Published on : Tuesday, October 8, 2013
The American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival will return this year from 31 October to 3 November, providing visitors and local residents alike with a sumptuous food and wine experience. Organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) and title-sponsored by American Express for the fifth year running, the culinary bonanza will be held at the New Central Harbourfront – a brand new location for the event – giving rise to a new six-zone layout, as well as exciting elements, including the “Tasting Room”, in which exclusive wine talks will be held and delicacies created by top chefs for an international culinary competition will be served. The wines on offer in the festival were carefully selected by sommeliers to ensure their quality and variety. To enhance the experience of visitors, there will be two entrances to the festival, one for those who purchase their wine passes in advance, for whom the entrance fee is waived, and one for those who pay at the entrance.
HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam said: “We are delighted to stage the American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival once again, particularly at this new location, the New Central Harbourfront, to bring a different experience to food lovers. We have divided the entire venue into six zones, showcasing wines from 16 countries and regions carefully selected by sommeliers. This year, the highlight will be the ‘Tasting Room’, where various themed activities will take place. And as in previous years, the festival will kick start American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month, a month-long celebration of Hong Kong’s culinary excellence.”
For another year, Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month and the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival are title-sponsored by American Express International, Inc. “Our local card members and international travellers expect outstanding dining experiences and through our partnership with the HKTB, we can offer access to a broad range of fascinating and enjoyable culinary experiences. We look forward to another successful year of the event offering the ultimate in hospitality to gourmet lovers,” said Mr Y C Koh, President, Asia, Card Services, American Express International, Inc.
New ticketing arrangements will be implemented for the American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival. There is a HK$30 entrance fee, and wine passes and wine tokens for wine-tasting need to be purchased separately. Those who book their wine passes or tickets for the “Tasting Room” in advance will not have to pay the entrance fee the first time they enter, and they can enter the venue via the South Entrance on Lung Wo Road, near the MTR Admiralty Station.
Participants who purchase their entrance tickets on-site will be required to do so at the West Entrance, near the Central Star Ferry Pier. The HKTB encourages festival goers to use public transport.
This year’s festival will include around 300 booths (210 for wine and 89 for food), offering wines from 16 countries and regions, as well as international cuisines. It will also feature the following new elements:
Tasting Room: Tickets can be purchased in advance online. The following activities will be held in the area:
1)Wine-appreciation classes and wine talks: a wine expert from Bordeaux will lead participants in tasting a selection of wines from the Bordeaux Wine Official Classification of 1855. There will also be special talks on wine pairing with cheese and desserts.
2)Wine-pairing dinner and lunch: Participants will get to taste dishes prepared by the Hong Kong Chefs Association from the menu for an international culinary competition, which will be paired with wines chosen by a sommelier at a dinner on 2 November, while a lunch will be served by an award-winning chef on 3 November. Each session will admit 100 participants.
Six theme zones: The wine booths are organised into six zones – the “Riedel Grand Tasting Pavilion”, “Country Pavilion”, “A-Lister Zone”, “Discovery Zone”, “Party Wine Zone” and “Everyday Wine Zone” – according to the wines they offer. The HKTB invited a cast of seven sommeliers to select the wines showcased in each zone to ensure the wines’ quality and variety.
Sunset Tasting with Wine Collectors: HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam, Legislative Council Member The Hon James Tien and former Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Mr Henry Tang have each donated wine from their private collections to share with the first 120 participants who book the Grand Tasting Wine Passes (1 and 2 November) and the first 100 participants who book places for the “Wine Pairing Lunch” (3 November) via Cityline.
Live performances on the main stage: Festival visitors can enjoy music by jazz and pop singers and bands as they sample food and wines from around the globe.
Culinary celebrations throughout November
The American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival will lift the curtain for American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month. Throughout November, major dining districts and the local catering sector will roll out a series of themed activities, including the Wan Chai Queen’s Road East Festival, the Lei Yue Mun Seafood Festival & Lei Yue Mun Market, the Lan Kwai Fong Carnival, the Stanley Plaza World of Food and Music, and the Great American BBQ.
In addition, a number of hotels and restaurants will provide diners with special offers, and the catering and travel sectors will organise culinary tours and classes. The Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Fair, organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will be held during November as well. The HKTB hopes that all these events will give visitors and local residents a thorough experience of Hong Kong as the Culinary Capital of Asia.
(Please refer to the attached factsheets for details of the American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival and American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Month.)
Officiating at the press conference of the American Express Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival are Dr Peter Lam, HKTB Chairman (centre), Mr Y C Koh, President, Asia, Card Services, American Express International, Inc, the festival’s title sponsor (far right), and Mr Thomas Jullien, representative of the Bordeaux International Wine and Dine Festival Organization, the festival’s co-organiser (far left).
A toasting ceremony is performed by HKTB Chairman Dr Peter Lam (centre), Mr Y C Koh, President, Asia, Card Services, American Express International, Inc, (second right), Mr Thomas Jullien, representative of the Bordeaux International Wine and Dine Festival Organization (second left), Mr Simon Large, General Manager, Marketing, Loyalty Programmes and CRM of Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd, the festival’s airline sponsor (far right), and Mr Ravi Gidumal, Managing Director of Town House, the festival’s major sponsor (far left).
Source:- Discover Hong Kong
Tags: american express
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