The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Michael Hill Smith MW hosted a lunch event at China Club in Central this week, introducing his winery Shaw + Smith’s latest offerings available in Hong Kong. Speaking about his single vineyard ‘Lenswood’ Chardonnay, Smith mentioned that there has been a departure from traditional wine blending and more emphasis is now place on terroir-driven, single vineyard wines. His latest offerings included Shaw + Smith Sauvignon Blanc 2016, M3 Chardonnay 2015, Lenswood 2014, 2015 Pinot Noir, 2014 Shiraz and Balhannah Vineyard Shiraz 2013 which are all available now in Hong Kong with Links Concept.

Aki Wong of Accolade Wines has opened a wine education school called Vinotopia in Sheung Wan. The school will start to offer WSET Level 1 and 2 classes starting from this September.

Maggie Henriquez, CEO and president of Champagne house Krug, was in Hong Kong on Wednesday to launch the house’s latest 2004 vintage, which has been referred to as ‘Luminous Freshness’. A blend of 39% Chardonnay, 37% Pinot Noir, and 24% Pinot Meunier, the wine concludes the second trilogy of vintage Champagnes in the history of the House, following 2002 and 2003.

Krug launched Krug ID in 2011 to help buyers track vintage growing and harvest conditions, pairing and service suggestions as well as music pairing with each bottle. The 2004 Krug has the ID 1 16 006 (second from left), which indicates the wine received its cork in the first quarter of 2016, Henriquez explains at the launch event.

Mouton Cadet 3.0 has been officially launched in Hong Kong with local importer Jebsen Fine Wines with representatives from Baron Philippe de Rothschild. Jebsen Fine Wines’ director Gavin Jones, commented, “Each year, we manage to hit record sales in Hong Kong, with a growing presence of the Mouton Cadet brand in on-premise outlets as well as broad retail distribution. And with the launch of Mouton Cadet 3.0, I am very confident that records will continue to be broken.”

Pictured here are (from left to rigtht):  Anthony Gourmel, representative director of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Asia Pacific), Donny Ho, general manager of Jebsen Fine Wines, Florent Bouvier, business development manager of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (Australia Pacific), Gavin Jones, director of Jebsen Fine Wines and Christophe Goehen, export Area Manager of Baron Philippe de Rothschild (China). 

Hong Kong-based wine importer Sino Vantage Asia has gained exclusive distribution rights for three top ranges of Champagne from the family-owned Champagne producer J. de Champagne, including the limited 1969 Heritage Brut, for the Hong Kong and Macau markets. The premium ranges from the Damery-based producer include Grand Couronnement Brut 2002, O.R. 1735 Brut 2004 and its Heritage Collection spanning the 1969 to 1995 vintages.