Record HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair Draws 1,005 Exhibitors
PRESS RELEASE
November 13, 2013 - More than 1,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, a new exhibitor record, took part in the HKTDC Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair, which ran November 7-9 in Hong Kong. The fair also drew more than 20,000 visitors.
The fair included first-time exhibitors from Jordan, Lithuania, Montenegro and Morocco, as well as Spain, this year’s Partner Country, which featured more than 90 exhibitors. The fair’s two largest pavilions from France and Italy showcased products from more than 300 exhibitors.
Pavilions new to the fair were: the Chinese mainland’s Penglai Vine and Wine Bureau and the Xining City Municipal Bureau of Commerce, Japan’s Kagoshima Prefectural Government and Niigata Sake Brewers Association, Wines of Turkey, and the United States’ North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
Wines of California Pavilion
The United States is on track for record wine exports in 2013 with sales to China expected to surpass the 18 percent increase registered last year. This would be the fourth straight year of increasing shipments, especially those from California.
The Golden State is responsible for more than 90 percent of the wine exports and 13 leading producers and distributors from the well-known growing regions, such as Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles and Temecula, were attending the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair at booth 3G-A02, Wines of California Pavilion last week.
Jeff Williamson, director, California State Trade and Export Promotion (STEP) who is leading the Wines of California Pavilion, commented:
“Recent reports indicate there is a global wine shortage, due to poor weather conditions affecting wine production in Europe This provides a perfect opportunity for California wine exporters to capitalize on growing opportunities in China and other parts of Asia.” said Williamson. “China’s rising middle class is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing wine markets.”
California exporters showcased quality-assured wine and spirits products with tasting sessions throughout the fair.
More than 70 wine special events were arranged. ICEX Spain Trade and Investment organised a variety of seminars and wine-tasting sessions, ranging from sweet and fortified, to food pairing, white and sparkling, and every red but Tempranillo. The Wines from Spain and Spanish Trade Commission (Hong Kong) presented "Finest Wines from Spain - Grand Tasting,” a Spanish fine-wine-tasting session; wine from 19 Spanish wineries on 9 November.
“Driving Growth: Global Wine Industry Trends” was the theme of the November 7 Wine Industry Conference. The Asia Top Sommelier Summit took place November 8, presenting “The New Mapping of a World-Class Wine List.”
Notable spirits at the fair included: Rémy Martin’s limited-edition Louis XIII Black Pearl Magnum, from Amazing Wine Global Ltd, at HK$500,000 a bottle; Suigei Kochikobo Daiginjohas, which has won the gold prize in the Japan National New Sake Competition for five straight years; and Taiwan’s Kavalan Single Malt Whisky, named “the New World’s Whisky of the Year.”
Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair
Website: www.hktdc.com/hkwinefair
Fairground photos: www.sendspace.com/file/eqn9he
About the HKTDC
A statutory body established in 1966, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) is the international marketing arm for Hong Kong-based traders, manufacturers and service providers. With more than 40 global offices, including 12 on the Chinese mainland, the HKTDC promotes Hong Kong as a platform for doing business with China and throughout Asia. The HKTDC also organises trade fairs and business missions to connect companies with opportunities in Hong Kong and on the mainland, while providing information via trade publications, research reports and online. For more information, visit: www.hktdc.com.
About California STEP
The California State Trade and Export Promotion (California STEP) project leverages a statewide network of state, federal, private and non-profit trade promotion organizations to facilitate export promotion, activities, serving targeted industries, to drive exports for small businesses.
Managed by the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office Centers for International Trade Development (CITD), the network of STEP Partners implement a range of export promotion programs serving multiple sectors, including: Information & Telecommunications Technologies, Green Technologies, Food and Agricultural Products, California Lifestyle Products, Water Technologies, Scientific Instrumentation, Transportation Equipment and Industrial Machinery.