Meiburg leads ‘Wine Theatre’ at RBHK

Headlining the wine stream at last week’s Restaurant & Bar exhibition in Hong Kong, Debra Meiburg MW led three seminars covering New Zealand Pinots, Georgian wines and Cru Bourgeois.

Guests learn about the classification of Cru Bourgeois

Starting with New Zealand “Not just Noir – New Zealand Pinots,” Meiburg shone the spotlight on four Pinot Noirs, two three Pinot Gris and two Pinot Gris blends and discussed New Zealand’s ever-developing wine industry away from Sauvignon Blanc.

Meiburg commented: “New Zealand’s rich array of cool climate wines extend well beyond Sauvignon Blanc, and marry very well with both our local cuisine, and the vast selection of international cuisines on offer in Hong Kong. Yet the reach of Pinot Gris into the Hong Kong market has been limited to date. New Zealand’s proportionately small production of this versatile variety is no reflection of its quality.

With this seminar attracting a near-capacity crowd, it was great to see the many restaurateurs and F&B professionals in attendance consider it ‘on par’ with its more recognised red counterpart, Pinot Noir.”

Next up was “Wines of Georgia” which led on from MWM’s Spit conference in May, where Meibiurg introduced guests to Georgia’s indigenous grapes and traditional winemaking techniques.

“Having travelled through Georgia meeting with winemakers, grape growers and the wider industry just weeks ago, I was so pleased not only to share the wines of Georgia with the attendees, but all the latest news, trends and insights gained from my recent firsthand experience,” she said.

“Georgian wine is truly back in the spotlight right now, capturing the attention of top sommeliers in London, New York and beyond. Its ancient history, combined with its trending status in the world’s trend-setting cities make it a fascinating “must-try” for modern wine lovers.”

Finally, the Cru Bourgeois lecture aimed to inform attendees regarding its designation, the evolution of its standards and had iconic examples for them to taste.

Meiburg said, “Although the Greater China market has traditionally maintained a love affair with Bordeaux, delving deeper into Cru Bourgeois and the specifics of this region was a great opportunity for attendees to better understand Bordeaux, its diversity and quality specifications.

“With 267 Crus Bourgeois today all adhering to the strict quality assurance guidelines in place, the wines are a great fit for Greater China – evidenced by the full house of 50 people at the seminar – with the attending trade particularly well engaged with this subject.”

Tasting some of New Zealand’s distinctive Pinot Gris