Vinexpo Hong Kong: a guide to the fair
13th May, 2016
by
Rupert Millar
SHIRAZ DAY
As well as the focus on Italy, this year’s Vinexpo HK will also feature the fair’s first ever Grape Variety Day on Thursday 26th.
Kick-starting this new aspect of the fair will be Shiraz and, like Italy over the course of the show, Thursday will feature a number of tastings, events and conferences dedicated to the grape, wherever in the world it may be found.
The Shiraz programme begins with a breakfast conference exploring business opportunities for Shiraz/Syrah in Asia. Entitled ‘Can Shiraz become the next trend in Asia’, the talk will include a panel led by Robert Hill-Smith, chairman of Yalumba, South Australia; Nelson Chow, president of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association and vice-president of ASI Asia and Oceania; and Ronald Brown, founder of Maverick wines, South Australia.
French wine contest Citadelles du Vin will host a blind tasting of Shiraz and Syrah from around the world later that morning. Tasters will be able to rate the wines and a winner will afterwards be announced.
Wine experts John Stimpfig and Debra Meiburg MW will host masterclasses on Shiraz – Stimpfig on some of the grape’s iconic producers and Meiburg on the best Asian food pairings.
Meiburg’s masterclass will also explore the influence of terroir on the grape.