Eddie McDougall is on a mission to revolutionise the way people view and consume wine and Asian food. The Hong Kong-born, Chinese-Australian wine connoisseur is eager to debunk the myths associated with wine and show that it doesn’t need to be sniffed or swirled, served in crystal glasses or paired with foie gras, in his brand new series The Flying Winemaker on TLC, premiering September 15, every Monday at 9:30 p.m. SIN/HK with encores every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. and Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
Asia is the wine industry’s fastest growing market. With a growing middle class possessing ample disposable income and overseas-educated professionals bringing home wine culture, the region has seen an explosion in consumption.
Over 13 episodes, Eddie will venture from his world-famous Hong Kong wine gallery – The Flying Winemaker – into Thailand, India, Indonesia, China, Australia, Taiwan, Japan, and Vietnam in search of unique wine production and world-class varieties yet to be discovered. In his travels, Eddie will reveal phenomenal wines being grown from grape-virgin soils, which, until now have never been considered worthy of making first-class wines comparable to French, Italian, Spanish or American product.
Going straight to the source, Eddie meets with the passionate and proud people behind the bottles to introduce viewers to the characters who are pushing the boundaries in the way we eat and drink. The series explores the world’s newest wineries to show what really goes into making these wines (both tangible and intangible) and demonstrate how it is so much more difficult than many imagine. In these new environments, Eddie discovers innovative, unorthodox and unique methods for growing grapes.
Believing that wine is a social libation meant to be shared and enjoyed by everyone with their family and friends, even if from a plastic cup, Eddie will bring his favourite wines back to his headquarters in Hong Kong, where he’ll teach viewers what to look for in a great wine when cooking and pairing it with the most tasty Asian-style meals at home. Whether it’s savoury Chinese, spicy Thai, bold Indian or complex Vietnamese that’s on the menu, learn how to make amazing Asian cuisine in your own kitchen and source the perfect wines to match and enhance any meal…without the lofty price tag!
Can you really enjoy wine with stinky tofu? Does white fish have to be served only with white wines? Find out and explore exotic wines and locales with TLC’s The Flying Winemaker this September!
