Wine trade members, book this date on your diary. Master of Wine, Debra Meiburg will be conducting a seminar in association with the Accademia del Barolo to present wines from this famous region, discuss the traditional and modern winemaking styles and key characteristics from the different producers.

The Accademia del Barolo represents producers like Centerno-Fantino, Damilano,  Franco Martinetti, Giani Gagliardo, Luciano Sandrone, Monfalletto,  Michele Chiarlo, Pio Cesare, Prunotto, Paolo Scavino, Vietti.
Details

• Date: 28 May 2012
• Time: 3-4.30pm
• Venue: Renaissance Harbour View Hotel
• RSVP: Jackson@debramasterofwine.com

“Worldsom” the short name given to this new school created by the Bordeaux Chamber of Commerce gave a sneak preview of this project during the primeurs week on April 3^rd in Bordeaux and before its official launch in Hong Kong at Vinexpo end of May.

Not just any ‘sommelier’ school, but one that will have a number of unique attributes such as:

-        4 levels from Junior Sommelier to Magister Sommelier  (lasting from 4 to 14 weeks)

-        All classes conducted in English

-        Teachers composed of experts in the wine world such as MWs and holders of the famous title Best Sommelier of the

World (Andreas Larsson, Philippe Faure-Brac…)

-        Open to applicants worldwide

The “Worldsom” team is very excited by the academy and is eager for its opening planned early 2013.

Pierre Paillardon, the Director of the school explained with great enthusiasm “this is the first sommelier school of its kind and we are not only going to focus on Bordeaux wines. The Academy will have an international scope and students will learn how to become top sommeliers and gain knowledge on wines from across the globe”

Further details on the official launch at Vinexpo Asia  as well as a new website will be unveiled in the coming weeks – www.world-sommelier.com

By Brinda Bourhis, Bordeaux-based wine consultant

Castello da Verazzano

If you are planning a vineyard holiday to any of the major wine regions, make sure you check out the latest ‘Best of Wine Tourism Guide 2012 that just came out. The guide published by Great Wine Capitals Global Network  is a great guide to renown wine regions of  Bordeaux, Florence, Cape Town, Rioja, Mainz, Mendoza, Porto, Napa and Christchurch.

Why it does not cover Australia vineyards, we don’t know, but there’s plenty to choose from.

The Best of Wine Tourism Awards for 2011, publishes the result of a competition that was launched by the Network in 2004 where wineries competed against each other in their particular region according to different categories like; best accommodation, art & culture, wine restaurants and the most innovative wine tourism experiences.

Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa

The 2011 award received 355 entries and awarded 55 winners.

Highlights of the award:

• Château Siaurac and its 18th century orangery, the biggest estate in Lalande de Pomerol appellation, with 60 hectare vineyard and a 15 hectares park, designed and planted in the 19th century won the “Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences” for France with its “How to live the wine” which plans gastronomy, inter-active wine workshops for wine amateurs.
• Castello da Verazzano won the award for  ”Innovative Wine Tourism Experiences’ for Italy for their history tour of the Navigator Giovanni da Verrazzano, wild boar bredding in the surrounding wood and guided tasting of classic wines, extra-virgin olive oil, balsamic vinegar and Vin Santo (Holy Wine)
• Villa Victoria, a well preserved 19 century château located on “La Ruta del Vino” in Mendoza wins best accomodation in Mendosa, Argentina
•  Schloss Sörgenloch from Rhein-Main Region in Germany won the “Wine Tourism Restaurants” for its  hearty yet refined cuisine and extensive wine list which reads like a “Who’s Who” of leading Rheinhessen winemakers.
• Quinta do Portal, a Boutique Winery in won the award for “Best Architecture and Landscapes”
• Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa located on the slopes of Helshoogte mountain pass and surrounded by sweeping views across stunning vineyards and mountains towards Stellenbosch and Franschhoek won the “Best Accomodation” for South Africa

For further details, visit www.greatwinecapital.com

 By Brinda Bourhis, contributor from France

In celebration of the new edition to his No.1 selling book, The Australian Wine Companion, the world-renowned wine critic James Halliday will host a tasting of some of Australia’s finest wines including a gala dinner of who’s who on the Oz wine scene.

James Halliday is perhaps the most respected voice in the Australian wine community who is not only a critic but is a winemaker himself with extensive experience as the founder of two highly regarded Australian wineries. He is without doubt a hands-on wine lover who loves every aspect of the wine-making process. James has written over 60 books and keeps a record of over 55,000 tasting notes. Aside from being a highly regarded and prolific wine maker, commentator and critic, he’s also known for his personality that shines through in his amusing and accessible writing.

Tasting with James Halliday

On Wednesday August 24^th, James will host a tasting at The Hotel Icon in which he and a collection of Australia’s most respected winemakers will guide a special tasting through some of Australia’s finest wines, all of them over 90+ points. Tickets are HK$480 and you can also pick up a signed copy of his book at a special price.

Details

• Tasting with James Halliday at The Hotel Icon
• When: 6pm-9pm, Wednesday, 24 August 2011
• Where: 17 Science Museum Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, Hong Kong.

