A wine critic and now restaurant owner, James Suckling explains why he gave up one of the most enviable jobs in the world to set up on his own and move to Hong Kong.

Wine Critic James Suckling

Seated comfortably in his Soho wine bar and restaurant, which has been pretty much the centre of his world since the early months of 2020, James Suckling looks like an extremely happy man.

One of the world’s most respected and influential wine critics, he has the privilege of doing a job that he absolutely loves and seems delighted to share his great good fortune with everyone around him.

In almost 40 years in the industry, he thinks he must have tasted and rated a quarter of a million vintages; his JamesSuckling.com website gets around 600,000 unique visitors each year; he holds decorations from both the French and Italian governments, as well as honorary citizenship of the Italian wine-making town of Montalcino in Brunello; and he’s the only wine expert offering classes on Masterclass.com.

Appearances to the contrary, though, Suckling’s professional journey has been neither straightforward nor smooth. He readily admits his Staunton Street establishment, James Suckling Wine Central, which he and his Korean wife and business partner Marie opened in October 2018, almost went under before it was rescued, bizarrely, by the Covid pandemic.

And why he decided to throw in what must have been one of the most envied positions in the world of wine, as senior editor and European bureau chief of the oenophiles’ bible, the Wine Spectator, to move to a part of the world he hardly knew, is another story entirely. The way he tells it, though – accompanied by self-deprecating smiles and laughs – you’d think it had all been plain sailing.

Back at the beginning in 1981, when Suckling returned home to Los Angeles after taking a post-graduate degree in journalism at the University of Wisconsin, he’d found himself jobless until he answered an advertisement “for position at a tiny magazine called the Wine Spectator, run out of a garage in San Diego”. Not only did he get the job, but within four years he found himself in Paris, remaining in Europe for the next decade and a half, “learning on the job, travelling around and meeting producers”.

For a young man whose own wine epiphany began while at university (he’d shared a bottle of 1966 Château Lafite with his lawyer father and declared, “Wow, this wine stuff’s amazing”) it was, he says, “an amazing start to my career, and I learned so much”.

“I lived in Paris for three years and then moved to the UK. I was there for 10 years, then moved to Italy and then I came here. During that time the Wine Spectator had grown to become the biggest wine magazine in the world, and all that time I was tasting, travelling and building the magazine.” It was then, too, that Suckling first met Marie, who worked at the venerable London wine merchant Corney & Barrow, though the romance didn’t blossom till later.

The idea of upping sticks and moving to Hong Kong came shortly after the difficult decision to leave his comfortable and highly influential position at the Wine Spectator. “I’d been there for 29 years, and I just decided it was now or never. It was a crazy move – I was 50 and it probably was foolhardy in a way, because I had this really cushy job and was living in Italy. But then I was thinking, do I want to spend the rest of my life working for the same company? And I’d always thought it would be amazing to do my own thing. So I just did it.”

The following year, Suckling attended the 2011 Wine & Dine Festival in this city, alongside other noted experts from around the world. By that time, Hong Kong had already removed all government duties on wine, a move that almost overnight had turned the city into the region’s premier wine-trading hub.

“And that,” says Suckling, “was the main reason I moved.” Coincidentally, Marie had also left London for Hong Kong, where, she says, “We met at the Wine & Dine Festival’s big event at the Grand Hyatt. After two years, we got married in Korea.”

Suckling had decided that video was the way to go for his website, which would be the centrepiece of his solo operation. “My partner, James Orr, was a really close friend who was into wine and cigars; he still owns a small part of the company. He was a film director, producer and writer – he did Three Men and a Baby and Sister Act 2. We had this idea that the site would be just video – we were way ahead of our time because now everyone’s doing streaming video … And so he and I travelled around wine regions, and did videos of tastings with wine producers. And for about six months, it was going OK, though not as well as I’d hoped."

