HKTDC International Wine & Spirits Fair returns for 11th edition

The Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair will return from 8 to 10 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre for its 11^th edition, with 1,075 exhibitors from 32 countries and regions showcasing a plethora of wines, spirits and beers.

HKTDC hosted a press conference this week about the upcoming Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair

The three-day trade fair at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) will take place at a time when Hong Kong further consolidates its role as a wine trading hub in Asia, with wine imports growing at a double-digit pace.

According to HKTDC, acting executive director Benjamin Chou, the city’s wine imports – mainly from France, Australia and the UK – reached HK$8.35 billion, a year-on-year increase of 10.5% in the first eight months of the year. Imports from the UK and France recorded growth of 30.2% and 17.9%, respectively. Hong Kong’s wine exports amounted to HK$2.66 billion during the period, with the Chinese mainland and Macau being the largest export markets, followed by Singapore and Taiwan.

Global wines on show

This year’s HKTDC Wine & Spirits fair will feature 27 group pavilions from wine-producing regions, trade and governmental organisations around the world.

There will be new pavilions from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council, the mainland’s Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, the Czech Grape and Wine Producer Association, Gifu Prefecture and the Niigata Sake Brewers’ Association from Japan, and the Trade Commission of Peru in Hong Kong. The fair will also launch the World of Olive Oil at the Vinitaly pavilion to promote various kinds of premium olive oils.

The fair will also feature a liquor and beverage products zone, a whisky and spirits zone, and a beer zone, together with zones that promote the industry’s all-round development, including wine education, wine accessories, equipment, services and wine investment. Food-pairing products will be showcased in the ‘friends of wine’ zone.

Asia Wine Academy returns

Following a successful debut in 2017, the Asia Wine Academy, co-organised by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management, will return for the second edition this year. On the theme of “Seeking Greatness: Decoding Wine Quality”, Jeannie Cho Lee MW and Sarah Heller MW will share their insights into Italian and French wines, exploring how wine style, regions and production methods will affect wine quality. Participants who complete the courses will be awarded a certificate.

About 70 events will be launched during the fair, including more than 10 tastings and industry-exchange events – including a wine industry conference, thematic seminars, masterclasses, educational talks, a cocktail reception and a gala dinner.

This year’s Wine Industry Conference on the first day will unite Debra Meiburg MW, Sarah Heller MW, Wainwright Advisors’ director David Wainwright and Wines of South Africa Asia market manager Marcus Ford to share their insights on the prospects and trends for the wine industry in the Asian market.

Meanwhile, the 10th Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition Award Ceremony will be held during the cocktail reception on the first evening of the fair, with more than 60 awards being handed out.

The last day of the Wine & Spirits Fair (10 November) will be open to members of the public aged 18 or above, offering a series of wine tastings, cocktail demonstrations, and masterclasses.

With comprehensive wine-related services such as auctions, retailing, catering, warehousing and logistics, the trade fair will serve as a launch pad for wineries, producers and merchants to expand their business into Asia and the mainland.

Click through to see the full event schedule including an in-depth masterclass on Japanese wine hosted by drinks business editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt MW and The Drinks Business Asian Awards, both on 9 November. 

8/11/2018 (Thursday)

Opening Ceremony

Time: 9.30am – 10.20am

Venue: Expo Drive Entrance

Asia Wine Academy: Seeking Greatness – Decoding Wine Quality I

Time: 11.30am – 1pm

Venue: Grand Tasting Room, Hall 3D Concourse

Lecturer: Sarah Heller MW

The Spirits of Scotland – Whisky & Gin

Time: 11am – 12pm

Venue: Wine Gallery, Hall 3D

Speaker: Ron Taylor, WSET Certified Educator

Emerging Trends in Global Whisky Market

Time: 11am – 12pm

Venue: Seminar Room, Hall 3E Concourse

Wine Industry Conference: Driving Growth: The Flourishing Asia Wine Market

Time: 2pm – 5pm

Venue: Seminar Room, Hall 3E Concourse

Programme Advisor: Debra Meiburg MW

Language: English

Graves, Sauternes, Pessac-Léognan, Barsac, the Origin of All the Greatest Bordeaux Wines

Time: 1.30pm – 2.30pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room B, Hall 3F

Speaker: Rebecca Leung, wine journalist and educator

WineLuxe x Hong Kong Wine Journey Top 10 Food and Wine Pairing Restaurant Awards

Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Venue: Wine Gallery, Hall 3D

9/11/2018  (Friday)

Mauritius Dicover Premium Rum of Mauritius

Time: 11am – 12.30pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room A, Hall 3C

Japanese wine masterclass

Time: 10am -12noon

Venue: Boardroom 6, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel

Speaker: drinks business editor-in-chief Patrick Schmitt MW

Admission: invite only, please contact sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

Asia Wine Academy: Seeking Greatness – Decoding Wine Quality II

Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Venue: Grand Tasting Room, Hall 3D Concourse

Lecturer: Jeannie Cho Lee MW

Drinks business Asian Awards 2018

Time: 1pm-3pm

Venue: Boardroom 6, Renaissance Harbour View Hotel

Admission: invite only, please contact sophie@thedrinksbusiness.com

Think Like an Insider: Secrets of Wine Sourcing

Time: 2pm – 3pm

Venue: Wine Gallery, Hall 3C

The Best Match – ICI X CCI Food Pairing Classes

Time: 2pm – 3pm

Venue: Seminar Room, Hall 3E Concourse

Speaker: Charles Chu, official sherry educator of Consejo Regulador de Jerez

Riesling – One Grape, Endless Possibilities

Time: 2.30pm – 4pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room B, Hall 3F

Speaker: Rebecca Leung, wine journalist and educator

Taste and Find Big data of Pinot Negro

Time: 4.30pm – 6pm

Speaker: Fabio Mondini

Venue: Wine Tasting Room B, Hall 3F

Go beyond 42 Customs District: Leap on the Wine Express to Mainland Market

Time: 5.30pm-6.30pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room A, Hall 3C

10/11/2018 (Saturday)

Asia Wine Academy: Seeking Greatness – Decoding Wine Quality I

Time: 11am-12.30pm

Venue: Grand Tasting Room, Hall 3D Concourse

Lecturer: Sarah Heller MW

An Introduction to Key Sake Styles

Time: 11am – 12pm

Venue: Wine Gallery, Hall 3C

Asia Wine Academy: Seeking Greatness – Decoding Wine Quality II

Time: 4pm – 5.30pm

Venue: Grand Tasting Room, Hall 3D Concourse

Lecturer: Jeannie Cho Lee MW

Wine Clinic

Time: 1pm – 2pm

Venue: Wine Gallery, Hall 3C

Speaker: Sammy Leung

Hong Kong Young Sommelier Challenge

Time: 4pm – 6pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room B, Hall 3F

Hong Kong Wine Competition

Time: 4pm – 5.30pm

Venue: Seminar Room, Hall 3E Concourse

Shiga’s Sake is Amazing: Three Reasons

Time: 4.30pm – 5.30pm

Venue: Wine Tasting Room A, Hall 3C