China Wine and Spirits Awards 2013

The first installment of the China Wine and Spirits Awards 2013 took place yesterday at the Mira Hotel with over 100 judges from Greater China (Hong Kong, Macau and Mainland China) in attendance to blind taste potential wines suited best to the mainland China wine market.

The judges comprised of Greater China’s most influential wine and spirits buyers, distributors, food and beverage directors and sommeliers who tasted their way through 3,300 wines and spirits from 25 countries in one of Hong Kong’s largest and most anticipated competitions of the year.

Brands more suited to the China market such as Jacob’s Creek and Wolf Blass competed against brands such as Wynns, Wyndham Estate, Babich, Trapiche and many more to be nominated and awards China Wine and Spirits Awards “Best Value” wines.

Wine sales have hit record highs in mainland China in the last years with many wine producing export countries looking to Hong Kong and China as their major export markets these days with China (including Hong Kong) expected to overtake the United States and become the largest wine market in the world soon.

President of the China Wine and Spirits Awards, Kelly England said. “Everyone from Bordeaux to Brazil is talking about Hong Kong and China as THE ultimate wine market and the CWSA uniquely lets the most famous brands in the world compete with boutique artisan wines to reach the ultimate CWSA Gold standard”.

According to the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, the city imported HK$6.7 billion worth of wine in 2012, a figure that was up 65 per cent from the year before – although much of this is re-exported into Mainland China and not consumed in the city.

Local and international supermodel Cara Grogan was the guest of honour at the awards blind tasting and officially opened the ceremony with the cutting of the ribbon alongside President Kelly England and other industry professionals. Other key attendees included Ms. Janice Vogtle of the Canadian Consul and Trade Commission, Mr. Gustavo Fazzari, Consul General of Argentina and Ms. Jeewon Lee, Assistant Trade Commissioner to the United Kingdom.

Look out for our report on the winners and medalists when the results are released by the China Wine and Spirits team this Friday, March 8^th.