“I realised that I had to get back and start tasting wines, but also that people didn’t want to pay for video. I was running out of money. But then I happened to be with a friend of mine, Mike Diamond from the Beastie Boys, at his house in Malibu, and I told him, ‘Dude, I’m running out of money.’ And he just goes, ‘And why did you think people would ever want to pay for your videos? It’s like people wanting to pay for my music. You’re gonna have to do events, you should do wine events, just like years ago we’d go on tour to sell CDs.’

“So I started doing wine events. And the first place I did wine events – profitable wine events – was in Hong Kong. At the time, it was just me and an assistant. I knew collectors like Henry Tang, Peter Lam and George Wong, and a few wine merchants, but I wasn’t really that connected – though one of my best friends, Patricio de la Fuente, who own Links Concept, was really helpful. But I could see that with no taxes and [the proximity to] China – even though the market hadn’t really developed to what it is today – this was the international wine hub for Asia. And then I met Marie – and she took pity on me!”

The business, says Suckling, really didn’t start making sense financially until around five years ago. “It took a while – it was really touch and go, and pretty scary, to be honest. But now, as you can see, we have 15 employees and a restaurant, which has been a lot of work but now is really successful.

“We opened the restaurant in October 2018, and now it’s doing really well. It never did so well – last month was our biggest, 500 wines by the glass and we have a really cool local chef who studied in Paris. But it took a long time – and it’s interesting because if it hadn’t been for Covid, we probably would have closed. The demonstrations were very difficult and while Marie and I were away in Napa Valley a lot of people were leaving. When we came back in March 2020, it was on its knees, so Marie actually went into the kitchen and started cooking Korean food. [Asked whether Korean food goes with wine, Suckling says, “Of course it does. I eat Korean food every day and I drink wine every day.”] And in the first few months, I was even on the floor serving wine – well, I had nothing else to do!"

“During Covid, website subscriptions actually went up 50 percent, and people weren’t travelling. So ironically, Covid was better for our business. I remember talking to a friend from Boston Consulting Group, who said, “James, you’re OK, but you have to focus on the local economy. And that’s what we did with the restaurant – and we did events. So it actually worked out well, though it would be nice to travel again and do events around the world.”

The outcome is that Suckling now finds himself in the paradoxical position of running both a locally focused wine bar and restaurant, and an internationally oriented wine website, 50 percent of whose visitors are based in North America. “I was recently named one of the 100 most important members of the US wine industry. I’m not sure they know I’m a Permanent Resident of Hong Kong,” he says with a laugh. “Most people think I live in New York.”

Thanks to Hong Kong’s duty-free regime, running a wine-tasting operation here is simplicity itself, he says. “Because there’s no tax, people just ship the wines here. In Hong Kong this year, we’ve tasted about 18,000 wines. The logistics have been great – a producer in Bordeaux just gives his wine to DHL and it’s here in two days. It’s just like door-to-door. And that was one reason I thought that if one day I didn’t want to travel as much, Hong Kong would be great because there are none of these logistical problems."

“If you’re in the US, each state has different laws on shipping wine, and to import wine you need licences and all sorts – and I just thought this could be so easy. And it’s turned out to be a godsend, and wine producers are fine with it. We just tasted 1,500 wines from all over Spain … even barrel samples: this year I tasted 1,500 barrel samples. People pull a sample from a barrel, bottle it, cork it and then they ship it over. Isn’t that cool?”

Indeed, though they’d like to be able to travel for, say, a month to Italy or California, he and Marie have no desire to return to the old regime of being away for 225 days in a year, flying to San Francisco or Burgundy just for dinner. “What’s been exciting about this place was that being stuck here almost two years, I’ve really had the chance to see people and talk to them, see what they drink and what they’re interested in with wine,” Suckling says.

“And I realised that for years, as a journalist or with the internet, you don’t really get the chance to talk to people and understand what they enjoy, whether it’s food or wine. I’ve really enjoyed getting back to, you know, grassroots or basics. Because sometimes you get detached – ‘Oh, I’m this wine critic or I’m that important journalist or whatever.’ I read The New York Times, and sometimes I find the writing can be a bit elitist. And I think that’s just because, as journalists, you get detached from your readers sometimes.

