King Estate, known nationally for its signature white pinot gris wines, is located in Eugene Oregon, a region known for its environmentally green culture, outdoor lifestyle and world-class food and wine, making the area a great weekend destination. 
According the latest National Geographic ”Green Guide“ and Entrepreneur magazine, Eugene is the greenest city in the U.S. based on factors such as environmental policy, energy use, air and water quality, green design and recycling.  By comparison, The Green Guide ranked Santa Rosa #5, Oakland #6, Berkeley #7 and San Francisco #18.  Eugene is a sophisticated university town with …

Wine ratings by the likes of Wine Advocate, Wine Spectator and Wine Enthusiast have been useful guides in the past for a generation of consumers in the US who really didn’t know too much about wine.  According to Michel Bettane, famed French wine critic speaking last November in Hong Kong, wine evaluation traditionally served the interests of the trade, maintaining good prices for producers and therefore merchants.  In the US, ratings helped consumers buy wine because they were easy to understand and easily duplicatable. 
At the 13th annual Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Festival last Friday, Daniel Sogg, former editor of the …

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, …

The first stage of the larger ‘farmstead’ conceived by Ted, Laddie and Chris Hall of Long Meadow Ranch has been completed with the opening of the wine and olive oil tasting room in Saint Helena on December 28th.  The tasting room is located in the historic Logan Ives House, a gothic revival farmhouse originally built in 1874 which has been faithfully restored by the Halls preserving over 90% of the original materials of the site.  Nearing completion are the adjacent open-air market featuring LMR’s organically grown fruits, vegetables, eggs and …

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 …

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 …

1st runner-up in red category

Winner in the red category

At the 2nd annual Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, a competition was held for “The Most Appealing Wine Label for Mainland [China] Market.  There were over 1,300 entries from 34 countries and the results I think are telling for producers desiring to enter this market.  The four judges were Mr. Charles Ng, a brand consultant, Mr. Brendan O’Toole, Managing Partner of Summergate Limited one of the most experienced wine importers in China, Mr. Fend Gao, GM of Dynasty Fine Wines and Mr. Jason …

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 …

Today’s global wine is market is in net oversupply, but in specific markets, it is still growing.  The US is the world’s leading wine consumer by value and growing.  According to the 2009 Impact Databank, Americans are buying more of the big “brands” – the everyday, fruit-driven, easy-drinking and inexpensive wines.  In Germany, demand exceeds supply by 2 to 1, at average prices of a meager €2.00/liter primarily purchased at discount chains.  Over the past 25 years, demand has shifted from sweeter whites to red wines.  Asia is the fastest growing market and the major …

Chablis, the home of the original un-oaked chardonnay, has always been near the upper limits of vine-growing at the 48th parallel.  It is the classic cool-climate region where spring and autumn frosts are the greatest viticultural risks and vintages really matter.  In addition to its northerly latitude, Chablis’ vineyards lie on both banks of the narrow and cold Sereine River and chilling winds from the Morvan Mountains in Burgundy contribute to the cold.  Vines are trained low to capture as much warmth from the ground as possible and the best sites are on south-facing slopes, up …