This time of year is particularly nice in Qingdao with beautiful warm summer days and cool evenings, not unlike that of Germany.

In this delightful seasonal circumstance the Bailliage partnered with the Sixth German/Austrian Wine Festival in a marquee on the Olympic sailing marina adjacent to Qingdao’s May Fourth Square.

Given the perfect setting the sea breeze kept our Bailliage logo unfurled, presiding proudly above our casual summer brunch. A total of 73 members and guests from Qingdao, Kunming, Shenyang, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuxi participated in what effectively was a celebration of members reuniting after having had to keep apart because of COVID-19.

We had the pleasure of trying a great selection of German and Austrian wines (and a beer) which included:
- Weingut Lucashof Riesling Secco 2018 - Rheinpfalz, Germany
- Netzl Muskatina 201 - Carnuntum, Austria
- Fürst Löwenstein Homburg Kallmuth Silvaner Trocken 2018 - Franken, Germany
- Lucashof Rosé Trocken 2018 - Rheinpfalz, Germany
- Bretz Gewürztraminer Spätlese 2016 - Rheinhessen, Germany
- Fürst Löwenstein CF Spätburgunder 2015 - Rheingau, Germany
- Flensburger Pilsener - Flensburg, Germany

We took full advantage of the city’s dynamic food culture and paired these beautiful drinks with a wide variety of foods, for example, Qingdao seafood, German sausages and bread, pork knuckle, and flammekueche (tarte flambée) - the speciality of the historic regions of Alsace, Saarland, Baden and Pfalz in the French-German border region.

The brunch experience was thoroughly enjoyed and embraced by all in attendance. All in all it was another very memorable event hosted by the Bailliage of Qingdao.

Vive la Chaîne!

Carl Duggan
Bailli