Gala Dinner with James Halliday

Then, on Friday August 26^th, James will be joined by a panel of Australian winemakers including Steven Frost, senior winemaker at Wolf Blass Bilyara Winery, Gary Farr and many more at JW’s California at the JW Marriott Hotel for a gala dinner with an Australian wine pairing along with a discussion of Australian wines. At HK$1,288 with 10% discount before 15 August, this is a night not to be missed.

Details:

• Gala Dinner with James Halliday at California restaurant, JW Marriot Hotel Hong Kong
• When: from 7.30pm Friday, 26 August 2011
• Where: Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Hong Kong.

To register for tasting or dinner, email rsvp@winebuzz.hk

Book a class with JC Viens and learn how to taste grape varieties like you were born that way. 

As part of his popular “How to Taste Like a Pro” series, these classes on tasting grape variety are designed to help you learn specific “markers” that enable wine pro to identify the variety in blind tasting.

You will learn a systematic approach to tasting, pinpoint origin of wine, evaluate its quality and recognize the wine making techniques used to craft each wine.

How Much?

• HK$650 per single class

Where?

• The Fine Wine Centre, Shop 306, 3/F The Lee Gardens, 33 Hysan Avenue, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong.

Course Dates

• Sparking wine – Taste Cava, Cremant, Champagne, Prosecco, Asti and other sparklings from New World.  Thursday 26 May, 2011, 7-9pm. SOLD OUT
• Sauvignon Blanc – Taste wines from Sancerre, France, Marlborough, New Zealand, California, USA, Casablanca, Chile, Adelaide Hills, Australia and Graves, France. Thursday, 9 June, 2011, 7-9pm
• Pinot Noir – Taste wines from Cote d’Or and Bourgogne, France, California and Oregon, USA, Yarra Valley, Australia and Central Otago, New Zealand. Thursday, 16 June, 2011, 7-9pm

To book, RSVP at rsvp@winebuzz.hk or call The Fine Wine Centre at 2110 1680

This tasting will be led by JC Viens, who is a Certified Tutor of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and a holder of the WSET Diploma (Merit).  He is now studying to become Master of Wine.  Avid wine lover and a storyteller, he has traveled extensively throughout various wines regions around the world.

See JC Viens in our video interview with him at HOFEX 2011 here.

Wine is a popular topic these days in Hong Kong so, if you’re interested in learning more about the craft, the WSET Level 1 Certificate in Wines is designed for beginners wanting to discover a more in-depth understanding of wine. The course offers lots of interesting basic information about all sorts of wine so you’ll be better equipped to talk about it more intelligently and impress your circle of friends. For those looking to get a job in the wine industry, the WSET Certificate is often a basic requirement.

The WSET Level course offered by Premier Fine Wine is a 3 hour, 2 session course held on 5th and 12nd March. The course is offered in English language and will be held at their office on 3 Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui.  At the end of the course, there is an exam on 16 April and students who pass will get an official certificate. Courses will be taught by Perry Mok, a WSET-certified and trained educator.

How much?

HK$1980 per person including wine tasting at each session.

Course Content

5 March 2011

- Introduction to wine

- Understanding major grape varieties

- Introduction to major wine regions

- Basic tasting technique and wine description

12 March 2011

- Wine storage and serving tips

- Wine glass selection

- Understanding wine labels

- Food and wine matching

19 March 2011

- Exam day

Email rsvp@winebuzz.hk if you’re interested and we’ll send you more information.

Alternative dates are:

9 April and 16 April with exams on 30 April 2011.

A series of wine tasting workshops based on WSET’s tasting techniques help you learn how to taste wine like a pro. The course is specifically designed to help students understand and identify the core structural components of wine and how this relates to balance which is one of the key elements to top quality.   Classes will be conducted by JC Viens, a Certified Tutor of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and a holder of the WSET Diploma, at the Berry Brothers & Rudd Fine Wine Center in Causeway Bay over 3 consecutive Saturdays in January 2011.

This class is suited to those students who have some level of understanding on the approach to analyzing wine, particularly WSET students from Level 2 and up. Interested participants are required to do the 1st workshop ‘Tasting Fundamental’ and then choose to attend either the 2 following classes (Amateur) or 3 classes (Connoisseur.) Students who complete any level – Fundamentals, Amateur or Connoisseur – will receive a certificate of recognition.

The 3 session workshop series consists of:
Tasting Fundamentals – (Compulsory) – Saturday 8th January 2011
This session will look at grape components, wine-making and how they affect quality. In turn, quality will be defined in terms of complexity, balance and length. Techniques will be used to demonstrate how to evaluate each wine accordingly. The tasting will consist of 3 white wines and 3 red wines to demonstrate how each components of a wine interact with each other.

Tasting White Wines – Saturday 15th January 2011
This session will cover the definition of quality and balance in white wines. Participants will gain an understanding of acidity, mellowness, alcohol and balance through practical exercises. The tasting will consist of 6 white wines of different qualities, fullness and aromas.

