** Update on 2nd June 2016

Following the recent publication of this  article/report about the departure of Jeannie Cho Lee from the LE PAN publishing project and the suggestion that “the project was in danger of stalling or collapsing” ,we have today received information from the management of LE PAN that confirms the continuation and further development of the Magazine.

On the basis of this recently furnished information we are please to make the following Update and Correction.

“As Editor and on behalf of Connoisseur Magazine ASIA ,..We know understand,.. and accept that the project has not,.. or is not, in danger of finishing or collapsing, as we first observed on the basis of information available at that time.”

Company representatives made the following points:

-The  Print issue for the bi-monthly  print magazine (a bimonthly global print magazine published in separate editions in English (sold in the United States, Europe, Australia, Hong Kong and Singapore) and in simplified Chinese for distribution in China. The Chinese edition is now translated and designed under contract for LE PAN by Conde Nast, the foremost glossy magazine publisher in China) is expected to be published and available  in the week of June 20 and the online content at lepanmedia.com has been recently enhanced to display the magazine content (available to subscribers ) as well as free –access online stories about fine wine and other spheres of luxury.

In addition whilst acknowledging some staff turnover and attrition,..following the departure of Ms Jeannie Cho Lee,..not unusual during the launch of a magazine during the first year,.. LE PAN management  advised as follows:

“We have appointed Darius Sanai, an Editorial Director at Conde Nast International, as our Editor in Chief.  In turn he has appointed Rashna Mody Clark, one of Britain’s most celebrated creative directors, as our creative director. Caroline Metcalfe, launch photographic director of Conde Nast Traveller, is our Photography Director. Our new Contributing Writers include Marcel Theroux, John Carlin and Anthony Sattin. Our Associate Editor, Guy Woodward, is a former Editor of Decanter magazine. Our contributing photographers include many of the greatest names in magazine photography. And so on.”

*Connoisseur Magazine ASIA, and Editor Axel Ritenis accept the representations made and apologise for any erroneous impressions that may have arisen from this article.

The article has been amended accordingly.

JEANNIE CHO LEE Departs “WINE AND LUXURY” Magazine LE PAN

As the dust settles from a hugely successful Hong Kong VINEXPO 2016, questions are being asked about the reasons for the departure  of Jeannie Cho Lees from the “highly feted and hyped” publishing enterprise and super ambitiousLe Pan magazine project.

Ironically ,..Jeannie’s tenure at the magazine has lasted only one year ,.and she was closely associated  with the first great Asian wine and Luxury Lifestyle publishing project,.. “launched with fanfare and waves and crescendoes of champagne induced euphoria at the 2015 VINEXPO exhibition in Bordeaux” when all manner of elite wine industry and  luxury lifestyle aficianados,..not to mention “international high society” members,.. were on hand to support the project.

The exact circumstances are yet to be clarified although Jeannie Cho Lee told this correspondent that she had effectively resigned from the project. We have since received a Press Release from company representatives confirming Jeannie’s departure.  Whilst several other writers and journalists associated with the English edition have also left, the magazine has also recruited many new staff(see above)

Le Pan Media is  a purpose built media company of Goldin Group, apparently an international conglomerate headquartered in Hong Kong with offices and property developments around the globe in countries such as China, the U.S.A., Taiwan and Europe. The Group comprises two publicly listed companies and is structured around diverse business lines – consumer electronics, real estate development, polo, wine, horse breeding and financial services.

According to industry publicity….Le Pan Media is a  part of the Goldin Groupconglomerate created specifically to launch a wine lifestyle magazine and interactive website in  2015.

Asked about the reasons for the collapse of the project and her departure, she was rather circumspect and cautious in her remarks,.. as could be expected.

The ambitious LE PAN  project,.. was launched at a time when wine magazine circulation figures are in free fall (and often falsified) and even digital media is under threat (with web advertising block settings being used ) in an extremely competitive publishing environment,…”where former readers and subscribers with an egotistical and narcisstic bent imagine themselves the equal of experts”,..and are “no longer willing to be dripfed by genuine experts,”…now everyone is an expert!

There have been industry rumblings that whilst the Le Pan Magazine website is  “elegant and state of the art” it has been suggested by industry authorities that “it lacked originality,..” and was in fact a visually pleasing synthesis,.. or “pot pourri” of other magazine styles and content.This of course can be suggested of any publication but certainly it takes time for a new publication to take on its own unique style and identity.

That said,it can’t be denied that the content offers a compelling read,..and is  “beautifully written by first class journalists and wordsmiths,.. with first class photography”,.. obviously working under good editorial direction.

Jeannie was a strong, charismatic and charming presence at this years VINEXPO 2016. and presented a Bordeaux Graves Masterclass (which I attended) in her “inimitable authoritative, yet charming style”,.. and confided to me,..that she had resumed her ownJeannie Cho Lee Asian Palate Blog.

Jeannie Cho Lee is the first ethnically Asian Master of Wine (MW), a title she received in 2008. She is also an award-winning author, television host, editor, wine critic, judge and educator.

Lee was born in Seoul, Korea and shortly thereafter moved to the United States where she later received her undergraduate degree from Smith College and a Masters in public policy from Harvard University

Since 1994, Lee has been based in Hong Kong initially pursuing a career in business journalism before contributing to international wine publications such as Wine Spectator, The World of Fine Wine, Wine Business International and La Revue du vin de France.

Later, in November 2010, she joined Decanter as a contributing editor for Asia. She was also the Co-Chair of Decanter Asia Wine Awards, a sister competition to the Decanter World Wine Awards until Lee launched LE PAN in June 2015.

Lee has been a frequent judge at international wine competitions and she has also taught Wine and Spirit Education Trust courses in Hong Kong. In 2009, she received Vinitaly’s International Award, and also became a wine consultant to Singapore Airlinesand Galaxy Macau.

Lee’s first book, Asian Palate the much awarded ‘Best Food and Wine Pairing Book in the World’ has won many awards and Lee launched her website AsianPalate.com in May 2010.

It is not currently known what Jeannie’s new direction will be.,.. but she is obviously a charismatic and  talented professional with a “large following of wealthy and influential asian based bon vivants,,…and aficianados ,..ready to support her next endeavours.”

I am sure We all wish her well in her next chapter!