The week in pictures: Hong Kong

Hong Kong wine merchant Kedington Wines was announced as the winner of the Wines of South Africa’s ‘Discover South Africa’ importer competition. The company imports Stellenrust wines. The prize was presented to the Kedington team by Siobhan Thompson, CEO of Wines of South Africa at a award dinner hosted at Dynasty restaurant inside Renaissance Harbour View Hotel Hong Kong in Wanchai.

Four exciting South African wines including Stellenrust’s Chenin Blanc and Shiraz, as well Kanonkop’s Pinotage and a sparkling wine from Villiera Monro, were on pour at the WOSA dinner. The last two wines are imported by Northeast Wines & Spirits.

At the WOSA wine dinner, the trade association truly celebrated everything South African including serving guests with some delicious South African abalone steamed with Jasmine tea. 

In a true Hong Kong fashion, Augustine Deschamps, ambassador for Grands Crus Classés Bernard Magrez (sixth from the right), descended to Hong Kong to launch Bernard Magrez ‘Bleu De Mer’ lifestyle brand on a sunset cruise trip along Hong Kong’s Victoria Harbour. The range includes a Sauvignon Blanc, a Merlot and a rosé, and is sold through local importer Wines Link.

Augustine Deschamps, ambassador for Grands Crus Classés Bernard Magrez, on the sunset cruise in Hong Kong.

A soju and aged saké infused Negroni was served by Japanese restaurant Okra’s Swedish bartender Sven Selbak during dbHK‘s trip to the restaurant for a review. The hip restaurant located in the trendy Sai Ying Pun area has a strong focus on saké and serves roughly 14 different sakés by the glass with a few only exclusively available at the restaurant.

Hong Kong Wine Chamber of Commerce and Wuhai government from Inner Mongolia in Northern China organised a tasting and dinner at Marco Polo Hotel in Hong Kong to showcase some of their top quality ‘desert wines’. Inner Mongolia, a vast and arid land stretching around 2,400 metres across northern China, only has around 160mm of rainfall annually. Wuhai is the main wine producing area in the region.

Hao Jian from Inner Mongolia’s Jiolis winery in Wuhai was pouring his Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and a rosé at the tasting. The winery planted vines in Wuhai near China’s Yellow River in 2004 and produced its first vintage in 2008. His wines sell from RMB49 to RMB1,800 (US$265). 

Tian Tian from Sunshine Tian Yu Vineyard in Wuhai was presenting the estate’s Cabernet Sauvignon, a red wine that sells close to RMB900 (US$132).