The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Over dinner at Lawry’s Prime Rib in Central and hosted by OneRedDot, Jonata’s distributor in Hong Kong and China, celebrated winemaker Matt Dees explains the long journey he’s taken to place Screaming Eagle’s sister winery, Jonata on the map in California.

Ogier’s General Manager, Francois Miquel (second from right) guides wine lovers through his range of Clos l’Oratoire wines from Châteauneuf-du-Pape over a meat fest lunch at Wooloomooloo. Founded in 1859, Ogier has one of the largest ageing cellars in the Rhone Valley. 

Legendary opera singer Maria Callas was rumoured to enjoy Fernet-Branca with mint, and this classic Italian bitter has also featured in The Sopranos and The Dark Knight Rises. Members of the HK drinks trade enjoyed a Fernet-Branca masterclass hosted by the Branca and Carpano Academy.

In celebration of Malbec World Day, the Argentinian Consulate hosted a tasting in Club Lusitano. “Malbec was unheard of five years ago in Hong Kong,” says Consul General, Gustavo Fazzari. “Now it is part of the wine landscape. We have so many new wines coming to the market that it is a truly exciting time for Argentinian producers.”

One of only three sherries to ever score 100 points from Robert Parker, the 1946 PX sherry (right) from Toto Albara wowed the crowds. As Parker noted: “An extraordinary wine of profound and complex character displaying all the attributes expected of a classic wine of its variety. Worth a special effort to find, purchase and consume.” Fortunately, the db team didn’t have to go far to find and consume.

As part of his Burghound Symposium, Allen Meadows hosted a series of masterclasses at the Shangri-La celebrating the best that Burgundy has to offer. Ever-patient Meadows also signed copies of his book, “The Pearl of the Cote” and posed for many a photograph with excited Burgundy fans.