Vinexpo Hong Kong 2016 in pictures
Lion dances and lashings of wine as well as the announcement of this year’s winners of the Asian Wine Personality award. Vinexpo’s Italian-themed show was a rollicking ride of fun, frolics and frizzante.
All the pomp and ceremony of L’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne’s Hong Kong chapter dinner at the Grand Hyatt where dbHK’s Lucy was lucky enough to be inducted and thus could start the week as newly minted Dame Chevalier.
A stellar line-up of some of the world’s most distinctive styles of Grenache which characterised db‘s masterclass with Yangarra winemaker, Peter Fraser and Patrick Schmitt MW, masterclass moderator and db‘s editor-in-chief.
Members of Hong Kong’s wine trade gathered in the China Club to hear Peter Fraser speak of his beloved Grenache – one of the world’s “most characterful and yet misunderstood grape varieties.”
A traditional lion dance was a colourful and characterful way to kick off Vinexpo’s proceedings.
The President of the Hong Kong Bartenders Association, Neil Wong (third from right) and his team at the well-stocked drinks business Spirits Bar which served fantastic cocktails to thirsty Vinexpo visitors throughout the show.
A little corner of Chile in Hong Kong. The Concha y Toro booth was designed to replicate the historic and imposing winery of Las Condes.
Rupert Symington led a Vintage Port masterclass with a stunning array of classic Dow’s, Warre’s and Graham’s Ports reaching as far back at Graham’s 1970 and Warre’s 1980 vintage – the first under the Symington family ownership.
Can you taste as well as the world’s best sommelier? The room was packed out as contenders battled it out to correctly identify 10 wines in a blind tasting session hosted by Jon Arvid Rosengren and Vinexpo CEO, Guillaume Deglise.
An interesting pairing of Nespresso coffee and wine hosted by Paolo Basso, voted World’s Best Sommelier in 2013.
Briefly transported to Santorini for the afternoon all from the comfort of Hall 1, dbHK was immersed in Greek wine for a special AWSEC and Greek Enterprise masterclass.
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From Greece to Switzerland in a mere hop, skip and a jump. Paolo Basso was again on hand to host a tasting with Swiss wines from Valais, Vaud, Thurgau and Ticino alongside winemaker Gilles Besse, fourth generation owner at Domaine Jean-René Germanier and director of Swiss wine promotion.
A welcome sight after an arduous day of conferencing. Plenty of chilled Barons de Rothschild Champagne Brut was on offer at the Compagnie Vinicole Baron Edmund de Rothschild cocktail reception with CVBER’s new CEO, Boris Bréau.
The President of Villa Sandi, Giancarlo Moretti Polegato proudly shows off his prosecco. The historic producer plans to “step up” prosecco’s profile in China with more masterclasses, tastings and educational events this year.
Chile’s Cono Sur team were present at the fair, with winemaker Adolfo Hurtado on hand to present its range of wines.
Drumroll please… Patrick Schmitt MW announces the 2016 winners of the Asian Wine Personality award, jointly hosted by the drinks business and Vinexpo.
Shin and Yuko Kibayashi, two Manga authors famed for introducing Asian readers to the world of fine wine were this year’s recipients for their iconic series, The Drops of God.
Yuko and Shin Kibayashi celebrate their win with famed Japanese footballer Hidetoshi Nakata (bottom right); Ken Chan, sake ambassador of Jebsen Fine Wines and Donny Ho, general manager of Jebsen Fine Wines at Jebsen’s 25th anniversary gala dinner.
A live performance of Chinese sand art wowed the crowd at ASC’s 20th anniversary gala dinner hosted by ASC’s CEO, Bruno Baudry and Yuji Yamazaki, President and CEO of ASC’s parent company, Suntory Wines International.
This year’s lineup of the Riesling Fellowship awardees: Jeannie Cho Lee MW; Ian Ford, CEO of Summergate China; Katsuyuki Tanaka, Japanese wine journalist and educator and Hisashi and Takahiro Yamano of Herrenberger Hof A.G. from Japan. Bestowed by Wines of Germany, the Riesling Fellowship recognises trade and media professionals for championing German wines in Asia.
Wines of Argentina announced the launch of a new Hong Kong wine programme in partnership with Hong Kong’s Open University and led by wine educator and Argentine wine expert, Jennifer Luk.
Peter Gago, winemaker of Penfolds hosted a lavish gala dinner at the China Club. The estate also chose Vinexpo to announce the launch of its bespoke barrels from the Magill Estate in Adelaide.
Ending Vinexpo in high spirits. visitors and vendors gathered for a much-needed cocktail at this year’s Blend Aperitvo networking event.
