Taste moscato’s telltale orange-blossom nose with Ben Rye 2007

A bright and airy fruity cocktail for this week’s Winebuzz pick.

JC Viens is a wine educator and holder of the prestigious Diploma Level 4, WSET and a certified International Bordeaux Educator. He is an avid wine lover and selects the Ben Rye 2007 from Italy, origin of some of the most rewarding wines.

Ben Rye Passito Di Pantelleria 2007 literally means “Son of the Wind” in Arabic after the plentiful breezes that sweep across the island of Pantelleria off the coast of Sicily where this outstanding wine originates. Arabs brought the Zibibbo grapes to the island from North Africa hundreds of years ago.

Continue reading »

Elegant Dining: Pair Dessert with Ice Wine

Introducing the nectar of the gods for dessert.

Ice wine isn’t your typical dessert wine. This high-end vintage is made from grapes which became frozen on the vine, creating a more concentrated and much sweeter-tasting wine. It’s believed the tradition of creating wine from frozen grapes dates back to Roman times, a culture which certainly knew something about decadent dining.

Canada and Germany are perhaps the best-known producers of high-end ice wines, with Canada – and in particular Ontario – being the largest ice wine manufacturers internationally. The fruitier, refreshing nature of ice wine makes it a perfect complement for sweet dishes, especially great for pairing with dessert.

Ice wine vintages are usually produced by Riesling grapes in Germany and Vidal and Cabernet Franc grapes in Canada. Many ice wines are pale yellow to amber in color, though some red varieties are produced. The high acidity and slightly lower alcohol content of ice wine keeps the sweet taste from becoming overpowering.

Continue reading »

Suntory Buys Majority of ASC Fine Wines

The Japanese move into the Hong Kong and China wine scene.

Fine wine and fine spirits can mix well in certain circumstances.

Japanese whiskey, brandy, spirits, liquors and brews as well as every-other-type-of-beverage-you-can-think-of company, Suntory Holdings, has purchased an 80% stake in Hong Kong’s ASC Fine Wines Holdings. Though no details of the deal have been made public, analysts estimate the transaction at US$55 million.

ASC has been a presence in Hong Kong since 1996, offering bottles from one hundred different wineries. Some of the best brands can be purchased through ASC, including vintages from Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Gaja and Joseph Phelps.

ASC was in the market to sell and searched for an appropriate partnership for about six months before the deal was made with Suntory. Based in Japan, Suntory offers distribution networks and holdings all over the globe, as well as owning wineries in France.

(via)

Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair 2009 Exhibitors

The countdown to Hong Kong’s big wine fair starting Wednesday.

The Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair 2009 is almost here! Slated to include around 450 exhibitors from 30 different countries and regions who will display fine wines, spirits, and beers, as well as many associated products and services, you’ll find a wealth of information as well as plenty of display booths to keep you busy. In case you’re wondering what to expect, here’s a list with just a few of the bigger exhibitors:

• ASC Fine Wines – one of China’s leading wine importers, ASC Fine Wines serves as a distributor to top hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets all throughout China.

• Boutique Wines – wine importer and supplier Boutique Wines focuses especially on high-quality Australian and New Zealand winemakers, also boasting the largest selection of Grand Cru and Premier Cru Champagnes in Hong Kong.

• Jebsen Fine Wines – originally a Danish business, Jebson Fine Wines is now established as a leading distributor of fine wine and other spirits in the Hong Kong area.

• Kedington Wines – an importer of fine wines and champagnes, Kedington Wines has operated in Hong Kong for over ten years.

• La Cascina (Bel Vino) – this exhibitor specializes in importing and wholesaling fine Italian wines in Hong Kong.

Besides all the wine and spirits exhibits, you will also notice booths displaying wine investment information, bottling and packaging, glasses and glassware, as well as many other related products and services. For more information, you can visit their website for the full list of exhibitors so you can schedule your visits accordingly.