Who dares wines

The annual Wines of the Pacific Rim (WinPac) wine show takes place from Thursday to Saturday. More than 1,000 New World wines will be judged by a panel of experts, who include Gina Gallo from Gallo Family Vineyards in Sonoma County, California, Peter Lehmann of Peter Lehmann Wines in Australia and Sam Neill, who's better known as an actor, but who also has the Two Paddocks winery in New Zealand (see Thursday's food page in the City section for an interview with Neill). Events at the Mandarin Oriental hotel include the Wine Game, in which overseas judges will have a 'taste off' with Hong Kong-based judges (Thursday), and the 'pure tasting' on Saturday, when guests will have the chance to taste and purchase more than 800 New World wines. Tickets are available at the Mandarin Cakeshop (tel: 2825 4008). For information see www.winpac-hk.com.