dbHK’s Mastering Barolo in pictures

The latest in dbHK’s masterclasses, Mastering Barolo saw HK’s wine trade and consumers getting to grips with the Piemonte region of Barolo and its five communes up in the clouds of the Ritz-Carlton.

Michael Palij MW, CEO of Italian wine specialists in Asia, VinoVeritas led members of Hong Kong’s wine trade and wine enthusiasts through the convoluted world of Italy’s MGA system, menzioni geografiche aggiuntive which seeks to classify single vineyards (crus) within Barolo’s five communes.

Starting from a trade and then a consumer masterclass through to a fabulous dinner up in the clouds (unfortunately for most of the evening), here is the event in pictures…

dbHK’s publisher, Ivg Ng opened the event to a packed room comprising Hong Kong’s wine consumers.

Where are Barolo’s crus? Michael Palij explained that 170 single vineyards of Barolo are divided between each of its five communes: Barolo, Castiglione Falletto, La Morra, Monforte d’Alba and Serralunga d’Alba.

Winemaker of Giuseppe Mascarello, Elena Mascarello was present to explain her winemaking techniques for the Mascarello single-vineyard wine, Monprivato. 

Members of Hong Kong’s wine trade compared wines from the classic 2010 vintage across Barolo’s five communes.

The array of wines included 2010 Massolino, Barolo DOCG Margheria from Serralunga d’Alba; 2010 Domenico Clerico, Barolo DOC Pajana from Monforte d’Alba; 2010 Giuseppe Mascarello, Barolo DOCG Monprivato from Castiglione Falletto; 2010 Damilano, Barolo DOCG Cannubi from Barolo and 2010 Roberto Voerzio, Barolo DOCG La Serra from La Morra.

Dinner guests were treated to the sight of a Babylonian-style fountain in the lavish setting of Tosca on the 102nd floor of the Ritz Carlton.

A HK Wine Society table debates the merits of the five Barolos before launching into dinner.

The starter of warm potato cream, goat cheese and black truffle kicked off the dinner which was paired with an elegant and mineral NV Andreola Prosecco.

Next up was Chef Pino’s beef carpaccio with the ripe and full-bodied 2008 Domenico Clerico from Barolo Pajana.

Some guests after one too many Barolos (Baroli?) forgot they were 500m above ground and commented that Tosca had put its “window covers on” – sadly, this was merely cloud cover which had engulfed the Ritz Carlton in heavy fog.

Surprise! At the last minute, the clouds parted to reveal a fabulous view of Hong Kong’s harbour and Kowloon peninsula.