What’s a Chinese-American doing making wine in Rioja, Spain? Jade Gross on her journey from human rights law to being a chef to growing grapes
- Jade Gross was born in Hong Kong, and studied human rights law at university before going to culinary school and working at some of the world’s best restaurants
- After seven years at two-Michelin-star Mugaritz, she now grows grapes and makes and sells her own wine in Rioja, Spain, with labels inspired by her journey
Jade Gross’ debut wine would not look out of place at any trendy restaurant in San Sebastian, Spain – the 2019 vintage is a robust tempranillo (notes of dark cherry, wild flowers and spices) and its artfully sketched label depicts a pair of hands hovering over a piano, with grapevines emerging from the black keys.
It’s also a multilayered representation of Gross’ diverse background and philosophy towards her new career in winemaking.
Piano, piano in Italian means to tread slowly, slowly, and this polyglot landed on the connection immediately.
“At the age of three, I started playing piano. Lesson upon lesson, I practised to get the basics right until I was able to move onto other pieces,” she writes in her introduction to the wine label.
“Now I am in a similar situation, [where] every day is a new lesson in grape growing and winemaking. With patience, practice will help me improve and this first wine reminds me of those very first piano lessons.”