“It’s been a lot of work, though. I think you’ve probably heard people saying, ‘Never, never start your own restaurant. Because you don’t make any money and it’s a lot of work.’ Well, everything they tell you about restaurants is true, but at the same time, it’s been really fun. And now it’s working well. So I’m pretty proud of that. It’s worked out.”

The post As per the Feng Shui Elements in Year of the Water Tiger 2022, What Are the Lucky Colours? appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Being lock-down in your home for weeks on end. Did you redesign your home in your head? Let’s face it your home overnight turned into your prison, workplace and school setting. Did you not come to the realisation that 2020 was a year to reinvent your interior design within your house? You can create your […]

The post Interior Design Inspirations – Create Your Feng Shui appeared first on Gracie Opulanza.

With travel restrictions and social distancing rules still in place, many of us are staying home much more than usual which in turn, drives us to be present within our living space. We speak to Feng Shui designer Thierry Chow on how you can maximise your space into one that inspires positivity.

Although some may deem the Chinese philosophy of Feng Shui as an ancient and outdated practice, Thierry Chow insists that it is still largely relevant in this day and age. “Feng Shui is all about raising awareness with ourselves and our environment -- to remind ourselves that we are closely affected by our surroundings. Now more so than ever, as we stay at home more often, we will find that our physical and mental wellness can depend on the wellness of our space. This can affect our moods, emotions, perceptions, body and even our energy level.”

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The daughter of famed Feng Shui Master Chow Hon Ming, Chow spent years as his apprentice, before branching out to offer her own consultations on how to use and organise your space. Thereafter, Chow streamlined this method into eight steps – something she calls the “Go Lucky” method – to transform your home into a more comfortable, efficient and enjoyable space. These simple steps include intuitive but often overlooked gestures such as incorporating cheerful and fun colours to brighten up your home, as well as displaying decorative objects that bring elation. Chow advises that green is calming and reminiscent of nature, thus suitable for places such as the living room where you might choose to lounge, relax and unwind.

[caption id="attachment_207101" align="alignnone" width="2039"] Thierry Chow in the comfort of her well-lit homey studio with her colourful wardrobe in the background. She intentionally displays them to brighten up the airy loft space.[/caption]

In addition, it is also important to be intentional and select a style for your home that reflects who you are. Having different styles within one space can be a bit jarring, making it hard to focus or concentrate. Therefore, whether it is Scandinavian, bohemian, urban modern or shabby chic, it’s best to stick to one. What's more, the placement of your furniture can also make a difference. Obstructions or objects that jut out can interrupt your space. In Feng Shui, qi is a type of energy that can affect us physically and mentally. Ensuring qi can move through freely within your space allows it to flow into the right directions of your life. In this vein, you may consider incorporating elements from the natural world such as plants, metals and water in the form of fountains or fish tanks, which can also make your home a more comfortable space. Humans are not separate from nature and one should not underestimate its powerful healing properties. Plants for example, are proven to reduce stress and metals such as copper or bronze are known to kill bacteria.

[caption id="attachment_207154" align="alignnone" width="2022"] Thierry's Go Lucky Feng Shui objects crafted in bronze, marble and wood available at the K11 Design Store.[/caption]

According to Chow, it is also advised to invest in diversified lighting. "You see a lot of fluorescent white lights that make a space rather clinical in Hong Kong. Instead, one should opt for a variety of lighting that can reach every dark corner. It should also have a good balance of Yin and Yang; neither too bright nor too dark, neither overly warm or cold." This enables you to alter the lighting according to your mood and the time of day. For instance, it can be brightened in the morning, softened in the afternoon and made ambient in the evening. It is also important to remember to incorporate natural sunlight into your space, this can do wonders for your mood. Chow stresses the importance of being mindful of your space as it affects your wellbeing. Your home should be your refuge, a place that doesn’t drain you. Whether you want to rejuvenate, relax or focus, your space should allow you to connect with yourself immediately and effortlessly.

