Chien Hao Chen #183
Professor of Oenology, Doctor of Agriculture, Wine Judge
Chien Hao Chen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Wine and Spirits, National Kaohsiung University of Hospitality and Tourism, Taiwan, and a Professor at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. He holds a doctorate in tropical agriculture and an OIV Master’s degree from Paris Nanterre University. He is an international wine educator with a CIVB qualification. Chien Hao Chen has been one of the authoritative judges of the Mundus Vini wine competition for over 15 years.
The only Asian University of Burgundy student now is the speaker for Taiwanese wine at the Université de Bordeaux Agro Science/ISVV
After obtaining the right of residence in Switzerland several decades ago, Chien Hao Chen decided to go to France to study oenology at the University of Burgundy. He was the first Asian student in the department. His classmates all came from wine-making families going back five or six generations. I was the only one without a vineyard! he said. On the other hand, seeing locals rooting themselves on the land for generations and creating sophisticated value-added agriculture, he was inspired to create Taiwanese wine. Today, Chien Hao Chen talks about wine and spirits produced in Taiwan at the ISVV Uinversité de Bordeaux Institute of Wine and Wine Sciences.
The Winemaker Behind the Award-Winning Vino Formosa
Currently, Chien Hao Chen is the driving force behind the revival of Taiwan’s wine spirit. Chen is the winemaker who created Vino Formosa, a liqueur wine, the only Taiwanese wine to be awarded 3 trophies, 11 gold medals and 6 silver medals in 10 different international wine competitions. The Golden Muscat and Black Queen grape varieties were imported by Taiwan Imperial University during the Japanese era and planted in 1942 by a local farmer from Taichung, Mr Hong Shu Sheng.
Chien Hao Chen has spent the last 20 years developing a special winemaking technique and has finally gained international recognition worldwide.
Vino Formosa fortified liqueur wine has a distinctive grape and honey aroma and flavours of citrus, rose, orange, confectionery fruit, toffee and sultana with a well-balanced taste. The red and white wine brand Vino Formosa is produced in collaboration with Shu Sheng Leisure Domaine of Taichung.
Chen is the first winemaker in Taiwan to obtain a French technical winemaker’s licence. He is a professional sommelier who has advised three Michelin-starred restaurants since 2010.
Chien Hao Chen was on Tatler Asia’s list of most influential wine experts in 2021 and 2023. He holds the Mundus Vini 2024 honourable mention as one of the most experienced wine judges.
