Gomez 1

Jorge Gomez

Professor Crosby

English Composition 3

23 February 2018

“Made in China”

Three words are enough to paint an image, an expectation of what a product can be

before you use it, taste it, buy it: made in China. Tony Perrottet, a writer for the Wall Street

Journal, wrote the article “Fine Wine and Caviar-Made in China?”, published in December 2014,

in which he blatantly points out the preconceived ideas that Americans have of Chinese products

and quality. Perrottet addresses the stereotype that Americans have through the production of the

Chinese delicacies, wine and caviar, by using realism through his own anecdotes, introducing the
history of the delicacies, and using quotes of senior figures in the respective industries in China
Commented [JG1]: This was modified from prior drafts to
state that the author is using the rhetorical device of realism
through personal stories, not alongside them as a separate
entity.

in an attempt to dispel the stereotypes. Through this article, Perrottet demonstrates to a wide Commented [JG2]: This is a clarification that although
one can change the views on a stereotype, it will never be
completely eradicated
range of Americans that China is improving the quality of their products in hopes of persuading

them to reevaluate their own manner of thinking and view of Chinese products.

In this article, Tony Perrottet tackles the American stereotype that anything made in Commented [JG3]: The beginning of paragraph originally
had a different sentence, however, the paragraph would
already focus on the ide that the sentence blatantly stated
China is of poor quality. In 2009, “… recent scandals about poisoned baby milk, contaminated

pet food and dangerous toys from China” (Economist, 2009) only gave fuel to the fire of the
stereotype and increased distrust in Chinese made products. Although there is a reasonable
Commented [JG4]: this quote from a reliable source was
used to introduce and to reinforce the claim that most
Americans and the general public have the same view of
China partly because of the scandals

explanation and a defense for the errors made in China, Americans are not so quick to trust or let

go of the mistake made by the mass producer. Within the article, Perrottet makes it known that

he had reservations of the Chinese delicacies that were being served to him. For example, while
 Gomez 2

speaking anecdotally he states, “…like many uninformed outsiders, when I was first offered a

glass of Chinese grape wine…the first sip is a surprise-crisp and bright, with subtle nectarine

flavors.” Through this, he represents a grand majority of Americans who have the preconditioned

negative response to Chinese cuisine. He also explicitly includes the words “many uninformed

outsiders” as if to clarify that he only knows what is told or expressed in the news outside of the

actual nation of China, not what truly occurs within. After trying the wine that was offered to

him, he was pleasantly surprised by the taste which is due to his expectation that the wine was

not going to live up to the quality of wine that is presented in the United States or Europe. Not

only does Perrottet express his own biased views of Chinese products but he blatantly says, “The

main hurdle is convincing consumers to give Chinese products a chance-a problem that is

particularly acute with wine.” He points out the issue that the Chinese must make an active effort

in convincing consumers to try their products, especially in the industry of wine due to its young

age in the nation and the world. Perrottet then proceeds to use the history of now family business

CEO Judy Chan to walk the reader through the process and development of the wine industry,

disproving the belief that everything in China is mass produced and has no sense of originality or

emotion in the making. The wine industry is not the only industry that Perrottet mentions; he

references the delicacy of caviar and its introduction to the country. He speaks of the Chinese

scandals with their products as an infection moving from one product to the next and states that Commented [JG5]: comparing the spread of the
stereotype (because of scandals) to an infection-moving
through any product or god coming from China
the caviar industry is not yet affected by it; however, the stereotype still spreads simply because

the delicacy is from China, even though it may not be made there and may be imported from

another country or location. The author proceeds to include a story told to him by Swiss-born

chef Florian Trento of Hong Kong’s Peninsula hotel in which he was offered Chinese caviar and

claimed to be apprehensive toward the idea. He proceeds to quote Trento saying, “Often we do
 Gomez 3

blind tastings because Chinese products have such a bad rap.” Perrottet continues to state

through the article that the stereotype is prevalent in Americans but also in other cultures around

the world. The stereotype is so deeply rooted in the minds that businesses must use different

tactics in order to get customers to try the caviar. Tony Perrottet makes it very clear to any reader

that the issue of the stereotype that most cultures and people in the world have of Chinese

products affects businesses and the Chinese economy; however, his article also makes a very

strong attempt at dispelling the stereotype and showing that the nation of China has very

genuine, clean methods of producing quality products.

