Fri 28 Jun 2013

MACAU : THE VEGAS OF ASIA

About Macau...

A tiny former Portuguese enclave, Macau is only 35 miles away from Hong Kong across the Pearl River Delta and an hour away by hydrofoil. It is the world’s fastest growing economy, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit, with tourism and gaming seeing explosive growth. Centuries of culture and tradition influenced by its Portuguese settlers since 1557 have shaped the food and wine scene here – and washing down food with an inexpensive bottle of wine is the norm. Last month, Macau hosted its first Wine & Dine Festival with the support of the Macau government and has a thriving Wine Society.

Macau: A Taste of Things to Come – a Q&A with judge David Wong

HKIWSC judge, David Wong shares his knowledge on Macau as a growing wine market.

Why Macau?

In 2008, Macau removed the 15% tax duty on wine in a bid to become a player in the region’s fine wine market. Since then Macau has seen a huge growth in wine import, wine consumption and wine education. According to Government statistics, red wines dominate at 90% of the total volume, 6% of the volume is white.

Which countries dominate consumption?

For still wines, France dominates. In 2010, France represented 35% of the total volume and an amazing 83% of the value. Being a former colony, Portugal comes next at 26% of the volume but only 3.4% of the value, although still significant in volume terms. In value terms, Australia is the next most significant producer, but with only 4.5% of the value, although in volume terms a significant 9.3% of the volume.

Who are the ones to watch?

There is an upward trend in the Chinese market for French wines and especially those from Bordeaux. China overtook the UK and Germany to become Bordeaux’s largest customers, with exports growing at 67% but the market has seen signs it is on the wane. Could Burgundy be the next big “red” hope for China?

Although French and Portuguese wines are the top Old World imported wines, Australia continues to fly the flag for the New World despite a difficult couple of years in the worldwide market. Other New World wine producing countries like New Zealand, Chile, the United States, Argentina and South Africa are bringing more of their respected wines into the local market.

What are the trends in wine education and on the wine scene?

As the buyer’s market in Macau is increasing for fine wine, the local hospitality needs for professional and knowledgeable sommeliers is growing. The Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT) is a Hotel school which also has Culinary Arts as part of its Bachelor degree programme and is the Wine Center in Macau. The IFT provides the equally prestigious Wine & Spirit Education Trust, UK (WSET) and Court of Master’s Sommeliers (CMS) Courses in Macau, each one paving the way to a Master of Wine or a Master Sommelier title. The WSET course has seen record numbers of students enrolling every year and IFT Alumni have gone on to become sommeliers in Macau’s fast developing hotel industry.

Another important wine influence is the vibrant Macau Wine Society which was formed in December 1995 and now has more than 200 active members from all pillars of society in Macau and is headed up by Filipe Santos. The society organizes many events including the annual “Top Ten Portuguese Wines”, which is attended by members of its sister branch, the Hong Kong Wine Society.

What’s next?

A growing interest in the local wine market has seen many famous producers and wine makers come through into Macau. For example, John Duval, Peter Gago, Dave Powell, Ernst Loosen, Nicolas Potel, Pierre Perrin, Gaia Gaja and Dirk Niepoort amongst others. Their enthusiasm for sharing their knowledge and experience in Macau, has given the hospitality trade and consumers alike, a taste of things to come.

About David Wong

David Wong is the executive assistant manager at the Macau Institute for Tourism Studies (IFT), author of The Art of Modern Portuguese Cuisine and founder of the Macau Culinary Association. He is also an approved tutor for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, UK (WSET).

"I have been judging this prestigious competition since the beginning and I am honored and delighted to be invited back again this year".

Facebook: davidwong1966

Twitter: @davidwong1966

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“Winning a silver medal in the HKIWSC has truly helped my product to achieve international credibility regarding its taste. This has positively affected decision making of several new merchants who now carry my product.”Kaustav BagchiOwner, Lamai Thai Spirits
“Louis Royer Cognac has been entering the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition for many years. This competition is regarded as the most respected in Asian countries. Winning an award is a high honour for our brand and a further seal of quality for our multi-award winning Cognac.”Carol FrugierMarketing and Communications Manager, Louis Royer Cognac
“Adding to our success over the past few years at the HKIWSC, winning a trophy means so much to us as we have just recently entered the Chinese market with our brandies. The Chinese market is unique, which makes it even more exciting to know that Oude Molen VOV Brandy is well accepted.”Kobus GelderblomBrandy Master, Oude Molen Distillery
“It is a great honour for us to receive this award and we are very thankful about the reputation from wine enthusiasts in China. This award is a testament to the fact that our white wines not only match the traditional Austrian food but also matches perfectly with the Asian cuisine.”Katja PflogschWinemaker, Domäne Wachau
“To get recognition from such a prestigious panel is vey rewarding indeed, and proves that our wines are made in a style that is truly food friendly. The HKIWSC has become one of the year’s most well-respected wine competitions globally. For us, the food match component is a fantastic chance to demonstrate how well our wines compliment so many different flavours. Moreover, it is a competition known and valued by our customers so a trophy can be hugely influential.””Susanna MayerWinemaker, Yealings
“Awards and medals at the HKIWSC have been like a stamp of approval to the quality of our wines. Because it is an Asian-focused competition, I know that my wines are being judged and measured by the same yardstick as all the other wines, given our viticultural conditions are quite unique compared with the rest of the world. These medals give me and, more importantly, my consumers the confidence that my wines stand apart from the competition.”Kalash GurnaniWinemaker, York Winery
“We are very proud of our results. One of our key focuses is the Asian market, so we really want to make our wines special and desirable for this market. That’s why we want to enter this competition and be evaluated by the expert judging panel.”Sofia Cajewski Winemaker, Cremaschi Furlotti
“We at Yealands Estate Wines are proud to be recognized by the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. The organization is held in the highest regard and our success in the competitions has become a strong voice for our quality around the globe.”Avram DeitchGlobal Marketing Manager, Yealands Wine Group
“Winning awards in reputable international wine shows such as the Cathay Pacific HKIWSC is one of the many ways of educating our consumers and giving them confidence in purchasing the Saint Clair brand. This enhances brand perception an in turn increases sales across our entire portfolio of wines.”Maria EastonWinemaker, Saint Clair Family Estate

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MACAU : THE VEGAS OF ASIA

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