Lastly, Chow reminds us not to forget to purge and declutter. “It’s natural for everyone to collect emotional debris and that’s why people feel better after letting go of old, unused items and clothing as it makes room for something new.” Your space reflects your mind, and by getting rid of things which are not useful to you anymore enables you to feel less burdened.

As an avid fashion lover, Chow herself has an impressive collection of clothes. However, as a way of decluttering, she often donates clothing and advocates shopping sustainably. In fact, much of her clothes come from thrift and vintage stores. She believes this is a good way to source unique clothing that can make her stand out from others, and allows her to responsibly recycle while being kinder to the environment. Moreover, Chow recently participated in a meaningful project with upcycled fashion brand, The R Collective, and denim brand Levi's in which Chow, along with other fashion influencers, repurposed leftover denim from their inventory to create their own denim pieces.

[caption id="attachment_207370" align="alignnone" width="1964"] Here, Thierry Chow shows off her knee-length skirt made from upcycled Levi's denim, designed and repurposed by herself.[/caption]

The post Thierry Chow on How Feng Shui Can Help Us Stay Positive appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The living room is probably the most significant room in your house. Therefore, it should take up more of your home design budget as well as time and effort. If you find yourself staring at the empty room wondering where to start and what to do with space, here are a few ideas to transform […]

The post Tricks to Designing a Beautiful Living Room appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.

As today is Buddha’s birthday, we decided to find out once and for all if feng shui has anything to do with religion. We ask Thierry Chow, not only the daughter of famed Hong Kong feng shui master Chow Hon-ming but also a feng shui master herself, where Buddhism and feng shui collide and diverge.

The post Are Buddhism and Feng Shui related? appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Kelly Roza, 30

Profession : Voice Talent

Element : Earth

Energy : Kelly believes she is the kind of person who likes to mediate and stabilise situations. People born under this element are known to be patient, thoughtful and calm, thus making them natural-born peacekeepers. While they possess many good qualities of the earth element, such as being warm and nurturing, they are guilty of being self-absorbed as well. Nevertheless, they are super protective, like Mother Nature that holds the roots and everything else together. Of course, this promotes another personality trait that is more controlling and demanding.

Also read : The Wind & The Water feat. Goh Soo Sing

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[caption id="attachment_74231" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kelly Roza's grandparents[/caption]

FOR SOMEONE WHO grew up as a mix-heritage individual (she is part Malay, part Chinese and part British), Kelly is not wary to reveal that she follows Feng Shui. “When you start reading and learning more in-depth about this Chinese philosophical system of
harmonising everyone with the surrounding environment, you’ll see that there is a real science to it,” she clarifies, highlighting that there is a clear methodology based on the principles of Yin and Yang, the five elements and the use of direction to tap into the chi, which is simply the natural energy found in the environment. “I believe that Feng Shui does not require you to compromise your principles or faith. Moreover, so many people are now either practising it to benefit themselves or simply for the fun of it. Well, I guess as long as we keep religion and Feng Shui separated, each can co-exist peacefully in our lives.”

To me, it makes a lot of sense as I believe that energy does exist all around us. It exists as thoughts, feelings and also can come in the form of nature

Kelly further elaborates that she took up this cultural practice whilst growing up with her mother who is half-Chinese and half-British. “She was very particular about many things and I vividly remember how each of our homes had to be in a certain direction and its layout was in a certain way. In addition to that, dates play an important role in the majority of our lives. We can only do certain celebrations or make decision on days and dates that are auspicious in the Lunar calendar,” she reveals, recalling that during her younger days, she would regard all these practices as nonsense. Today, through her own research, Kelly realises that most of the things her mother practises hold more truth than meets the eye and that she practises a more western and neutral form of Feng Shui. “Looking back, I realised we never had anything with religious overtones in the house like the bagua mirror or the pagoda. These are a few of the elements popularly found in Eastern practices.”

