A wine tasting for 1,000 with Robert Parker

Wine Academy of Spain
Robert Parker How many glasses are required for a tasting with Robert Parker? Try 20,000.

The world¡¯s most influential wine critic is coming to Hong Kong for WineFuture 2011, a three-day conference in November focused on the business of wine. The marquee event: Mr. Parker¡¯s massive tasting of 20 red wines from Bordeaux.

Organizers hope that the tasting will attract 1,000 people. To prepare, they have lined up 40 sommeliers to pour 1,440 bottles.

¡°We¡¯ve secured the glasses already,¡± says Pancho Campo, a Spanish wine expert who¡¯s in charge of the event.

Tickets to the tasting, which will take place at Hong Kong Asia World-Expo, cost €1,900 (roughly $2,500) and include a conference pass and access to two other tastings, hosted by Mr. Campo and Financial Times wine critic Jancis Robinson. Mr. Campo will introduce the conference-goers to the wines of Spain, while Ms. Robinson will dedicate her session to up-and-coming regions such as Brazil, Turkey and China.

But the 64-year-old Mr. Parker remains the star attraction. A former lawyer, the Maryland native founded the influential newsletter Wine Advocate in 1978 and pioneered the 100-point rating system for wines. His ratings ¡ª especially of the top wineries in Bordeaux ¡ª can boost or sink the price of a particular vintage. For the average consumer, his presence can be seen on grocery-store shelves, as retailers will post his scores next to well-reviewed bottles.

Wine magazine Decanter named Mr. Parker the third-most-powerful man in the wine world in its recent power list. His influence is particularly felt in China as the country has become a big fan of wines from Bordeaux.

¡°In Asia,¡± Mr. Campo says, ¡°he¡¯s the only wine critic that is known widely and very important to the market here.¡±

Mr. Parker¡¯s tasting is dubbed ¡°The Magical 20¡± and will showcase Bordeaux wines that he considers the ones to watch. The wineries he chose are not classified as first-growth wines ¡ª the top classification in Bordeaux ¡ª but ones he thinks are of similar quality and undervalued. The list includes 2009 vintages of Château Cos D¡¯Estournel, Château Pichon Lalande, Château L¨¦oville Les Cases and Château Lynch Bages.

Wine Academy of Spain
Robert Parker How many glasses are required for a tasting with Robert Parker? Try 20,000.

The world¡¯s most influential wine critic is coming to Hong Kong for WineFuture 2011, a three-day conference in November focused on the business of wine. The marquee event: Mr. Parker¡¯s massive tasting of 20 red wines from Bordeaux.

Organizers hope that the tasting will attract 1,000 people. To prepare, they have lined up 40 sommeliers to pour 1,440 bottles.

¡°We¡¯ve secured the glasses already,¡± says Pancho Campo, a Spanish wine expert who¡¯s in charge of the event.

Tickets to the tasting, which will take place at Hong Kong Asia World-Expo, cost €1,900 (roughly $2,500) and include a conference pass and access to two other tastings, hosted by Mr. Campo and Financial Times wine critic Jancis Robinson. Mr. Campo will introduce the conference-goers to the wines of Spain, while Ms. Robinson will dedicate her session to up-and-coming regions such as Brazil, Turkey and China.

But the 64-year-old Mr. Parker remains the star attraction. A former lawyer, the Maryland native founded the influential newsletter Wine Advocate in 1978 and pioneered the 100-point rating system for wines. His ratings ¡ª especially of the top wineries in Bordeaux ¡ª can boost or sink the price of a particular vintage. For the average consumer, his presence can be seen on grocery-store shelves, as retailers will post his scores next to well-reviewed bottles.

Wine magazine Decanter named Mr. Parker the third-most-powerful man in the wine world in its recent power list. His influence is particularly felt in China as the country has become a big fan of wines from Bordeaux.

¡°In Asia,¡± Mr. Campo says, ¡°he¡¯s the only wine critic that is known widely and very important to the market here.¡±

Mr. Parker¡¯s tasting is dubbed ¡°The Magical 20¡± and will showcase Bordeaux wines that he considers the ones to watch. The wineries he chose are not classified as first-growth wines ¡ª the top classification in Bordeaux ¡ª but ones he thinks are of similar quality and undervalued. The list includes 2009 vintages of Château Cos D¡¯Estournel, Château Pichon Lalande, Château L¨¦oville Les Cases and Château Lynch Bages.