How we rate in Hong Kong

The fourth Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair earlier this month drew a record 934 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions, making it Asia’s biggest.
Newcomers Georgia, Israel, Latvia, Malta, the Slovak Republic and Sweden helped boost exhibitor numbers by 37 per cent over last year and lure 2,750 buyers.
The fair schedule was packed with free activities including seminars and tastings, such as a chance to sample Grand Cru Chateaux from Bordeaux.
The Grand Tasting on November 5 featured a “World of Spirits” master class and tastes of wines from Spain and Italy that critics have rated 90-plus.
Italy had its own hall as a partner country of the fair, with more than 200 exhibitors, up 80 per cent over last year. The Vinitaly Pavilion offered tastings, a demonstration on cooking with wine in mind, and a Gala Wine Dinner.
The Asia Top Sommelier Summit gathered experts from 10 countries, while the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition included spirits for the first time.
“Chinese cuisine is universally popular, but many people find it difficult pairing it with wine,” said Cathay Pacific’s Simon Tam. “With no other wine competition in the world awarding trophies for wine paired with specific Chinese dishes, we expect gourmands everywhere will be eagerly anticipating the results.”
Australia won the most gold medals in the competition, followed by New Zealand and France. Judges declared Grace Vineyard’s Deep Blue 2008 China’s best wine. The best from Thailand was Monsoon Valley Cuvee de Siam Rouge 2008 from Siam Winery Trading Plus.
In terms of matching food to wine, New Zealand took the top prizes for finding perfect mates for Cantonese dim sum (Torlesse 2007 Pinot Noir) and braised abalone (Domain Road Vineyard’s 2008 Pinot Noir).
Grace Koshu 2009 from Japan’s Chuo Budoshu goes best with sashimi, Greece’s Monemvasia St George Regional Red Dry Wine 2006 is ideal for Peking duck, and kung pau chicken really needs Hahn Monterey Pinot Noir 2009 from the US.
Hong Kong has had no tax on wine imports since 2008, and now there’s 57 per cent more wine coming in, year-on-year, earning US$940 million in sales in the first nine months of this year.
“And imports of still wines into China were up 70 per cent in the first five months of 2011,” noted Cathay Pacific’s Allen Gibbons. “If this trend continues, China will overtake Japan as the leading importer of still light wine in volume.”
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council’s massive investment in wine services – storage, education and packaging – has made the city’s auction market second only to London’s.
“Hong Kong is undoubtedly one of the most exciting wine markets in the world at the moment,” said British wine writer Tim Atkin.