Sarah Liu Howard 

“The First Lady of Wine in Beijing”
~~ Gordon Chan, Beijing

( Sarah Liu Howard aka Sarah Liu Harris ),  A native Chinese-American, Sarah Liu Howard has served as a wine sales professional for over 15 years, selling wine through retail and wholesale channels in both Asian and American markets. Speaking three languages enables Sarah in her work-related travel throughout mainland China, Hongkong, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, and other Asian countries.

Sarah grew up in mainland China, taking her university degree in Economic Law. Sarah also possesses certificates of achievement in Wine Hospitality, French wine, English as Second Language, and Business English. She studied wine with Dan Berger, Ray Jonson, and similar renowned wine writers and jurors, in the world-famous Napa and Sonoma wine country of Northern California.

In 1998, Sarah entered the wine industry when she became sales manager of Chinaplus Distributors in Beijing. There she was introduced to beloved wines from around the world. Immediately, Sarah “caught the wine bug”—and fell in love with all wine-related products, from vineyard to glass.

In 2000, Sarah joined Montrose Food & Wine in Beijing as a key accounts manager,  responsible for the stock and sales of 700 wines from 16 countries, as well as becoming adept at event planning and hotel sales. In 2003, she accepted a sales manager position at Torres Wines, successfully establishing three major wholesale channels for Torres in Southern China. In 2004, Sarah emigrated to the United States with her family. Working as an export manager to Asia for Merryvale Vineyards, in Napa Valley, allowed Sarah to head back to Asia on occasion to represent Merryvale across the entire Asian market. She is extremely proud to be the first native-born Chinese woman to hold such a sales position in the United States.

After living and working in wine country for eight years, Sarah discussed her passion for wine with friends and family and decided, in order to share those passions, to make the big leap: She founded Liu Wine, developing the first English /Chinese wine website in California. Her mission? To help people enjoy drinking wine, while also helping them appreciate wine culture. 

Sarah serves as President and Wine Educator of Liu Wine.  She and her family now live in beautiful Silicon Valley in the South Bay. Before she moved to the South Bay , Sarah lived in Napa and Sonoma county, part of the North Bay Area for many years. Besides savoring her work as a wine professional, Sarah also loves to golf with family and friends.