You might have seen her on Xiaohongshu, her travel suitcase a familiar sight. For Serena, travel, food, champagne, and art aren't just fleeting interests; they're the threads that weave through her life, guiding her on a journey of intentional "waste" – spending time on what truly matters.
Our conversation kicks off with "100% CHAMPAGNE." For Serena, this isn't just about a wine exhibition; it's a declaration of living fully. "100% CHAMPAGNE," she explains, "is 100% living. Life should be softened by the effervescence of champagne, washing away regrets, and then going all out to enjoy."
With eight years in event planning and brand promotion, Serena has a keen eye for detail. At the 100% CHAMPAGNE event, she wasn't just tasting; she was absorbing the meticulously crafted experience – from the choice of glassware to the masterclass arrangements. For someone who understands the art of events, it's not about success or failure; it's about the taste of the moment.
"If you don't come, you might miss the entire champagne universe; if you do, you are the center of the universe," she muses, her words carrying an infectious excitement. This is her vision of true 100% CHAMPAGNE.
She recalls a past perception of Champagne houses as somewhat aloof, with many small, artisanal producers rarely venturing out or promoting themselves. So, her first encounter with the 100% CHAMPAGNE exhibition in Shanghai was a delightful surprise. Seeing so many brands present, she felt as if Shanghai itself had been transported to the heart of the champagne world.
Among the many offerings, Henri Giraud's MV series champagne immediately captivated her. It wasn't just the elegant bottle or the distinctive staple closure (agrafe) that added a ritualistic touch to the opening. "And the taste?" she asks rhetically, her eyes lighting up. "The floral notes are lively and dancing, yet with a delicate herbal hint of thyme. It really spoke to me!"
Those three days in Shanghai, immersed in a high concentration of champagne culture, solidified her feeling: "Champagne isn't just French; it can be very Shanghai – dazzling, avant-garde, yet with an inherent sense of ease." It proved that an ordinary city could beautifully embrace foreign romance.
If the exhibition was a dazzling first encounter, then visiting the Champagne region itself was a deeper exploration. Three months later, Serena flew to France, heading straight for the Henri Giraud estate, carrying the spark ignited at the Shanghai event into a transatlantic pilgrimage. Her first visit there marked the beginning of a more profound connection with the world of champagne.