[caption id="attachment_74232" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Sazahan Yassin and Kelly Roza tying the knot[/caption]

This brings on the point that the Western influence has impacted the traditional ways of Feng Shui and there are similarities and differences between how the concept is applied in the East and the West. “In many ways, the traditional Feng Shui method has a more religious, cultish and paganistic nuance to it. Particularly the obsession with curing everything negative under the sun through trinkets has a strong ‘religious flavour’, especially since many of these objects are based on Buddhist or Taoist symbols. Today, the West has given a more modern take on what we used to know about Feng Shui. While it still holds the same principles, it has managed to omit the religious association.”

Apart from that misconception, she believes the best way to really prove to the sceptics that the beliefs of Feng Shui are to be  aken seriously is to walk them through what Feng Shui really means. “To me, it makes a lot of sense as I believe that energy does exist all around us. It exists as thoughts, feelings and also can come in the form of nature. In short, we’re all magnificent energy-sensing beings whether we are conscious of it or not. Our homes are surrounded by energy that affects us either negatively or positively. What Feng Shui does is that it plays a strong role in balancing the energy in your home. I mean who wouldn’t want harmony and balance in their lives?” Kelly remarks while raising a fair point.

[caption id="attachment_74230" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Kelly's pet cat Charlie living the zen life[/caption]

Yet, with all the faux Feng Shui teachings and the impostors behind the falsities, it’s pretty hard to alter the perception of a nonbeliever. To that, Kelly’s answer is that “there are things you need to experience yourself to wholly understand it. After all, you will be applying it to your life and it will eventually become part of your lifestyle”, before adding that one does not have to be a Feng Shui master to see that the ancient philosophy of Feng Shui was built upon common sense. “And when you practise it yourself and fully appreciate its principles, it’ll be easier to spot an imposter!”

I believe that Feng Shui does not require you to compromise your principles or faith

When asked about her most sacred place at home, Kelly points to the bedroom. “For instance, I have no beams over the bed and made sure no sharp edges point towards my bed. Why? Well, beams create an oppressive and heavy sort of energy, so sleeping under a beam is best avoided. As for the sharp edge, which is also known as the poison arrow, it can impede and disrupt the energy of a space which in turn could mean sleepless nights in the bedroom,” she happily explains. “The more you learn, the more matters will make sense. So I guess it is safe to say that Feng Shui allows you to be more responsible and in control of the energy and the flow of your home. In short, through Feng Shui, you can experience how a harmonious environment allows more positive energy to flow through your whole life.”

The post The Wind & The Water feat. Kelly Roza appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

May Tan, 32

Profession : Fashion Designer

Element : Wood

Energy : May believes that she has a blend of wood and water characteristics. Born under the Wood element, she is strong willed, decisive and stubborn. Yet, like how the water in the river flows, she tends to rush into things and subsequently loses focus. Despite being a little lost on some occasions, May can adapt pretty well to various unexpected situations.

Also read : The Wind & The Water feat. Kelly Roza

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[caption id="attachment_74113" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Maarimaia Racer Sleeve Asymmetrical Midi Qipao[/caption]

THE FIRST TIME I heard the name of Maarimaia’s latest collection, I knew it could not have been a coincidence. By attending its launch party and personally witnessing its design motifs, my suspicion was confirmed: the founder of the independent contemporary womenswear label integrates the ancient practice of Feng Shui into her designs. “Bloc & Flo is a play of the Chinese philosophy of Yin and Yang. According to the Feng Shui theory, everything in our universe is composed of two opposing but deeply interconnected forces. And this is what I hope to achieve with this collection: to pair two contradictory elements into one harmonious creative work. Notably, this also reemphasises the core of Maarimaia’s creations: to pair functionality with handcrafted elements from the inception to the construction,” narrates May, noting that one cannot exist without the other, as in their seeming opposition, they deeply support and nourish each other. “I love the interaction between these two Feng Shui forces. And this is something I use to set the base of my creative energy.”

Have you ever felt gravitated towards a certain colour or thing? Well, it may or may not be Feng Shui, but it is most likely because your energy is lacking a particular element, thus pulling you towards that specific object.

