Starting a winery in Europe as an Asian winemaker requires tremendous effort. Taking on this task as an Asian female is nearly mission impossible.
But Jade Gross did it.
Born and raised in Hong Kong, Jade grew up in an American-Chinese family. Her path to become a winemaker involved several twists and turns. After obtaining her undergraduate degree in politics in New York and her master’s degree in international relations in London, she soon realized her true passion was in cooking. Following her dream in Paris, she studied cookery with a James Beard scholarship, before working in several Michelin-starred restaurants in France and Spain. By the age of 26, Jade had already ascended to the position of Chef de Cuisine.
During her tenure in San Sebastian, Jade explored wineries in La Rioja and fell in love with the region. Feeling reasonably well-accomplished in the culinary world, in 2018 Jade decided to leave behind her life as a chef and started her wine project under the guidance of Abel Mendoza, the iconic producer for making Rioja wines in “the third way.”
Beyond the typical “traditional” and “modern” schools of thought, a rising group of producers have chosen to focus on expressing the “flavor of Rioja” rather than strictly adhering to a particular production protocol. Young talents such as Jade have constantly finetuned their techniques to highlight the vibrancy of Rioja wines.
Started with making wines from purchased grapes, her winery has been growing steadily. In 2020 Jade acquired a vineyard in Labastida, with deeper soil and an elevation of 600 meters. Currently, her portfolio includes five white, one rose, and five red wines. She also makes a private label for the well-known Michelin 3-star restaurant El Cellar de Can Ronca.
Every Jade Gross label carries its unique character, precious memories, and inspiring ideology. “Chiguita” was named after herself, recalling the time when she first arrived Rioja and the locals addressed her as the “little girl.” Meanwhile, “Harrobia” referred to the first vineyard she owned.
“Piano Piano,” made with 100 percent Tempranillo, reminded us of the importance of slowing down and taking every lesson in life seriously.
“Peace Love & Garnacha” was a wake-up call for the region to show more affection towards the underrated grape variety. To add a personal touch, Jade and her team would wax seal every single bottle by hand before shipping them off to wine lovers.
With her adventurous spirit and dynamic nature, Jade and her style will continue to evolve and flourish. What remains constant will be her acute perception, ingenious creativity, and intrinsic attachment to the Pearl of the Orient.
Alice Wong is a certified wine educator based in Hong Kong
