US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke and Hong Kong Commerce and Economic Development Bureau Secretary Rita Lau signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today to facilitate sales of US wines in the booming Hong Kong market through promotion of wines and wine-related tourism, wine appreciation, investment in infrastructure and customs cooperation against counterfeits and smuggling.
2009 global imports of wine into the Hong Kong market increased 44% by value to $491 million and 20% by volume to 32.4 million liters over 2008, according to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS).  US gross exports grew to a record $40 million, …

At the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, Mr. Nelson Chow, Chairman of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association, gave an asian food and wine pairing from the perspective of the ethnic Chinese in Hong Kong and China.  Food and wine pairing cannot be approached the same way it is done in western cultures where the dishes come separately and where there may only be one main dish.  As many of you may have noticed from dining in authentic Chinese restaurants in the U.S., many of the tables will have lazy susans …

Hong Kong is a small island dependent on imported food and beverages.  The Hong Kongese have the cultural backgrounds and languages of both the Chinese and the British, are sophisticated, well-educated, prosperous and open to experimentation.  In a global market that is in net over-supply, the Hong Kongese have particular demands that make them ideal consumers in today’s global wine market.
 The Hong Konger loves red wine and the major producing countries make a lot of it.  75-80% of wine consumed is red.  While the health benefits of red wine are well-known, the ethnic …

Braised abalone at the judging session

During the International Wine & Spirits Fair here in Hong Kong, there were interesting food and wine pairing events, one under the Cathay Pacific - sponsored Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC), and the other a seminar given by Mr. Nelson Chow, chairman of the Hong Kong Sommelier Association.  We hear so much here in the U.S. on asian/asian fusion food and wine pairing, so I looked forward to hearing from the locals themselves what combinations they thought works.
At the IWSC, the goal was to find the …

As part of the government’s concerted effort to become Asia’s wine hub, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council hosted the 2nd annual International Wine and Spirits Fair on November 3-5.  Over 500 exhibitors – double the number from last year – from 34 countries and wine regions participated, each hoping to capture a part of the promising Asia market.  All of Asia’s  leading importers were present in full force with France, by far the leading importer by value to both Hong Kong and Mainland, acting as ‘parnter country’ and the …

It is warm and slightly muggy tonight in Hong Kong.  One of the great international cities, Hong Kong throbs with the energy of seven million residents and four times that many tourists, in a space of just 1,100 square kilometers.  If you love New York, you will love Hong Kong.  It has a great international airport with a dedicated airport express train that makes just three stops in the right places and once you’re here, the MTR subway, taxis and buses are non-stop and cheap.  It is tax-free zone.  The shopping …