Great Wines of Italy to Take Place in Hong Kong and Shanghai

The second edition of the Great Wines of Italy will take place in Hong Kong on 28 and 29 November 2013 at the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong.

For the very first time, the Asia tour will also be extended to Shanghai with a Grand Tasting hosted at the Jing An Shangri-La Hotel.

More than 70 of Italy’s top wineries are participating in this year’s events, bringing a curated selection of the country’s most premium vintages to key members of the trade and wine-loving consumers.

All the wines served at the event are rated 90 points or more by James Suckling, internationally acclaimed Hong Kong-based wine critic and editor of Asia Tatler magazines.

"In just a few years, the best Italian wines have taken some of the limelight from the best of France among wine collectors and lovers in Hong Kong and the rest of Asia. Top Super Tuscan reds, Brunellos and Barolos are now considered at the same level of quality as the best Bordeaux and Burgundies. But there are so many wonderful wines, wineries and appellations to get to know in Italy. This is one of the main reasons we continue to develop the Great Wines of Italy event series. We see it as more than just a large tasting – it is an educational experience. It is an opportunity to learn about great Italian wines by the glass and also meet and speak to the winemakers themselves," said James Suckling.

The Great Wines of Italy will see the return of world-famous producers such as Castello Banfi, Marchesi Antinori, Marchesi de' Frescobaldi, Ornellaia, as well as new participants such as Bastianich (a winery co-owned by the famous and award-winning restauranteur Joe Bastianich, also known from his appearances at the TV cooking show MasterChef), Arnaldo Caprai and Pianirossi. Also expect to see brilliant producers such as Bibi Graetz, Casanova di Neri, Petrolo, Poderi Aldo Conterno, Roberto Voerzio, Tua Rita and Valdicava.

On 29 November, the tasting event in the Grand Ballroom of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong will be separated into two sessions – the Trade Tasting from 14:30 to 16:30 for industry and trade professionals, and the Grand Tasting from 17:30 to 20:30 for wine collectors and general public.

Guests will be able to enjoy a culinary treat by the award-winning cheese cellar of the Michelin-starred restaurant Caprice, which promises to tantalize taste buds with an outstanding selection of authentic and rare Italian cheeses.

This year, a new feature, The VIP Experience, is available for public purchase and entitles holders to a range of benefits including access to both the Trade and Grand Tastings, access to the VIP section and a champagne reception, a Lalique James Suckling 100 Points Wine Glass (retail value: HK$1,100) and a one-year subscription to Hong Kong Tatler magazine and jamessuckling.com. It is available for HK$2,000.

Grand Tasting tickets are available for HK$850.

An invite-only Wine Collectors’ Dinner in the Four Seasons Hotel ballroom for wine lovers and winemakers opens the Hong Kong – Shanghai Tour on 28 November, and features a multi-course Chinese dinner with Italian wine producers and their best wines. Wine collectors usually bring bottles to share with winemakers and fellow diners.

The Great Wines of Italy Wine Guide will be available during the events. A Chinese edition is available in Shanghai. It not only includes detailed information on participating wineries and tasting notes, but it also unveils James Suckling’s rating of the Top 100 Italian wines in 2013 along with insightful information about drinking, buying and investing in Italian wine. This exclusive copy will be available for all ticket holders.