Iconic Chilean wine
On 29th May, Ch’ng Poh Tiong from Singapore led a panel of experts discussing the future of premium Chilean wines in China. Ian Ford from Summergate believed the days of Bordeaux obsession are gone in China. The fine wines from other parts of the world that are being appreciated by consumers have a few things in common: they are original and authentic, have some degree of iconic status, and more important, have honest prices. Don Melchor, created in 1987 to express Cabernet Sauvignon from the specific terroir of Puente Alto by Concha y Toro, fits the bill. With 22 vintages behind it, Don Melchor is recognised as the forefront iconic Chilean wine. Panelist Fongyee Walker reckoned that while Don Melchor displays the Old World wine structure, its more intense and richer New World fruit profile matches well with the heavier northern Chinese cuisine. Edwin Chan from the Hong Kong Sommelier Association agreed, saying that the fruitier style of Don Melchor appeals to the female in the mature market looking for premium wine. About 100 guests from the trade and media attended the discussion and took part in the master tasting of a mini-vertical of Don Melchor 1993, 2001, 2005 and 2007. The wines have different personalities yet all bear the trademark of Don Melchor: rich yet balanced by a good tannin structure, and at about HK$700 per bottle, definitely an honest price. Available at Summergate.

Holdvölgy, modern marketing thinking
Holdvölgy (Moon Valley in English) is situated in the heart of Tokaji. Pascal Demko, the passionate owner, strives to produce high quality wine true to the region from his 25 hectares, comprising 19 parcels on seven different sites. He makes two lines: the classic luxury Holdvölogy line, and the premium, fun Hold and Hollo line. There is no doubting the quality of the wine. But what impresses me most is the marketing thinking behind the two lines: in tune with today’s consumers yet true to the origin and conscious of quality. The Holdvölogy line ranges from dry Furmint to sweet Tokaji Aszú. Pascal has given each wine a ‘philosophical’ name that reflects its character. The English names certainly save non-Hungarian consumers the embarrassment of attempting the seemingly impossible-to-pronounce Hungarian grape names. In contrast, Hold and Hollo consists of two wines: dry and sweet with sharp green and pink latex labels respectively. It does not emphasise grape varieties or vintages, but focuses instead on innovation, creativity and originality. I could imagine this being a hit with young, fun loving consumers. Pascal has no representative in Hong Kong or Asia yet. A like-minded distributor would find working with Holdvölgy and Hold and Hollo rewarding. Read more

IWC is delighted to introduce Hong Kong wine lovers to Neal Martin, an internationally acclaimed wine writer. We will feature Neal's humorous yet informative wine diary on our website. Here is an excerpt from the latest entry:

The Vines that stood their ground: Laville, Mission & Haut-Brion
In a somewhat solipsistic seaside town I enjoyed a blissful, parochial childhood, oblivious to anything much further than the A13. Like the toy-towns on TV, I grew up convinced that everything in Southend-on-Sea would remain the same, at least until the end of time. C&A at the entrance of the Victoria Shopping Centre, Tomassi’s ice-cream parlour at the bottom, Keddies the grand department store its centre of gravity, the magical toy shop opposite Dixons and Lavelle’s the stationers, where I would buy my weekly Beano with a packet of Pacers. I assumed that this conjugation of retail outlets had been in situ since time immemorial until one day, mum broke the news…“Lavelles is closing down,” she told me casually. “That is why some of the shelves are empty.” .... read more

Get your friends and family together for a private tasting or wine course. IWC can tailor and personalise any tasting or course that suits your interest and schedule. Each session lasts for two hours and can accommodate a maximum of six people. Each tasting includes a minimum of eight wines. Some of our most popular themes are:

• Introduction to Wine: HK$12,000
• New World vs Old World Cabernet Sauvignon: HK$14,000
• Bordeaux Masterclass: HK$18,000
• Vintage Champagne Tasting: HK$15,000
• Red Burgundy Masterclass: HK$22,000
• Sweet wine of the World: HK$15,000

Call us to make a booking or discuss your favourite wine region.