[Interview] The World Women's Day and Wine as Told by Buyer Lee Kyunghwa

Interview with Wine & More Buyer Lee Kyunghwa

Wine is something we share on special occasions or when good things happen. Its names are complex, and each wine holds a unique charm depending on its origin and price, making it impossible to escape once you start learning about it. The reason we can enjoy such a diverse range of wines is thanks to the ‘wine experts’ who view wine with a delicate eye. Until just a few years ago, most wine buyers were men. However, now there are many professional women, allowing for a broader perspective on wine. It is International Women’s Day. As this day is designated to hope for more diverse achievements and challenges by women, DrinKit conducted an interview with Lee Kyung-hwa, a wine buyer who has shown remarkable achievements in the alcoholic beverage industry. “Wine is both the start and the end of my day,” said buyer Lee Kyung-hwa, revealing her deep affection for wine. After hearing her story, you will feel that wine, which once seemed distant, has naturally come closer to you. Below is a Q&A with buyer Lee Kyung-hwa.

Q. Please briefly introduce yourself.

I am Lee Kyung-hwa, a buyer responsible for wine MD and wine-related food/products (glassware, various goods, small snacks) at Wine & More, a liquor specialty store operated by Shinsegae L&B.

Q. What made you step into the wine industry?

I started working part-time at a wine shop during college, and it became fun and intriguing, so I worked there for two years. Learning about wine through videos or writing is different from gaining broad knowledge based on field experience and communicating with customers, which has been a great help in my current work. As I gradually fell into the charm of wine, which is difficult but more interesting the more you know, I developed an interest and dream to work in the industry.

Q. Many people find wine relatively difficult. What wines would you recommend to beginners?

I recommend trying various wines priced under 30,000 KRW. There are truly excellent and delicious wines! If you haven’t found your preferred wine yet, rather than expensive wines, I hope you lower the price range and experience a variety of types.

Q. It seems hard to find a wine that suits one’s taste.

If red wine doesn’t suit your palate, try white wine or sparkling wine. If dry wine doesn’t suit you, try sweet wine. Or if American red wine doesn’t suit you, try French Burgundy red wine. After that, by drinking wines similar in style to those you liked, you will naturally fall into wine and find wines that perfectly match your taste. I recommend Passage Zinfandel, Valhondo Cava Brut, St. Clair Vicar’s Choice Sauvignon Blanc, and 20 Aldeas.

Q. It is said that spicy food doesn’t pair well with wine. Is that really true?

Many think wine should be paired with special foods, but that’s not true. I drink wine with all kinds of food. Except for heavily seasoned dishes, wine pairs very well with Korean food. Especially with dishes like tteokgalbi, bulgogi, and samgyeopsal, wine is indispensable. It also pairs easily with pasta, chicken, pizza, sushi, sashimi, jokbal, bossam, and yukjeon. A very personal pairing recommendation is vegetable gopchang with wine, especially natural orange wine, which I think pairs really well. Both the food and wine seem to gain more umami.

Q. What types of alcohol and snacks do you usually enjoy?

I don’t have a preference for one type of alcohol! Depending on my mood or situation, I choose among wine, beer, whiskey, and spirits (gin/rum). I really love natural wine and organic wine, especially the mysterious charm of skin-contact orange wine. For beer, I adore New England-style IPA with fresh hop and fruit aromas, and sour beer with a tangy, funky taste. For whiskey, I love high-proof, richly flavored cask strength whiskey. Among spirits, I prefer rum over vodka or tequila. I usually enjoy wine with dinner, so I don’t prepare separate snacks, but the snacks I like to eat with wine are sashimi, vegetable gopchang, chadolbagi, and yukjeon. I also enjoy simple snacks like melon topped with prosciutto, truffle cheese, olives, and salami.

Q. It’s International Women’s Day. I know women have a big influence in the wine market.

Personally, when I think of sommeliers or wine educators, women come to mind first. Even in Korea’s wine industry today, there are many skilled female experts. Until just a few years ago, most wine buyers in the distribution industry were men, but now there are many professional women. I hope that regardless of gender, more talented people can exert influence.

Q. What wine would you recommend for Women’s Day?

I recommend ‘Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hill Pinot Noir,’ made by a female winemaker, with a pleasant subtle aroma of strawberries and flowers. Domaine Drouhin is a winery established in Oregon, USA, in 1988 by Robert Drouhin, the third generation of Joseph Drouhin, a n?gociant who has been making and selling wine in Burgundy since the 1880s, and his daughter V?ronique Drouhin. V?ronique Drouhin, who chose winemaking at a young age, is now a recognized winemaker, and Domaine Drouhin has been named one of ‘Oregon’s top three Pinot Noir producers’ by Wine Spectator.

Q. To buyer Lee Kyung-hwa, wine is OO!

I want to say it is the “axis.” Wine is both the start and the end of my day. Throughout my working hours, I spend my day worrying, thinking, deciding, and tasting wine, and even when I come home, I finish my day with a glass of wine and dinner. It has become such a natural daily routine. Wine is both the cause of stress and a remedy. On days when I feel stressed from work related to wine, I feel happiness and recharge by drinking delicious wine, so it’s no exaggeration to say that my day and happiness revolve around wine as the axis (laughs).

Photo courtesy of Shinsegae L&B

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.