Second Annual Hong Kong Wine and Spirits Fair a Big Success
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With over 520 exhibitors from 34 countries and regions, the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, which took place from November 4th to the 6th, 2009 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, more than doubled exhibitor's participation compared to last year's inaugural wine fair.
Exhibitors arrived from six continents and include France, the fair's Partner Country this year, which was celebrated in a 'French Night' reception, after the end of the show, on Saturday, November 7, as well as featured in the seminar entitled 'ABC Guide to Bordeaux Wine', be held Friday, November 6. At the fair, France presented wines from Alsace, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Lyon and St. Emilion, and French wine accessories were on display at the fair's Wine Gallery.
Thirteen new countries participated in the 2009 wine fair: Belgium, Greece, Lebanon, Moldova, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovenia, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay.
In addition to a wide range of wine, distilled spirits, beer and other beverages, exhibitors showcased products and services related to production and logistics, wine accessories and equipment as well. Wine education, tourism and investment exhibitors were also represented. Downtown hotels and restaurants contributed to promoting the event by offering buyers free corkage at about 100 locations.
Wine & Spirit Competition
Besides the official first Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (see the winners), organized in partnership with prestigious London-based International Wine & Spirit Competition, visitors were invited to vote to help select 'The Most Beloved Wine & Spirits' and 'The Most Appealing Wine Label for the Mainland Market.' With as many as 1,300 contestants, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition turned out to be the largest of its kind in Asia.
Wine Conference
A conference entitled 'Hong Kong – Asian Wine Hub,' which featured international speakers including Michel Bettane, CEO of Bettane & Desseauve, James Miles, Director of London's Liv-ex Ltd, and David Wrigley, the International Development Director of the United Kingdom's Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Yvonne Choi, Permanent Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development, gave the Conference keynote address.
Thanks in great part to having cut wine duties to zero in 2008, Hong Kong imports soared by 40% in the first nine months of 2009, thus it is rapidly becoming one of the most active wine-trading hubs in Asia, where altogether, the consumption of wine is expected to grow by 10% to 20% yearly for the foreseeable future. Wine auctions held in Hong Kong in 2009 gave encouraging results, so much so that some sector experts foresee Hong Kong becoming the second-largest international wine auction center, ahead of London and second only to New York.
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