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ASC Fine Wines: confronting Hong Kong with ‘renewed vigour’

30 October 2024 By Eloise Feilden

Makoto Nagae, CEO of importer and distributor ASC Fine Wines, says his goal is to be a “radiant lighthouse” in the face of challenges and changes in Hong Kong’s wine market.

ASC Fine Wines: confronting Hong Kong with 'renewed vigour'

“The wine market in Hong Kong is facing many challenges and changes, but now, more than ever, is the time for us all in the wine trade, to confront these challenges with renewed vigour and absolute determination,” Nagae said.

The company, which is responsible for brands including Champagne Duval-Leroy, Banfi and Chile’s Lapostolle, showed its commitment to Hong Kong with this year’s ASC World Wine Tour.

Nagae said: “The success of this year’s ASC World Wine Tour is a testament to ASC’s commitment as well as our resilience in the time of change. It is our desire to serve the wine world as ‘a radiant lighthouse’”.

ASC Fine Wines is the leading wine importer and distributor in Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau, and has been holding this annual event since 2008.

The event was held on 15 October at JW Marriott Hong Kong, the event’s permanent partner. It featured 40 tasting tables with 400+labels, each showcasing a brand from ASC’s portfolio.

ASC’s event also featured a cocktail table, designed to capture the growing interest in cocktails among younger generations. This table featured a variety of cocktails crafted using wines, sake, port and vermouth from ASC’s portfolio, demonstrating the versatility of these products beyond traditional enjoyment.

A series of seminars and wine tastings were also organised, tailored for the wine trade in the afternoon and open to the general public in the evening.

Sessions included:

Sip and Blend Your Way Through Marlborough by Kim Crawford, where participants were guided through the process of creating their own wine blends using wines from different plots from the Marlborough winery.

New Horizons: Unveiling Crazy Fang and the Future of Chinese Wine, hosted by Wang Fang, owner of Kanaan Winery, as well as a prominent figure in the Chinese wine industry. The session covered topics such as the unique terroirs of Ningxia, winemaking techniques of the winery, and the potential for Chinese wines on the global stage.

Walk through Louis Jadot – A Burgundy Journey, where attendees were taken through the Burgundy region of France, guided by Elie Peres, Export Director for APAC from Louis Jadot. Louis Jadot Bourgogne Aligoté 2022, Louis Jadot Chablis Fourchaumes 1er Cru 2022, Louis Jadot Beaune Grèves Le Clos 1er Cru Blanc 2018, Louis Jadot Santenay Clos de Malte Rouge 2017, Louis Jadot Nuits-Saint-Georges 1er Cru Les Boudots 2017 and Louis Jadot Echezeaux Grand Cru 2019 were all on pour for the session.

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