Chateau Changyu AFIP Winery, one hour from Bejing, China.
March 17, 2010 For Immediate Release
Tour combines Chinese Wineries, Culture and Photography, a first for China
Former National Geographic freelance photographer, Janis Miglavs, will lead a twelve-day, one of a kind tour which blends ancient Chinese culture with the new world of Chinese wine, all while learning to take memorable photographs.
Sites visited include the well-known: The Great Wall, Terra-cotta Warriors, The Ancient city of Pingyao, Tian an Men Square and Forbidden City. But imagine seeing these alongside the seasoned eye of a professional photographer who shoots for magazines and clients around the world. Besides these Chinese cultural highlights, the tour also includes unique sites where few if any tourists visit. Miglavs describes one of these, the Yellow Valley Canyon, as a mini Grand Canyon with vineyards right up to the edge.
Another first: the tour will visit six Chinese wineries, including Chateau Changyu AFIP Global, a the Disney-like French chateau and village; Grace Vineyards, a wine oasis in the middle of a rural agricultural area; Bolongbao Winery, a smaller more intimate experience; Treaty Port housed in a Scottish Castle on a hillside; Chateau Junding with its expansive vineyard estate and golf course; and Huadong-Parry winery, surrounded by a lush vineyards and mountain landscape. With the connections Miglavs has cultivated, tour participants will get a behind the scenes look that few experience, a chance to visit with winemakers and photograph workers during harvest. Naturally participants will sample some of the best and most unique wines China offers while experiencing the Chinese drinking culture.
Miglavs’ wine background is extensive. He has created two wine-related books, including Oregon The Taste of Wine, which has won many awards and recognition. These include a Gold Medal for the “Best Regional Book” in North America; one of four finalists in the Gourmand World Book Awards for “Best Book on New World Wines; and Wine Spectator magazine just named the book as one of “top new reads for wine lovers.
He is currently working on two new book titles, including China The New Wine Frontier. His extensive research and travels for the China Winery book brought him to the most interesting wineries in China where he developed special connections with winery executives, winemakers and vineyard workers.
Miglavs also writes and photographs features for Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast as well as travel and photography magazines.
All levels of wine connoisseurs, travelers and photographers are welcome. Miglavs anticipates that the photography will range from the point-and shooters who want to learn how to use their mobile phone cameras more effectively all the way to the professionals who want an insider’s China perspective. The goal is to have fun and produce a professional level book from the photographs taken by all the participants.
The 12 days trip includes R/T airfare from Los Angeles, 5-star hotels, travel within China, meals, winery visits, and more. Miglavs is working with China tour specialist, Marc Curtis of China Wine Tours, to create this journey like no other on the planet. For more information, contact Janis Miglavs at janis@jmiglavs.com or Marc Curtis at marc@chinawinetours.com High-res photographs are available to print with this press release.
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