Hong Kong wine & spirits fair now on

HONG KONG – The sixth HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair opened today with more than 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions. The three-day event, which ends on 9 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), will include first-time exhibitors from Jordan, Lithuania, Montenegro and Morocco.

Spain – Partner Country Thirty pavilions will participate, including Spain, this year’s partner country, which will showcase more than 90 exhibitors. France and Italy, the two largest pavilions, will feature a combined total of more than 300 exhibitors. Several pavilions new to the fair will also take part: the Chinese mainland’s Penglai Vine and Wine Bureau and the Xining City Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Japan’s Kagoshima Prefectural Government and the Niigata Sake Brewers Association, Wines of Turkey and the United States’ North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

Sweet and Fortified More than 70 events will take place, from master wine classes to the fifth Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition Award Presentation Ceremony. ICEX Spain Trade and Investment will organise a series of wine-tasting sessions ranging from sweet and fortified, to food pairing, white and sparkling, and every red but Tempranillo. At the Spanish pavilion, located in Hall 3C-D, The Wines from Spain and the Spanish Trade Commission (Hong Kong) will present "Finest Wines from Spain – Grand Tasting,” a Spanish fine-wine-tasting session; wine from 19 Spanish wineries will be available. Other fine-wine-tasting sessions will feature top German Riesling wine and premium port.

Sake and Gin The Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) will organise several tasting sessions featuring Japanese sake, shouchu and awamori. The Wine and Spirit Education Trust will present “A Tasting Journey through Gin: Uncovering Styles and Flavours” on 7 November, and “Alternative Bubbles, Sparkling Wines Beyond Champagne” on 8 November. Cocktail demonstrations will be held at the Ice Bar throughout the fair.

Exotic Spirits Notable spirits at the fair will include Rémy Martin’s limited-edition Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum, available from Amazing Wine Global Ltd, at HK$500,000 a bottle. Other highlights: Exotic Domaine de Canton, which blends Vietnamese ginger, Tahitian vanilla beans, French Proven?al honey and Tunisian ginseng; Suigei Kochikobo Daiginjohas, which has won the gold prize in the Japan National New Sake Competition for five straight years; and Taiwan’s Kavalan Single Malt Whisky, named “the New World’s Whisky of the Year.”

Global Wine Trends Other fair highlights will include the Wine Industry Conference, 7 November, under the theme “Driving Growth: Global Wine Industry Trends.” The Asia Top Sommelier Summit will take place 8 November, presenting “The New Mapping of a World-Class Wine List.” The Gala Wine Dinner, 7 November, will be celebrated with the theme “Winds from Spain” in honour of the fair’s Partner Country. Dr Justin Cohen from the University of South Australia will host a seminar on consumer behaviour among Chinese wine drinkers. Trade buyers can take part in “The Favourite Wine Voting Game,” featuring five categories: red wine, white wine, spirits, Japanese sake and other; participants may win coupons forAir Max 95 20th Anniversary