The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Winemakers and owners of Bordeaux estates posed for a jovial photo before more than 450 consumers convened for a Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux (UGC) consumer tasting hosted by local importer Kerry Wines at the InterContinental Hotel in Hong Kong. 90 Bordeaux estates showcased their recently released 2014 vintage alongside the 2011 vintage.

The event in action.

Watson’s Wine meanwhile organised a Taste Champagne event at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong featuring more than 20 brands with special guest Tyson Stelzer. The consumer session attracted more than 300 guests.

Tyson Stelzer of Wine Press and Jeremy Stockman, general manager of Watson’s Wine, at the Taste Champagne event.

Local importer Altaya hosted a media luncheon with Hubert de Billy from Champagne house Pol Roger, highlighting five of its cuvées including Pol Roger Brut NV, Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2009, Pol Roger Brut 2008, Pol Roger Brut 2008, Pol Roger Winston Churchill 1995 and 2006. 

A dining event aiming to match Australian and New Zealand produce with Italian fine wines was hosted last week at Alto 88 restaurant at Regal Hotel in Causeway Bay. Pictured here from left to right are Giuseppe Maria Brancati, chef Alto 88; Sara De Cecco of Kelit wines, Zenn Quek of Entrée Ingredients and Angus Chan of Kerry wines.

Italian wine producer Frescobaldi has released a limited edition for its iconic Castello di Nipozzano riserva 2014 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Castello di Nipozzano, Frescobaldi’s most ancient estate. The first vintage of Nipozzano Riserva dates back in 1864, and a bottle of that vintage is still hosted in the Private Collection of Frescobaldi family. Retailing for HK$288 a bottle, the wine is available with local wine importer, Jebsen Fine Wines. 

The week also witnessed a private tasting at Watson’s Wine bar in Central by Justine Tesseron from the Tesseron family that owns Tesseron Cognac brand and Château Pontet Canet in Pauillac. 

Herve Gouin, International Sales Director of Château Mouton Rothschild, was in Hong Kong to host a wine dinner with local importer Wines’ Link. He compared the highly rated 2009 Mouton to a “young teenager with a lot of muscle”. Other wines poured at the dinner included Château Mouton 1999, 2000, 2005, and its white wine Aile d’Argent, Petit Mouton 2004 and its fortified wine called Cassis de Mouton Rothschild.

Giuseppe Russo, owner of Girolamo Russo, and Michael Volpato of Cheese Meets Wines hosted a masterclass at HipCellar showcasing Girolamo Russo’s Nerello Mascalese from Mount Etna in Sicily.

Anton Hobbs (left), Far East export director of Champagne Lanson, and Lason’s Chef de Caves, Hervé Dantan, at Lanson’s branded room inside Langham Hotel’s Bostonian restaurant in Hong Kong, where roughly 300 bottles of the Champagne house’s cuvees are on display.