The LBBC China regional finals are held online on April 1. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

Three students, Li Peizhe, Zhao Wanting and Li Keyi from the HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College of Hainan University (HAITC), won third place in the China regional finals of the Left Bank Bordeaux Cup (LBBC) on April 1.

Hosted by the Commanderie du Bontemps, the competition is seen as an opportunity to bring global wine enthusiasts together. It is open to non-wine majors who are likewise members of world-renowned universities’ campus wine clubs. Since 2011, the competition has selected 60 wine clubs in Europe, the United States and Asia every year. The eight winning teams are eligible to visit the Lafite Rothschild castle in France for the finals.

 HAITC students attend the LBBC China regional finals on April 1. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the competition was suspended in 2020. In 2021, the organizers overcame difficulties and restarted the contest by developing online exam software, delivering wine samples to participants from various countries, overcoming obstacles posed by time differences, network outages and other technical issues.

Under the pandemic prevention and control policies in China this year, six teams were unable to attend the wine tasting session, but tried their best in the theoretical contest won by Jinan University.

The LBBC China regional finals are held online on April 1. [Photo/haitc.hainanu.edu.cn]

With LBBC’s influence in higher education institutions in China, it has attracted more new members, including Hainan University (HNU) and Jiangnan University. Commanderie du Bontemps has paid much attention to the construction of the Hainan Free Trade Port. The wine club of HNU will become an important platform for wine-related cultural exchanges between Hainan and Bordeaux.