In the article, Perrottet uses the rhetorical devices of realism through anecdotes, the

history of both delicacies in the nation of China, and ethos from reliable figures in the wine

industry to confront the stereotype. Perrottet uses the beauty and grandness of China with the
“ugly” reality to prove to the reader that although the country has multiple areas which are
underdeveloped, in regard to certain industries, such as wine, they guarantee the use of proper
Commented [JG6]: outlining what the next paragraph(s)
will be about as well as explaining very briefly the form of
rhetorical devices used
Commented [JG7]: Different than prior drafts, contrast in
scenery was used to support claim and to show that both
sides of the story are being looked at

resources to produce a quality product. He refers to what one expects a typical vineyard to look Commented [JG8]: different from the previous draft, this
was added to clarify what aspects of the nation are being
targeted/focused on
like and says, “The balcony of the Italianate mansion overlooks lush rows of grapevines

stretching to the horizon, where low mountains hover in the haze. Picnic tables sit scattered in a

garden beneath slender trees that rustle in the dry wind.” He paints a very vivid image of the

beauty and serenity of the vineyard and China and the similarities between it and one in Europe;

however, he also uses the converse to convey the idea that although China has areas of beauty,

grand parts of the nation are still underdeveloped, and citizens are still in poor living conditions.

In using this style of presenting information, showing both the good and the bad of the nation’s

landscape and the conditions in which Chinese citizens live and work in, he effectively translates

his message and may even amplify it due to the reader having a realization that they are not only
 Gomez 4

being sold on only the good details. It is as if they are being taught about a foreign nation and its

ways through a reality check and that may lead to an established sense of trust and a newfound

expectation.

Alongside realism, Perrottet goes on to explain the history of the wine industry in China
and mention some of the recognition they have received over the years. He mentions, “In fact,
Commented [JG9]: A new paragraph was formed
because of the beginning of a new topic, or a new aspect of
Perrottet’s writing. Separating the ideas may help the
reader better keep track of the claims and the evidence.

grape wine was first grown commercially in China in 1892… It was a strong beginning: In 1915,

the winery, Changyu, won a string of gold medals at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition

in San Francisco.” In the context of history, Perrottet uses his own anecdotes and details of his

travels to properly convey his message that China is increasing the quality of their products and

attempting to stray from the well-known stereotype. The author himself wished to see a winery

in China and made the “pilgrimage” to a winery “located in a rural district an hour-and-a-half

drive northeast of Beijing.” He described the location as “a faux European village complete with

medieval church, a store where Chinese newlyweds are having their photos printed on wine

labels…” To assist the reader in properly envisioning the scenery of the winery and its whimsical

atmosphere, he compares vivid imagery of the complex to the well-known location and franchise

of a “Disney fantasy” in which one envisions happiness, sunshine, pristine locations and people,

etc. Commented [JG10]: Feelings the audience can relate to

and understand
Working in tandem with anecdotes, history and realism, he uses ethos in order to ensure Commented [JG11]: Another paragraph was formed
from prior drafts in order to signify a new idea that is to be
the safe passage of his message. In his article he quotes a Beijing-based wine blogger, Jim discussed.

Boyce, who has a history with the local wine industry and is a consistent advocate for the

boutique wines of Shanxi and Ningxi. Perrottet strategically uses quotes from Boyce that make

the wine from China look of poor quality, but later fixes the damage done by including another

quote in which he contradicts his opinion; Boyce first mentions President Obama being served
 Gomez 5

Changyu wines and proceeds to compare the serving of the wine to an assassination attempt.

Conversely, he slightly retracts his statement by saying that “A few years ago, Chinese wine was

terrible. Now it’s not. But the industry is still in its infancy,” meaning that although Chinese

wine had poor quality in the past, there is room for improvement and there are signs of

improvement. He includes the history that Boyce has with Beijing in order to establish ethos and

make his quotes credible.

In addition to Boyce, he uses a quote from the head of wine at Christie’s in China, Simon
Tam. Tam had said that although China started late in the wine industry, they are catching up
Commented [JG12]: Same paragraph break technique in
order to separate ideas/claims. In previous drafts all ideas
were combined into one and may have been difficult to
follow

quickly in quality and improving as time goes on. Perrottet also chooses to include “The speed of

change depends largely on the Chinese economy,” and in 2014, according to the Huffington

Post, “Wine sales increased 37% over 2014, with sales in the $2.5 billion range.” Wine has made
a sizeable contribution to the Chinese economy and may lead to a greater development and
Commented [JG13]: I researched the sales of wines from
a reliable source at the time this was written in order to
support not only my claim of what I believed Perrottet was
conveying but also supporting Perrottet’s claim

improvement on China for both citizens and tourists.

