The week in pictures: Hong Kong

A WSJ seminar on China’s obsession with red wine, a convincing seafood and whisky pairing and combining fine wine with art are all in this week’s round up from HK.

Langton’s and Wine Australia held a fine wine classification seminar where Langton’s founder, Andrew Caillard MW spoke more of Australia’s increasing popularity in China and guided guests through 12 of Langton’s’ recommended fine wines.

Members of Hong Kong’s drinks and restaurant trade learned vine training, different soil types, the great undiscovered secret that is Georgian wine and what tipple really goes with Chinese food at the SPIT Conference hosted by Debra Meiburg.

As the May humidity rises, everyone takes refuge indoors for the month-long food and wine festival that is Le French Gourmay. Celebrating the best in wine and food offerings from the Midi-Pyrénées, highlights included the Cahors Malbec tasting and sampling craft beer, Brasserie d’Olt from Saint-Geniez-d’Olt in the Aveyron department.

“Uniting the gap between art and wine” was the theme at the recent Pont des Arts wine tasting. Founded by Thibault Pontallier and Arthur de Villepin and in homage to the famed Parisian bridge, Pont des Arts combines a limited collection of fine wine from Burgundy and Bordeaux with the work of Chinese-French painter, Zao Wou-Ki. “It is the best of art and wine and is a perfect marriage between the two,” said Thibault to db.

Thousands of delegates descended on the Wanchai Convention Centre to graze and gorge their way round Hofex, Asia’s biggest food and hospitality show. A particular sell-out favourite was the whisky and seafood pairing hosted by Scottish Development International which included pairing a langoustine salchichón with Highland Park’s delicious Dark Origins.

“How China’s Red Fascination Shapes the Global Wine Industry” was a much-debated topic contested by Jeannie Cho Lee MW; Wei Gu, WSJ’s China wealth and luxury editor; Mark Holguin, managing director of BBR Asia and Paulo Pong, manging director of Altaya Group. “There has been a rebound in the Chinese buying Bordeaux after the slump we’ve seen over the last few vintages. It shows people are still staying loyal even after disappointment,” said Jeannie.

Italian winemaker, Umani Ronchi, hosted a “Marche v Abruzzo” winetasting dinner at Central’s CIAK restaurant where guests compared a variety of wines from both regions. Particular group highlights were the Casal di Serra Verdicchio from Marche and the Montepulciano d’Abruzzo Jorio.