The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Alexandre Abel, deputy director of Domaine Ponsot, was in Hong Kong to introduce the latest release from the Beaune estate with its importer Kerry Wines. While presenting the wines Abel demonstrated the latest anti-counterfeit the domaine has employed using a QR code to track and check each bottle’s authenticity. And starting from 2016 vintage, all the wines from the domaine will be further protected with ‘InTact’, created in partnership by Amcor Capsules and Selinko. 

Another new technology advancement the domaine employed is the use of synthetic cork called ‘Ardea Seal’ cork. Since 2008, the estate has been using the cork with its wines. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the estate had problems with cork taint and pre-oxidisation, prompting the domaine to experiment with different closure technologies such as Diam and Screwcap before eventually turning to AS-Elite by Ardea Seal. The cork is said to be able to allow the same kind of oxygen exchange like natural cork in addition to eliminating the problem of TCA.

Domaine Ponsot is the only estate in Morey-St-Denis making a single vineyard premier cru white using 100% Aligoté. Made from old vines planted in 1911, the latest 2014 vintage, however, will be the last vintage made from the old vines, according to the domaine, as replanting is planned. According to Abel, Aligoté was the go-to white grape in Burgundy before Chardonnay was planted following the phylloxera outbreak in the late 19th century. 

Sandro Bottega, founder of leading Prosecco producer Bottega, unveiled his passion project in Hong Kong called ‘Bottega Ancestral’. This is a sparkling wine produced mainly from Glera in the Veneto region at the foot of Alps. The wine did not go through disgorgement at the end of second fermentation, leaving the wine hazy with all the sediment and lees. This process, according to the vintner is similar to what he calls an “ancestral method”, hence the name of the project. 

A closer look at the unfiltered Bottega Ancestral sparkling wine. The wine is expected to be launched later this year. 

Two of Germany’s leading Riesling producers are looking east for growth opportunities, as the uncertainties of Brexit still loom large. Kai Schatzel of Weingut Schatzel in Rheinhessen and Cornelius Donnhoff of the Nahe’s illustrious Dönnhoff family were in Hong Kong to showcase their latest offerings. 

The mixologists at The Sugar bar inside Hotel East concocted several new drinks for Dry January, including the non-alcoholic ‘Berry Grove’ (pictured above) and the low ‘GI Siu Tim’. Many of the non-alcoholic options include Seedlip, the world’s first non-alcoholic distilled ‘spirit’.