Tony Perrottet’s purpose for writing the article is to not only change the minds of

Americans, but the minds of people everywhere along with persuading the readers to reevaluate

their image of China and the products coming from them. He has made it clear in his article that

the stereotype regarding Chinese products is widespread not only in the United States but also in

Europe and most likely exists in other cultures and nations. He blatantly states the issue that

China constantly faces in his article, mentioning the reasons why public distrust runs deep due

to: baby formula tainted with toxic melamine, a fear of bird flu outbreak leading to the slaughter

of tens of thousands of chickens, a crime ring passing off rat and mink meat as lamb. Perrottet
even goes as far as to mention the tactics restaurant owners must use in order for customers to try
Commented [JG14]: Reiterating a point made earlier so
as to support his reason for writing the article. The reader
may comprehend the issue by now and see it in accordance
with the author

the delicacies or anything imported China, “Often we do blind tastings because Chinese products
 Gomez 6

have such a bad rap”, said by Florian Trento of Hong Kong’s Peninsula hotel. Through

anecdotes, the history of the delicacies in China, and realism, Perrottet attempts to build trust

with the reader and China without the reader realistically trying a Chinese product or visiting

themselves. Through realism and brief history lessons of boutique wineries and the introduction

of delicacies into the nation, it is as if he is walking the reader through the industry and

production of a product to establish a sense of knowledge and understanding between the

producer and the consumer and increase the chances a reader to not only question their view of

Chinese products, but to also look past them and purchase the product themselves and try it.

Ending the article, Perrottet includes a quote by David Shoemaker, an American-born head

sommelier at Pudong Shangri-La, East Shanghai, “But very soon, I think, we will be able to taste

a wine and say, ‘Ahhh, that’s a classic Shanxi.’” Perrottet shares this vision of the future with

Shoemaker and adds it to show the reader what the future can hold for the nation of China and its

products if consumers go against the stereotype that is strongly engraved in their minds and open

it to change. Giving the reader what the future could hold for the nation of China and its products

may make the reader want to lean towards that possibility and begin to read back at certain

points in Perrottet’s article which made them question their image of China and where they may

have adopted it from and possibly challenge it and begin to change it. Being a plausible future or

conversation can make one envision it in much more detail and in real time, not a hypothetical

world in which things simply occur.

Focusing on the future may have weighed heavily on Perrottet’s mind. This article was
released in 2014, a time in which most of “Generation Z”, those born 1995-2012, were at an age
Commented [JG15]: In previous drafts, this paragraph
was not there, however it was added to partially give the
reader context as to who he may be addressing at this
specific point in time (2014)

of sufficient maturity to be aware of and understand the dynamics of the world powers, and he Commented [JG16]: Pointing out a potential audience
which may end up reading this article

may have been appealing to them in order to “invest” in the mentality of the future. The author
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realizes that both millennials, mostly middle-aged adults, and Generation Z are distinct members

in manner of thinking, “Attitudes on social issues have shifted [in Generation Z], in some cases

seismically, in the decade since millennials were teenagers.” (Williams, 2015) Perrottet creating Commented [JG17]: I explained the reasoning behind my
claim of the potential audience using a relevant piece of
information and from a reliable source.
and publishing this article in 2014 may be an attempt to target the younger audience and appeal

to their sense of malleability in the predetermined views that they were raised with and hopefully

leave a more accepting and optimistic view of China and its products within the younger

generation.

Using the rhetorical devices of ethos, realism, anecdotes, and quotes from senior figures, Commented [JG18]: Reiterating the devices used by the
auther and claims mad
Tony Perrottet attempts to get his readers to reevaluate their manner of thinking and their image

of the nation of China and the products it produces. The author tackles the stereotype in which

most Americans, Europeans, and most likely other cultures and areas around the world believe

that anything made in China is produced by the masses and is of cheap quality. In “Made in

China” Perrottet brings all elements together to properly convey his message that China is

improving in quality and as a whole which can further persuade the reader to challenge their

predetermined views. Commented [JG19]: Rephrasing the thesis, therefore

properly concluding the essay and reminding the reader the
bigger picture
 Gomez 8

Bibliography

Perrottet, Tony. “Fine Wine and Caviar – Made in China?” Wall Street Journal, 3 Dec 2014,
www.wsj.com/articles/fine-wine-and-caviarmade-in-china-1417628285. Accessed 1 Feb 2018.

“Poorly Made.” The Economist, 14 May 2009m, http://www.economist.com/node/13642306.

Radic, Randy. “China’s Wine Market Is Growing,” The Huffington Post, 4 Feb 2017,
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/chinas-wine-market-is-
growing_us_58965452e4b061551b3dff72. Accessed 15 Feb 2018.

Williams, Alex. “Move Over, Millenials, Here Comes Generation Z” The New York Times, 18 Sep 2015,
https://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/20/fashion/move-over-millennials-here-comes-generation-
z.html. Accessed 17 Feb 2018.