Asia's Premier Wine Event Opens Tomorrow

9 November 2016 – The ninth HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair opens tomorrow (10 November) and continues through 12 November at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC). Philip Yung, Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce, Industry and Tourism) of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government, will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony.

This year’s Wine & Spirits Fair will showcase fine wine and spirits from more than 1,060 exhibitors from 37 countries and regions. The fair will feature various zones including Liquor and Beverage Products, Whisky and Spirits Zone, as well as Friends of Wine. Wine Investment, Wine Education, and Wine Storage and Logistics are also spotlighted. The HKTDC is bringing around 65 buying missions from over 20 countries and regions to visit the fair.

Being a well-known wine trading and distributing hub, wine exporting countries are seeking to tap into the Asian market through Hong Kong. Besides Croatia, Finland and the Philippines exhibiting at the fair for the first time, wine producing regions, wine associations and trade commissions from around the world have formed 30 pavilions to promote their products. Among them, first-time group pavilion organisers include the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation, the Bulgarian Wine Export Association, the Economic and Information Technology Commission of Guizhou Province from the Chinese mainland, the Fukushima Prefectural Government and Kyushu Shochu Culture & Tourism Pavilion from Japan, FENADEGAS from Portugal, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia.

Located in southern Central Europe, Slovenia is a wine producing country less familiar to consumers in Hong Kong and Asia. Slovenia’s viniculture is characterised by the country’s diverse geography and microclimates; its latitude aligns with many renowned and prolific wine-producing regions like Bordeaux, Burgundy and Northern Rhône. Around 70 per cent of Slovenian wines qualify as premium wine. Aiming to capture the attention of Asia’s developing markets through Hong Kong, His Excellency, Mr Dejan Židan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food of the Republic of Slovenia, will attend meet-the-press and grand tasting sessions tomorrow under the theme of “Discover Excellent Wines From Slovenia – Taste the Slovenian Identity”.

Exquisite wines from around the world will also be presented including:

• Venia Grand Cuvee – Dry Red Premium Wine from Slovenia (Booth no.: 3D-C33B). Produced in Goriška Brda, often referred to as the "Tuscany of Slovenia", the dry red wine blends the softness of Merlot, the fruity scent of Cabernet Franc and full body of Cabernet Sauvignon to give a romantic charm.
• RJ Family Wine Malbec from Argentina (Booth no.: 3C-D02). RJ Vinedos’ Family Wine Malbec’s aromatic palate is intense and complex with a spectrum of fruits such as cherry and raspberry, followed by delicate notes of violet, blackberry, vanilla and a touch of herbs. It is chosen as one of the 20 Wines of Argentina Superstar Wines by wine critic Jancis Robinson.
• Dai-Ginjyo Gokujyo from Kitaya Co., Ltd. of Fukuoka, Japan (Booth no.: 3D-C26). The sake is made with locally-produced rice, Yamada Nishiki, which is polished down to 35 per cent. It is fermented in a controlled environment, then collected through a “Drip Filtration” process. Dai-Ginjyo Gokujyo Kitaya is top-of-the-range sake that beat 583 brands to clench the Best Sake of the World award in the International Wine Competition (IWC) 2013.

During the Wine & Spirits Fair, more than 70 special events are arranged to provide a comprehensive platform for trading and exchange. These include the Wine Industry Conference, gala dinner, tasting sessions, master classes, thematic seminars and guided tours. Around 50 wine tasting sessions are organised to spotlight wines from  Austria, Australia, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Guizhou, Japan, Mexico, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain and the US.

The Wine Industry Conference tomorrow is themed “Uncover the Opportunities of the New Cool Climate Wine Trend”. Meanwhile, the eighth edition of the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition Award Presentation Ceremony will also be held tomorrow evening. Following the cocktail reception, the Gala Dinner titled "I FEEL SLOVENIA” will feature a menu prepared by Janez Bratovž, head chef of celebrated Slovenian restaurant JB RESTAVRACIJA. Other highlight events include a seminar on “How to Reach the Right Customers in China” and the buyers forum on “Uncovering Business Opportunities in Booming Markets of Wine and Spirits” for the industry to discuss hot topics.

On Saturday (12 November), the fair will be open to members of the public aged 18 or above, with tickets priced at HK$200*. Public visitors with valid full-priced tickets on that day will receive a Lucaris crystal wine glass valued at HK$110 on a first-come first-served basis while stocks last.

Two master classes will be held on the public day including “Understanding Quality in Wines Currently Trending around the World with Jeannie Cho Lee MW” and “Sensory Experience of Wine by Debra Meiburg MW”. The public are also welcome to join wine tasting sessions, cocktail, whisky and spirit demonstrations and seminars. These include “A Journey through Chinese Food and Wine Pairings”, “Gifu Sake and Pottery Appreciation”, “Enjoy Shochu from Kyushu with Kumamon”, “Choosing from a Wine List - Tips and Tricks” and “Hong Kong Inter-University Wine Challenge 2016”.

This year’s fair once again headlines the Hong Kong Wine Journey citywide promotion, which encompasses a series of wine tastings, wine and food menu pairing, seminars, themed tours and Lan Kwai Fong carnival. More than 160 restaurants will feature promotions such as “Birthday Wine” and “Wine and Food Pairing Menu”. For more details, please refer to the Hong Kong Wine Journey map or the website.

During the first nine months of 2016, the total import value of wine products to Hong Kong reached HK$9.1 billion, which represented a 22 per cent increase year-on-year. The total export value amounted to HK$4.1 billion, a 25 per cent increase year-on-year.

*Tickets:
Members of the public can purchase Public Day admission tickets on site priced at HK$200. Tickets for Public Day master classes are priced at HK$350 (including admission) and are available on a first-come first-served basis. From now until 11 November, Public Day admission tickets can also be purchased at a discounted group-buy price of HK$99 through Groupon, Yahoo, Group Buyer, GOBUYA and HKTVmall.

Fair Website: http://www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair

Hong Kong Wine Journey: www.hktdc.com/hkwinejourney

Group Buy Deals for Public Day Admission Tickets: https://goo.gl/1lgXPM

Media Enquiries: Please contact the HKTDC's Communication and Public Affairs Department:
Joe Kainz     Tel: (852) 2584 4216           Email: joe.kainz@hktdc.org

Media Registration: Media may register on-site with their business cards and/or media identification.

To view press releases in Chinese, please visit http://mediaroom.hktdc.com/tc

About the HKTDC
The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) celebrates its 50^th anniversary this year. The HKTDC is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and services providers. With more than 40 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in overseas markets, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more information, please visit: www.hktdc.com/aboutus.