The week in pictures: Hong Kong

The chopsticks’ favourite wine! Team db HK kicked off with the launch of Etienne Hugel‘s Schoelhammer Riesling in the swanky environs of the Island Shangri-La. As well as the current 2007 vintage, there were also Hugel’s iconic back vintages, including his father’s first of 1953, his own of 1983 and his son’s Frédéric’s, in 2009. 

A little corner of colonial Hong Kong, Hullett House was the setting for G.H. Mumm’s rereleases of its best vintages, 1985, 1990 and 1996 over the last 30 years.

Safely inside from the heat Didier Mariotii, Mumm’s chief winemaker talked through the wines which have been released in magnum format with only 150 of each available worldwide. 

These gorgeous bottles of Mouton alongside other standout vintages such as 1928, 1945 and 1962  will be on offer at Shangri-La’s Petrus fifth ‘Iconic Wine Dinner’ which will be dished up come September. Costing just under HK$25K per person, the five-course banquet is a once-in- lifetime experience (or two or three for Asia’s super-rich) and is the brainchild of Petrus’ sommelier, Yohann Jousselin. “Nowhere else in the world will you be able to combine such fine food and fine wine in a setting like this,” he said. 

Barossa’s lively and renowned winemaker, Geoff Merrill hosted a dinner at the Kowloon Cricket Club to talk through some of his recent vintages of Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Merlot and Shiraz.

A chicken roll with a raspberry Balsamic sauce was served with another cult South Australia tasting, this time with Marcus Cirillo whose 1848 Grenache vines are among the oldest in the world.

Proving that Champagne does not always need to be thoroughly enjoyed by quaffing it in a flute and at fancy gathering, Veuve Clicquot launched “Rich” – a new way of drinking Veuve as part of a cocktail. Earl Grey tea, grapefruit and even red and green peppers were on offer for guests to mix their own inventions.

To finish an indulgent week, team DB HK rounded up some other wine industry professionals and went off to the launch of a new Tiki Lounge, Maholo in Wan Chai. With exuberant dancing and even more exuberant cocktails, it was a great place to polish off some well-deserved tipples.