The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Winemaker Oliver Haag, of Mosel’s Fritz Haag winery, gave an animated talk about his family’s famed Rieslings grown from 17.9-ha vineyards in the middle Mosel, including the famed Brauneberger Juffer and Brauneberger Juffer Sonnenuhr sites. 

Haag officially introduced the latest 2016 vintages of Fritz Haag’s Riesling, Brauneberger, Brauneberger Juffer Trocken, Brauneberger Riesling Kabinet for the Hong Kong market, exclusively distributed by local importer Kedington Wines.

Japanese winery Château Mercian’s winemaker Shinji Kuroda was in Hong Kong this week to host a wine dinner, introducing a few of its wines to the local market at Cantonese restaurant Above and Beyond at Hotel Icon. The oldest Japanese winery, having been founded in 1877, Mercian has grown to be one of the internationally recognised Japanese wineries, making a diverse range of wines using Bordeaux grapes as well as local varieties such as Koshu and Muscat Bailey A.

Three of the reds poured at the Château Mercian wine dinner included Hosaka Muscat Bailey A 2013 from Yamanashi region, Mariko Vineyard Syrah 2013 and Mariko Vineyard Merlot 2013 from Nagano region. The winery decided to expand vineyards to Maruko area in Ueda in Nagano prefecture to produce top quality wines from its Mariko Vineyard. The Syrah is particularly limited with only 1,700 bottles made.

Koshu ‘Kiiroka’ wine is considered a breakthrough for the Japanese winery when in 2003 they were able to identify a precursor of 3MH in the Koshu variety that can give the wine good acidity and citrus flavours. The first vintage was launched in 2005.

Hong Kong’s tiki bar Honi Honi unveiled a new rum-based cocktail called Bikini Girl, using Nusa Cana rum, Lychee Purée, Cucumber, Rose Water, Cranberry Juice & Lychee Syrup for the National Rum Day on 14 August.

Conrad Hotel in Hong Kong debuted a vodka-infused boozy afternoon tea promotion with colourful pastries infused with vodka in various flavours. Don’t miss the Mojito lime tart, topped by poached pear, mint leaves and Absolut Pear. There is also “The Spirit of this Summer” on offer, featuring colourful cocktails blended with Absolut vodka to celebrate the fun-filled summer holiday.