While Ye Yun was away from Hawaii, the prestigious Borsado Triennial Wine Competition was approaching.
Rose Red Wine and the Rose Estate had exploded in popularity during this time, gaining widespread acclaim among wine lovers. After the incident with Murray Brown, their fame soared even higher.
Originally, Ye Yun had no intention of participating in this wine competition, so he didn't sign up.
However, after returning home, Murray Brown collaborated with several other master sommeliers to jointly nominate Rose Red Wine, directly placing the Rose Estate among dozens of top-tier wines competing for a spot in the Top Ten and even the ultimate Wine King title.
This development caught Ye Yun completely off guard.
After receiving Sebas's phone call, he immediately ended his Dubai trip and took a private jet back to Hawaii the very next morning.
Hawaii, The Big Island.
Ye Yun sat in the back seat while Sebas drove and gave him a report.
"Young Master, the Wine Review Competition officially begins in one week. Our Rose Red Wine has been nominated for the finals. As the owner of Rose Estate, the Wine Association has formally invited you to participate."
Ye Yun rubbed his temples and said with a sigh, "Is Murray Brown just bored out of his mind? He's basically pushing me straight into the spotlight!"
The fact that Rose Estate had already outperformed Lafite had shocked the world. Now competing for the Wine King title could be seen as overstepping, drawing too much attention. As the saying goes, "The tallest tree in the forest is the first to be struck by the wind." It was easy to become a target if one shone too brightly.
Alya, seated beside him, looked thoughtful after hearing his complaint and said, "Young Master, this might actually be a good thing for the development of our estate."
"A good thing?" Ye Yun turned to her. "Let's hear your reasoning."
Alya nodded calmly. "Young Master, didn't you ask me yesterday to draft a business development plan for the estate? Here's how I see it. Since you plan to scale up production, you'll need a shining brand name to raise the estate's prestige. At the very least, we need to secure a Top Ten spot—ideally, the Wine King title."
Ye Yun fell into deep thought.
Alya's logic was straightforward: Rose Red Wine needed to attain the level of public recognition and prestige enjoyed by brands like Lafite or Romanée-Conti.
The benefits of such fame were obvious. Lafite had turned itself into a symbol of luxury and excellence, reigning as the Wine King for decades.
Despite its rising popularity, Rose Red Wine wasn't even one-tenth as renowned as Lafite—at least in terms of name recognition.
And ultimately, fame and quality were both crucial for a winery's long-term success.
Besides, this was the best time to participate in the Wine Review Competition, while the Rose Estate was still riding its current wave of popularity. There was a real chance to claim the Wine King title.
After thinking it over, Ye Yun quickly understood the core of the matter.
He had spent too much time worrying about the fame of other wineries, overestimating his competition while underestimating the strength of Rose Red Wine.
It was a classic case of "the onlooker sees more than the player." In this moment, Alya's role as a capable assistant and advisor truly shone through.
Glancing at her with appreciation, Ye Yun smiled and said, "Since that's the case, we'll enter the competition—and go for the Wine King title in the boldest fashion! Let the Wine King crown become the golden label of our estate!"
…
A few days later, Ye Yun boarded a flight to Borsado, F Country, accompanied by Orn and several other master winemakers.
Borsado was known as the wine capital of F Country and was the origin of many world-famous wines and wineries.
Thanks to its unique climate and soil, the grapes grown here possessed extraordinary characteristics, producing wines of exceptional taste.
As a result, Borsado held an unparalleled and revered status in the world of wine—it was nothing short of a sacred land for wine lovers.
The annual Wine Festival was the grandest event in Borsado, drawing enthusiasts from across the globe.
And every three years, the Wine Review Competition was held alongside the festival, further amplifying the attention and prestige of the event.
This year's competition was held at Meriac Castle in Borsado.
Meriac Castle, a medieval fortress originally owned by a count, had changed hands after the revolution and was eventually acquired by the Wine Association to serve as its headquarters and competition venue.
After arriving in Borsado, Ye Yun and his group took a car directly to Meriac Castle, where he saw an impressive array of luxury cars parked at the gates, along with guests from various renowned wineries.
"That's Sorsko, Chairman of Château Margaux. And there's Louis, Chairman of Château Mouton Rothschild. Wait… isn't that Daniel from Romanée-Conti? He actually came in person?" Orn's voice was filled with astonishment.
The mention of Daniel caught Ye Yun's attention. Following Orn's gaze, he saw an older man with gray hair dressed in a sharp suit—Daniel, the Chairman of Romanée-Conti.
Daniel also noticed him, smiled, and gave a polite nod before walking into the castle with his entourage.
Ye Yun also spotted Arnold, the Chairman of Château Lafite. He had already studied Arnold's profile, so he recognized him instantly.
However, Arnold didn't hide his disdain. His gaze toward Ye Yun was cold and hostile.
Ye Yun didn't back down either. Their eyes locked, creating an intense clash of wills in the air.
"I didn't think you'd actually show up at the competition," Arnold sneered. "Beating Lafite once doesn't mean your estate is better. Do you really think winning the Wine Review Competition is that simple? Don't be ridiculous."
Ye Yun raised an eyebrow and smirked. "If I can beat you once, I can beat you again. What's wrong? Is Lafite so fragile it can't handle losing?"
His words, calm yet sharp, sent a ripple through the onlookers—everyone could sense the tension.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]