Hong Kong Celebrates the Grape

HONG KONG | Hong Kong is mad about wine. According to the city’s trade board, Hong Kongers drink more vino per capita than anyone in Asia –- 3.3 liters (111 oz.) per year per person. Earlier this month, a Sotheby’s auction of rare vintages here fetched a whopping $7.9 million, just weeks after the American wine merchants Acker Merrall & Condit sold $6.4 million worth of vino in the city. But what about oenophiles (and gourmands) without such deep pockets? Hong Kong has something for us too: the three-day Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, which begins on Oct. 30 on the West Kowloon Waterfront Promenade.

The festival, which is new this year, will feature more than 140 food booths, as well as wine appreciation classes, talks by sommeliers, cooking demonstrations by top Hong Kong chefs, and live entertainment. Visitors can get a pass for 150 Hong Kong dollars (about $19.35) that’s good for 12 wine tastings of about 1.35 oz each (you also come away with a souvenir glass). Or imbibers can buy tokens for individual tastings for 10 Hong Kong dollars each.

The following weekend, Nov. 6 to 8, will see the festivities move across Victoria Harbor to Hong Kong Island, where the hilly streets of Central will be running with spirits of all sorts. Start with the SoHo Wine and Dine Carnival, a “village festival” with arts and crafts, roaming musicians, stilt walkers, magic and mime shows. Then stroll over to the Lan Kwai Fong Carnival, a Latin-themed party in the city’s rowdiest drinking district featuring more food booths, entertainment and handicraft stalls.

If you tire of the throngs, try a visit to Crown Wine Cellars, on the south side of Hong Kong Island. The cellars were originally constructed more than 70 years ago by the British Military to serve as an ammunition and weapons storage depot in preparation for World War II. The vibe these days is a lot more peaceful. The proprietors are offering free tours during Food & Wine week — or you can stay for lunch for 350 Hong Kong dollars, including wine of course.

If you need some food to go with your drink, consider joining a class on cooking Chinese dumplings, dim sum, or how to use wine in the kitchen (prices starting at 300 Hong Kong dollars). And, if you’re thinking of buying a few bottles for your home collection, good news: last year Hong Kong eliminated all duties and taxes on wine. Cheers to that!