(Pictured: The Niigata Sake Brewers’ Association of Japan set up a new pavilion at this year’s wine fair, featuring sakes from Midorikawa, one of the most famous breweries in Niigata, which is home to 89 sake breweries, making it the Japanese prefecture with the largest number of sake breweries.)
The 11th Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council took place Nov. 8-10 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center. James Lau, acting financial secretary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, was the guest of honor at the opening ceremony.
The 2018 Wine & Spirits Fair featured fine wine and spirits from 1,075 exhibitors from 33 countries and regions. There were 30 group pavilions representing wine-producing regions, trade organizations and governmental organizations from around the world. This year, pavilions from the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade Sichuan Council, the Department of Commerce of Zhejiang Province, Ningxia’s General Office of Administrative Committee of Grape Industry, Zong of Helan Mountain’s East Foothill Wine Region, the Czech Grape and Wine Producers Association, Gifu Prefecture and the Niigata Sake Brewers’ Association from Japan, and Peru were there for the first time.
The fair also launched the World of Olive Oil at the Vinitaly pavilion to promote various kinds of premium olive oils, with visitors able to enrich their knowledge and sample a selection of the oils. Also new was the Organic Wine and Spirits Corner that featured a range of organically produced beverages for visitors to sample.
The HKTDC organized about 70 events during the fair, including tasting sessions showcasing wines from around the world. It will also host numerous industry-exchange events, including the Wine Industry Conference, thematic seminars and master classes.
The fair’s Public Day on Nov. 10 was open to members of the public aged 18 and over.
Following a successful debut in 2017, the Asia Wine Academy, jointly organized by the HKTDC and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Hotel and Tourism Management, returned this year. On the theme of “Seeking Greatness: Decoding Wine Quality,” Masters of Wine Jeannie Cho Lee and Sarah Heller shared their insights into Italian and French wines.
Established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council is a statutory body dedicated to creating opportunities for Hong Kong’s businesses. With 50 offices globally, including 13 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China, Asia and the world. With more than 50 years of experience, the HKTDC organizes international exhibitions, conferences and business missions to provide companies, particularly SMEs, with business opportunities on the mainland and in international markets, while providing business insights and information via trade publications, research reports and digital channels including the media room. For more info, visit hktdc.com.
