Interest keen for Hawke’s Bay wines at Hong Kong fair

18 November 2013

MEDIA RELEASE

Interest keen for Hawke’s Bay wines at Hong Kong fair

Two Hawke’s Bay wineries represented the region at a huge wine fair in Hong Kong and report that there is keen interest in wines beyond those from Marlborough, with importers and distributors wanting to know more about local wines.

Elephant Hill Estate and Winery and Moana Park manned the Hawke’s Bay Winegrowers Inc. stand that was part of the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Fair held over three days earlier this month that attracted over 20,000 buyers. (7 to 9 November)

Sileni Estates was also due to attend and while it could not at the last minute, its wines fared well in the wine awards competition run in conjunction with the Fair. Church Road, Mills Reef, and Elephant Hill were also award winners. (Full list at end)

HBWG was offered the free booth by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) as an enticement to attend as a paying exhibitor in future years. New Zealand Winegrowers’ booth was sited next door and added to the NZ wine experience for visitors.

“With Asia, and in particular China, being of such growing importance for our exporting wineries, it was an opportunity not to be missed,” says James Medina, executive officer with HBWG. “Based on the feedback from our representatives there, it was well worth it.”

For Vince Labat, Elephant Hill’s marketing and sales manager who helped man the stall, it was a motivating experience. “There’s a really good vibe and positivity within the Hong Kong wine market. It’s a really large and prosperous wine buying market and there’s great buoyancy there.

“The Fair itself was a good shop window for Asia with buyers from all over. We had importers and distributors from Hong Kong, China, Japan, Taiwan, Philippines, Korea and even Russia coming to the stand and we’ve generated definite leads. The proof will be in the pudding and we need to make it happen, but it’s looking positive”

It was the sixth wine fair held by HKTDC and is one of eight specialist industry fairs held each year in a bid to promote Hong Kong trade. In addition to the 1000 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions, there were 70 related special events that included seminars, wine tastings and cocktails sessions. The Fair covered 22,086 sq m.

Hawke’s Bay was joined as a first time exhibitor by others from Jordan, Lithuania, Montenegro and Morocco. Spain was this year’s Partner Country with more than 90 exhibitors. The fair’s two largest pavilions, from France and Italy, showcased the products of over 300 exhibitors.

Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Competition Wine Awards

Gold
Church Road Grand Reserve Chardonnay 2012
Elephant Hill Chardonnay 2011

Silver
Elephant Hill Syrah 2012
Greyrock Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 2013 (Sileni)
Mills Reef Elspeth Syrah 2011
Mills Reef Reserve Merlot Malbec 2012
Mills Reef Reserve Syrah 2012
Overstone Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 2013 (Sileni)
Sileni Cellar Selection Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 2013
Sileni Estate Selection 'The Lodge' Chardonnay 2012
Sileni Estate Selection 'The Plateau' Pinot Noir 2012
Sileni Estate Selection 'The Triangle' Hawke's Bay Merlot 2010
Tahuna Hawke's Bay Pinot Noir 2013 (Sileni)

ENDS

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