Burgundy is the world’s wine epi-centre. Anyone interested in wine is interested in Burgundy. Unfortunately, not anyone can buy into Burgundy because you need to match opportunity with big bucks. Not too long ago Château de Gevrey-Chambertin was bought for 8m Euros by Macau businessman Louis Ng. The Burgundians are not proud of their heritage falling into foreign hands. On a recent tour of the area a travel partner pointed to the Chateau de Gevrey-Chambertin and asked whether this was the one bought by Mr Ng. The tour guide was surprised and asked how a visitor from South Africa could possibly know this? A passion for Pinots clearly goes beyond drinking the good stuff.

Settling nerves and emotions, there has been a commitment to employ French winemakers and the best local architects to restore the Château. As long as the quality production continues there should not be too many disappointed people?

In wine media Hong Kong-based wine expert and author Jeannie Cho Lee, a friend of Ng, said “Louis Ng is a special Chinese wine collector who has a lot of experience in wine. He is one of the most passionate and knowledgeable wine collectors in Asia that I know, who has been enjoying and buying wine for over 20 years,” she told AFP.