Gus Zhu 朱简
The First Chinese Master of Wine
Author
Gus Zhu is the author of a book on the science of wine tasting: Behind the Glass: The Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting.The book explores the science behind how we see, smell and taste wine. Written for curious wine lovers and professionals, it explains flavour chemistry, aroma compounds and sensory perception in an accessible way. Divided into sections on appearance, palate and aroma, it demystifies why wines taste different and how individual perception shapes tasting. The book concludes with guided tastings to apply the scientific concepts in practice.Buy the book on Académie du Vin Library or Amazon
Consultant
Gus Zhu is the first Chinese national Master of Wine (MW) with more than 15 years of experience in wine education.He has given lectures and presentations internationally and is the recipient of multiple industry awards, including the Future 50 Award (2019) from WSET and IWSC, and the 2024 WSET Outstanding Alumni Award presented by JancisRobinson.com.He serves as an expert judge for major international wine competitions and provides specialized sensory evaluations and tasting services for corporate clients. A trusted voice in global wine education, Gus also provides technical English-to-Chinese translation for authoritative wine textbooks and high-impact marketing materials.
Scientist
In the academic field, he has accomplished a Master of Science degree in Viticulture and Enology from UC Davis, an MW dissertation about the sensory science of wine: The Impact of Acidity Adjustments on the Sensory Perception of a Californian Chardonnay (main author), and a review paper in the chemistry of wine pigments: A Quarter Century of Wine Pigment Discovery (co-author).Gus is a research & development scientist specializing in the quality control of cork through analytical chemistry and the development of Creative Oak products using sensory science with the Harv 81 Group (Cork Supply & Tonnellerie Ô).