FEV toasts success at Vinexpo Hong Kong

The Spanish Wine Federation (Federación Española del Vino, FEV) heralded another successful Vinexpo Hong Kong as Spanish wine continues to find favour among Asian wine drinkers.

This year’s show marks the third time the FEV has organised the Spanish Pavilion at Vinexpo, with previous years being in 2014 and 2012. Judging by the “significant increase” in overseas visitors throughout Vinexpo in May, it demonstrates the continuing popularity of Spanish wine among wine consumers outside of Europe, said the FEV.

Spain is currently Hong Kong’s fifth largest wine supplier, with an export volume of 281,000 cases in 2014, a remarkable leap of 44% from 2010. In Hong Kong particularly, younger wine drinkers perceive Spanish wine to be good value and Cava is a popular alternative to Champagne.

Vinexpo 2016 brought together 1,300 exhibitors from 33 countries and received more than 17,000 visitors, with a notable increase in professionals from Hong Kong, China, Taiwan, South Korea, Japan and Singapore.

The Spanish Pavilion’s 25 exhibitors hosted eight tasting sessions, highlighting Spain’s world famous grape varieties, including Tempranillo, Monastrell and Garnacha with two events, ‘Yecla: The Land of Monastrell’ and ‘Matarromera: A Journey Along the Douro River,’ proving to be extremely popular.

Speakers from Hong Kong’s Asia Wine Service and Education Centre (AWSEC), Jennie Mack, Darrin Mak, Ling Cheong and Corinne Mui also helped shine a light on Spain as a leading wine producing country.

Other speakers included Ivan Hui, a founding member of the Hong Kong Wine Chamber of Commerce; Polly Tse, director of Dion Trading Ltd; and Javier Torres, export manager for the Matarromera Group.

Exhibitors in the Spanish Pavilion this year included Alsina & Sardà, Bodegas San Alejandro, Matarromera, Félix Solís Avantis, Terra Nostra de Vinos, Vila Viniteca and Vinícola del Priorat.