Denis Gastin Wine Writer | Mayref Corporate Services

HONG KONG - EMERGING AS ASIA'S WINE HUB (November '09)

The first week in November was a big week inHong Kong. A cluster of high-profile events was pulled together under the patronage of the official Hong Kong Trade Development Council to put substance to Hong Kong's claims to be the emerging 'wine hub' ofAsia.

The removal of import duties and the profound simplification of import procedures in 2008 was the first step. The commitment by the organisers of the International Wine & Spirits Competition to hold an IWSC annually inHong Kong was another big step, matched by the commitment of the HK TDC to reschedule the International Wine & Spirits Trade Fair to coincide with the IWSC in the first week in November. Around these two events a cluster of 50 special wine-related activities were carried out over the week -- including a Wine Industry Conference andAsia's Top Sommelier Summit. The trade fair attracted a remarkable 540 exhibitors, from 34 countries - and 25,000 visitors, half of them trade operatives. On the final count there were 1332 entries for the IWSC - with 32 trophies being awarded for best wine categories and best wine and food matches, and 37 Gold medals, 152 Silver medals and 449 Bronze medals..

I was in attendance to lend a hand on the Wine Australia Booth, specifically with theNew South Wales exhibitors. As part of this I conducted a master class with NSW wines. At another event I presented an eclectic selection of 18 NSW wines at an exotic Asian food and wine matching challenge - at Bo Innovation Restaurant, with Sydney's Chef of the Year, Sean Connolly, and Hong Kong's 'Dragon Chef', Alvin Leung (see photo).

I was also pitching in with the organisers of the IWSC to ensure that there was an appropriate Asian wine focus -- with seasoned Asian palates carrying out the judging and competitive participation byAsia's own wineries - who mustered a total of 68 entries. I also presented a seminar on The Latest Developments in the Wine in China, Japan, Thailand and India.

BACK IN SONOMA VALLEY (USA) OCTOBER, 2009

I will be spending the last few days of September, 2009 with Mack and Joan Schwing in Santa Rosa (Sonoma Valley). My last visit was in August, 2003 when Mark and I met up to finalise the 'Landscape Chapter' which kicked off the 1st Edition of the wine business textbook, Wine: A Global Business.

http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/wine.html

Time passes, and the 2nd Edition of this very popular text has just been released:

http://www.cognizantcommunication.com/filecabinet/wine2.htm

It is also now appearing in languages other than English: a Japanese language version is in progress, as I discovered when I was in Yamanashi at the end of July, 2009 to judge at the Japan Wine Competition. I learned this from my good friend, Professor Yokotsuka, of Yamanashi University, who is Chairman of the JWC: He is working on the translation.

Last time I was in Santa Rosa with the Schwings, Mack assembled a group of leading wine personalities and we tasted a very impressive line-up of Californian Petit Syrah, against which we pitted its Australian cousin, Durif (from Rutherglen, Victoria).

This time we will be putting straight Shiraz against Californian Syrah - and a report on that when I am back at home base.