Tasting Red Wines - Saturday 22st January 2011
This session will cover the definition of quality and balance in red wines. Participants will gain an understanding of acidity, tannins, alcohol and balance through practical exercises. In addition, techniques to assess ageing potential will be discussed. The tasting will consist of 6 red wines of different qualities, fullness, aromas and vintages.

How much?

• Tasting Fundamentals (compulsory) – single class: HK$650
• Amateur – 2 classes: HK$1,200
• Connoisseur- 3 classes: HK$1,500

Details

• Date:8, 15 and 22 January 2011
• Time: From 4-6pm
• Venue: The Fine Wine Centre, Shop 306, 3/F The Lee Gardens, 33 Hysan Ave, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong
• To book call : 2110 1680 or email fwc@bbr.com.hk

Tastings will be led by JC Viens, who is a Certified Tutor of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and a holder of the WSET Diploma (Merit), seen as an essential qualification to becoming Master of Wine. Avid wine lover and a storyteller, he has travelled extensively throughout the various wines regions around the world.

Today, we see a myriad of wine lessons or tasting classes on offer to Hong Kong’s growing wine enthusiasts who are only too keen to learn about wine. Most are conducted by wine merchants so there is a tendency to be biased toward some particular brands.

That’s where the Hong Kong Wine Academy comes in. The Academy, established by three wine enthusiasts – Mabel Lai, Karl Lung and Mickey Chan – aims to cater to the need for more independent and informative wine courses, free of bias.

The Wine Academy offers courses designed to promote the interest and enjoyment of wine drinking as taught by qualified wine professionals. With independent instructors without any affiliation to any one wine distributor, the wines offered for tasting are selected based on merit and students can learn about wines without any pressure to buy from the course provider/school.

Courses offered by the Hong Kong Wine Academy include WEST Foundation, Intermediate and Advanced Certificate courses for those who want to get into the trade and achieve professional qualifications. There are also non-certified guided tasting courses designed for those who wish to learn about different aspects of wine without having to go through a structured study program.

For more information, visit www.hkwineacademy.com or call 2723 0399

This Wednesday, December 1st, Pancho Campo, MW is holding a press conference to announce WineFuture – the biggest wine event of next year which will bring some of the world’s most influential wine personalities together for a discussion on the current challenges and opportunities the wine industry is facing.

The Wine Academy of Spain and Asia Wine Service and Education Centre (AWSEC) are organizing the event which takes place at Hotel Nikko Hong Kong on December 1st from 3pm. For the press conference, Pancho Campo, MW will be holding an Iconic Wines of the World Tasting and a masterclass tasting of Bordeaux wines. Special guests Bernard De Laage, Chief Winemaker of Château Palmer, and Jean-Charles Cazes from Château Lynch-Bages will also be there.

Some background information about WineFuture – the first edition of WineFuture, hosted in 2009 in Rioja, was the largest and most important conference ever organized in the wine industry. On November 6th, 7th and 8th, 2011, WineFuture comes to Hong Kong at AsiaWorld.

The Wine Academy of Spain has confirmed the participation of 40 of the most influential personalities of the wine sector at WineFuture Hong Kong 2011, including the most famous man in wine, Robert Parker. We’re so excited about the all-star cast which includes – Gary Vaynerchuk, Jancis Robinson, Steven Spurrier, Robert Joseph, Mel Dick, Randall Graham, Michel Rolland, Michel Bettane and Zelma Long, amongst many others. Stay tuned for more!

We’ll bring you more info tomorrow!

JC Viens is organizing an Italian wine appreciation course over a 5-class series which will cover key concepts of food & wine matching, and give you the opportunity to taste some very unique examples of Italian whites, reds and sparkling wines.

At this course, you will taste:

• Moscato d’Asti ‘In fine’, Abrate
• Sauvignon Blanc, Schiopetto
• Greco di Tufo, Mastrobernardino
• Chianti Classico, ‘Vigna Paronza’, Casale dello Sparviero
• Dolcetto d’Alba ‘Sorano’, Bruno Giacosa
• Primitivo ‘Torcicoda Salento’, Tormaresca/Antinori

JC Viens is a Certified Tutor of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and a holder of the WSET Diploma, seen as an essential qualification to becoming Master of Wine. An avid wine lover and a storyteller, he has traveled extensively throughout the various wines regions of Italy.

Details

• Date: Monday, 29 November 2010
• Time: From 7pm- 9pm
• Price: HKD 380
• Where: Il Bel Paese, 51-53 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong – Tel. 2528 2200

Book at any Il Bel Paese shops:

• 68 Bonham Road, Pokfulam, Hong Kong. Tel: 2858 2162
• 85 Caine Road, Mid-levels, Central, Hong Kong. Tel. 2549 8893
• 25 Queen’s Road East, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tel: 2804 2992
• 51-53 Hennessy Road, Wanchai, Hong Kong. Tel: 2528 2200
• 23 Sing Woo Road, Happy Valley, Hong Kong. Tel. 2868 2818