The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Lunching up in the clouds with Venica & Venica, exploring the diverse world of Chinese Baijiu and meeting Chivas’ master blender, Colin Scott. It’s been a busy old week for the db HK team.

The week started with a tasty lunch at Ozone on the 102F of the Ritz Carlton and an introduction to the rich, racy and mineral Venica & Venica wines in Fruili. Pictured left to right is Herve Leroux of Sino Vantage Asia, Leo Lo sommelier of Tosca, Giampaolo Venica of Venica & Venica, and Sandro Brusco, head sommelier of Tosca.

dbHK hosted a Baijiu masterclass and dinner where consumer and trade guests worked their way through different vintages and expressions of the oft-misunderstood Chinese white spirit. Ivy Ng, publisher of dbHK and Ian Wo, director of Googut Wines & Spirits guided guests through the tasting.

The incredible presentation of the Baijiu for the consumer masterclass – many of the aged Baijiu is kept in intricate Porcelain jars.

Next up was a tasting of Masseto, Ornellaia’s Merlot-driven premium wine with ‘rockstar’ winemaker, Axel Heinz. “Masseto has come into its own,” he told dbHK, speaking of the decision to trade Masseto entirely on the Place de Bordeaux, save for a few core markets. 

From Bolgheri to Piemonte, Angelo Gaja was in town to host a tasting of his new releases of 2013 Gaja Alteni di Brassica, 2013 Gaja Ca’Marcanda Magari, 2013 Gaja Gaia & Rey, 2011 Gaja Ca’Marcanda Camarcanda, 2012 Gaja Barbaresco and 2011 Gaja Conteisa.

The Wine Society of Macau held its 20th anniversary dinner in conjunction with the Hong Kong Wine Society in the luxurious surrounds of Bela Vista, the official residence of the Portuguese Consul-General of Macau and Hong Kong. Macau’s President, Filipe Cunha Santos is interviewed by TDM, Macau’s national TV station. 

The sumptuous environs of the Portugese Consul-General’s residence, the Bela Vista. 

The annual Chivas Masters 2016 took place at the newly opened Foxglove on Ice House street. Bartenders battled it out to dream up imaginiative cocktails using Chivas Regal 12. The lucky winner was Dave Lam from Quinary who stunned the judges with his creations. He will go on to join the rest of the finalists in New York next year.

Meeting a whisky legend can only happen a few times in a lifetime. To celebrate the launch of the ultra-premium expression, Chivas Icon, db HK went along to have a go at a Chivas blending session with master blender, Colin Scott.