table: Protection and Transmission of French Terroir
Dr. Wang Zhiwei, Senior consultant physician in internal medicine & TCM, the WZW Clinic, delivered a speech titled “The Rhythm of Terroir and Climate”
Host: Ms. Han Wenyu
Three representative tea estates from Pu’er in Yunnan and the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian participated in the Round Table Discussion on “The Preservation and Transmission of Terroir Tea Culture”
Roundtable: Best Practices for Protecting and Transmitting Terroirs in Spain
The star-studded lineup of Spanish wineries was unquestionably one of the highlights of this year’s International Terroir Symposium. Led by Álvaro Palacios, Peter Sisseck of Dominio de Pingus, Raúl Pérez, and renowned Spanish wine critic Luis Gutiérrez, virtually the majority of famous Spanish estate owner or senior representative you could think of were in attendance in Shanghai this year.
Álvaro Palacios, a leading figure in Spanish terroir-driven wine (left), and Luis Gutiérrez, an authoritative Spanish wine critic (right).
The group of renowned Spanish winemakers participating in this year’s International Terroir Symposium
Round Table: Best Practices for Protecting and Transmitting Terroirs Worldwide
Mr. Laurent Delaunay , President of BIVB, delivered the closing speech
Mr. Thibault Liger-Belair, Vice President of International Terroir Association (AIT), delivered the closing speech
We would like to sincerely thank every speaker — your wisdom deepens our understanding of terroir, as well as everyone present — your focus allowed the sparks of ideas to collide and pass on.
The flourishing of a vine does not depend on how fast it grows — but how deep its roots go. International Terroir Symposium is also the same: these ten years of heartfelt cultivation are not about chasing speed, but about safeguarding the roots of terroir culture. And every one of you here is a “hand-planter.”
Once again — sincere thanks to all partners and participants for ten years of continued support and effort. Because of you, the idea of respecting nature and terroir has never been stronger or more inspiring than today!
