Week in pictures: Hong Kong

This week Hong Kong has seen a new round of new releases from Napa’s Continuum to Greece’s Kir-Yianni and Glenmorangie’s 2017 Private Edition – Glenmorangie Bacalta. In addition, Vinexpo CEO Guillaume Deglis, brought with him the latest figures and trends on Hong Kong and mainland China. There was also a Washington State wine tasting featuring Leonetti Cellar and a panel discussion on wine education language and brand awareness in China’s wine market.

Vinexpo CEO Guillaume Deglis released the latest figures and trends on wine & spirits from 2016 to 2020 this week in Hong Kong. China is projected to become the world’s second biggest wine market by value by 2020, and the biggest market for spirits led by domestic Baijiu consumption. Europe, on the other hand, is expected to see a slide in wine consumption declining 33.9 million cases during the same period.

Carissa Mondavi, granddaughter of Robert Mondavi, was in Hong Kong this week to lunch the latest 2014 vintage of Continuum with Links Concept. Founded in 2005 by Tim and Marcia Mondavi in Pritchard Hill of Napa Valley, Continuum makes a single-estate Bordeaux blend each year. The 2014 vintage was made completely from estate grown grapes. Production of the vintage is about 4,000 cases.

Watson’s Wines officially launched five wines from Greek winery Kir-Yianni, including ‘Samaropetra’ 2015, a blend of indigenous grape Roditis and Sauvignon Blanc; ‘Paranga’ 2014, a blend of Merlot, Syrah with local grape Xinomavro, and two Xinomavros of ‘Kali Riza’ 2014 and ‘Ramnista’ 2012 in addition to ‘Diaporos’ 2012, made from Xinomavro and Syrah.

Washington state wines are all the rage in Hong Kong’s wine community, championed by local importer Golden Gate. A casual tasting organised by the company on Thursday showcased three wines from Washington State’s most renowned winery Leonetti Cellar in Walla Walla Valley including a Merlot, a 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon and a 2012 Reserve blended from Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, Petit Verdot and Merlot.

(From left to right) Terry Xu, founder of Aroma Republic, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Ian Harris, chief executive of WSET and Sean Robson, merchandising manager of Beers, Wines and Spirits at Wellcome Supermarkets in Hong Kong, joined a panel discussion on the use of language in wine education and brand awareness.

Brendan McCarron, head of Maturing Whisky Stocks for Glenmorangie and Ardbeg, was in Hong Kong on Monday to launch Glenmorangie’s 2017 Private Edition – Glenmorangie Bacalta. This is the 8th edition of the sought-after collection among whisky connoisseurs and it’s the first Glenmorangie finished entirely in sun-baked Malmsey Madeira casks.