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.

Made with the “Appassimento” method so particular to Italy with grapes dried in the sun for 20-30 days to obtain extra concentrated sugars and flavours, this fascinating wine is lusciously sweet thanks to moscato’s telltale orange-blossom nose, with a diabolical intensity of apricot and peach, orange and grapefruit peels, dried figs, honey and sweet spices like cinnamon and cloves. The finish is extremely long, fresh and complex making it exceptional to pair with dark chocolate or cakes made with nuts and fruits.

Wine Stats:

• Name + year: Ben Rye 2007
• Appellation: Rye Passito Di Pantelleria 2007 Doc (Italy)
• Type of wine/ varietal: Zibibbo (Moscata D’Alessandria)
• Alcohol content: 14.5%

Wine rating:

• 5 stars

Where to buy?

• HKD$656 from ASC Fine Wines
• Tel: 3923 6723

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.

Some of the most delicious ice wines are well balanced in terms of sweetness, and have an intense beautiful aroma that is clean and complex.  If you are looking to try ice wine, we recommend Inniskillin Icewines as they are known to produce excellent quality ice wines and have one of the biggest distributions in the world, making them easy to find even in Hong Kong.

The Inniskillin Gold Oak-Aged Vidal ice wine is a deliciously rich sweet wine with an aromatic bouquet of apple blossom, apricot, fig and honey.  For something fresh and distinctively different, try the Inniskillin Sparkling Vidal ice wine. With a nice golden color and bouquet notes of nectarines, pear and apricot, on the palate it has a delicate and lively effervescence, with a clean and well balanced sweetness. It received a 91 points rating from Wine Spectator in 2008 and has won numerous awards each year.

How much?

• Gold Oak-Aged Vidal Icewine, 2006 – HK$600
• Vidal Sparkling Icewine, 2006 – HK$600
• Jackson-Triggs Reserve Vidal Icewine, 2006 – HK$486

Where to buy?

ASC Fine Wines, call James at 3923 6790

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.

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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.

ASC Fine Wines – Greater China’s leading wine distributor – is organizing one of the biggest tastings we have ever seen in Hong Kong. Come taste over 200 premium wines from around the world on Monday, November 2, 2009. The tasting event starts from 6pm till 9pm.

If 200 wines wasn’t enough for one evening, you will also get to meet over 30 winemakers who are being flown in especially for this occasion giving you a chance to learn about the wine you are tasting from the winemakers themselves.  Round up your friends to take advantage of their multiple ticket discounts and book early to secure your ticket. The last tasting ASC organized in June was a complete sell out, so you’ll want to book now to not miss out.

Some of the rare wines that will be available for tasting include:

• Vega Sicilia Unico and Valbuena
• Fonseca Port vintage 2007 release
• Stag’s Leap wine cellar single estate wines (cask 23,Fay, SLV)
• Jess Jackson exclusive range of Sonoma and Napa boutique wines
• Exclusive second wines of leading Bordeaux GCC including Chateau Larose-Trintaudon, Chateau La Fleur Nardon and Chateau Haut Mayne.

For full list of wine available for tasting check out their website at www.worldwinetour.com.hk

How much?

• HK$350 for a single ticket (includes a complimentary Riedel glassware valued at HK$135)
• HK$300 for purchase of 2 tickets
• HK$250 for purchase of 4 tickets

Special Tickets for Winebuzz readers:

Pre-booking is a must as there may not be any tickets left at the door, so call James Chow at ASC at 3923-6790 or by email to reserve your tickets now. As you can see you save 30% when you buy 4 tickets, so as a special incentive to Winebuzz readers, if you buy 4 tickets or more you have a chance to win a 5th one for free! Email us here now.