Hong Kong food and drink festival will feature fine wines ... in plastic glasses
Under police advice, the festival will only serve drinks purchased outdoors by festivalgoers in plastic wine glasses
Hong Kong will be wooing wine connoisseurs at the annual Wine and Dine Festival again later this month, but many will have to sample the goods in plastic glasses instead of actual wine glasses for safety and security reasons, according to the Tourism Board.
The ninth annual Wine and Dine Festival is due to return to Central Harbourfront and expects to draw up to 145,000 participants.
The four-day festival will feature around 400 booths, comprising of 290 wine booths and 110 food booths. Wines from 21 countries and regions will be showcased.
Under police advice, the festival will only serve drinks purchased outdoors by festivalgoers in plastic wine glasses. Those participating in indoor events can drink from traditional wine glasses.
The plastic cups will be recycled after use.
The Tourism Board has been working on enticing tourists to the festival with wine and dine packages.
“We have been promoting the Wine and Dine Festival to overseas visitors for the last eight years,” the Tourism Board’s event and product development general manager, Mason Hung Chung-hing, said.
“This year we have stepped up our promotions ... we’ve had very close collaborations with airlines and hotels ... we have also had comprehensive promotion plans in short-haul markets such as the mainland, Korea, Taiwan, India, Russia, Australia and New Zealand.”
The festival is expected to draw between 140,000 and 145,000 people. Tourists are anticipated to number around 14,000 of the total amount.
The Wine and Dine Festival will feature Bordeaux wines never before sold in Hong Kong. To complete the French experience, foods from Bordeaux will also be featured at the event, according to Bordeaux Wine Council communication director Christophe Chateau.
Chefs from local and international hotels and restaurants – some with three Michelin stars – will be cooking signature dishes at the harbourfront.
There will be two new wine zones at the ninth annual festival, featuring premium wines selected by a world-renowned wine authority and bubbly drinks, including champagne, sparkling wines and fizzy cocktails.
Also new to the event is a lifestyle store selling tableware and other products will also be a new feature at the festival.
The event begins on Thursday, October 26 and will run until Sunday, October 29. Ticket prices are set at HK$30, with half-price offers for children, seniors, students and people with disabilities.
Wine tasting passes will cost between HK$100 and HK$600.