Although I’ve heard of colours being used to create the essence of life around us, this is the first time I’ve actually witnessed  someone applying the historical art to fashion. To simplify the expression, Yin (also known as the feminine energy) is associated with black, while Yang (the masculine energy) is linked to white. Energy-wise, Yin is soft, diffused, passive and silent. To aid visualisation, May asks me to think of the rhythm and the essence of the feminine energy. “Yin is the softness of the water, the mystery of the moon, the darkness of the rich, moist soil and the deep silence of the night. Yang, on the other hand, is the force opposite to Yin’s quality of energy. Imagine the fiery rays of the piercing sun, the aggressive speeds of motorcars, the rock-solid surface of a mountain and the focused energy of a laser beam.” As for Maarimaia, the brand is synonymous with confidence, independence, intelligence and complexity; all of which form the timeless beauty that transcends time, space and trends.

[caption id="attachment_74114" align="aligncenter" width="820"] Maarimaia Embroidered Shift Mini Qipao[/caption]

That being said, May is not one to blindly follow Feng Shui to a T. “Although I don’t see it as a fun concept to play with just for the kick, I don’t adhere to the concept religiously. It’s more of an instinctive thing and I only practise certain elements that fit my  lifestyle. For example, as a person under the wood element, I need to wear something of the opposing element to harmonise my own Chi. The basic wood colours are brown, green and blue. If I am dressed in these colours too often, it will only intensify my wood characteristics. I will be harsher to others or be stuck in a position and refuse to move on,” she shares. And her solution to reach equilibrium is to introduce the metallic element. “Imagine it this way, to halve a piece of wood, you’ll need an axe. Thus, to balance out my stubbornness, I need to incorporate the metal element into my life,” she reveals, pointing out that according to the Feng Shui chart, she is to avoid wearing black. However, instead of omitting her favourite colour entirely, she prefers garments with circular patterns such as polka dots, as the curvy form belongs to the metal element. “Also, I would add a touch of metallic or pastel hues and jewellery to my black outfit.”

Although I don’t see it as a fun concept to play with just for the kick, I don’t adhere to the concept religiously. It’s more of an instinctive thing and I only practise certain elements that fit my  lifestyle

In addition to that, May opines that whether a person believes in Feng Shui or otherwise, all of us do practise it subconsciously. “Have you ever felt gravitated towards a certain colour or thing? Well, it may or may not be Feng Shui, but it is most likely because your energy is lacking a particular element, thus pulling you towards that specific object.” Yet, looking at her design collections, I’d say that she has a good mix of offerings to meet any discerning clientele. “I try to cater to all five elements but honestly, there are so many things to think about that I have to say meeting every Feng Shui need is not at the top of Maarimaia’s priorities. For one, there are many areas that involve the Chinese zodiac and cultural traditions,” May replies, explaining that for her Lunar collection, she didn’t use black or white due to auspicious reasons nor did she fill it up with just red because not everyone is compatible with the colour. “That is why you see my qipaos are made in a variety of colours. In the end, I want each of my customers to be able to find something in my collection that suits them.”

[caption id="attachment_74115" align="aligncenter" width="819"] Maarimaia Crew Neck Silk Modern Qipao[/caption]

One Feng Shui motif she tries to stay clear of in her designs is the animal. “Some people are sensitive when it comes to this. I once had a client who informed me that although she loved everything about that particular creation, she had to forgo it as the squiggly
pattern on it resembled a snake. After that incident, I try to minimise the usage of such motifs.” That being said, she has no plan to create a whole collection that caters to one type of element. “As a designer, there are many considerations to be taken when it comes to designing a holistic collection. I, myself, may be drawn to a colour, pattern, fit or structure. So I need to make sure that I stop myself from designing something that will end up just for myself,” she laughs.

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PHOTOGRAPHY VINCENT PAUL YONG @ VPYP
WORDS LEONG EE VONNE 
MAKE-UP LER WAN NING
HAIR ANGELINE LOW

The post The Wind & The Water feat. May Tan appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

5000 years of feng shui and artificial-intelligence tech come together in shopping app GenTree.

The post Feng Shui Shopping is Here appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.