The Far East

Arrived to the rain and heat in Hong Kong , amazing smells everywhere for a first timer here, I am pleased to be tall. Such an interesting place. Checked out the local wine retail scene, very impressed with Ponti (www.ponti-fwc.com), Olivers and 360 (www.threesixtyhk.com). We need something like this at home! Very sophisticated wine market here.

Had a great tour around Tsim Sha Tsui and dinner with Vanessa from At Style wine importers in a traditional Chinese restaurant, where I tried ducks feet, cheek of snapper and goose, couldn’t quite brave the chicken feet.
Every night you can see a light & music show from 8pm from Tsim Shar Tsui looking back to Hong Kong Island.

Met some other great wine distributors and Eddie McDougall from the Independent Wine Centre, learnt a lot about this market. Excited about the opportunities for us here. Caught up with Travis & Natasha Brown who are Australians living here both working in hospitality so great to learn more about the market and what is happening here. We went to Lan Kwai Fong the expat hang out. Did I mention anything about the Super 14 Finals... never.

Caught the ferry to Macau, a fascinating place. To me a good combination of Hong Kong and somewhere in the middle of Europe. You can still see the influence of the Portuguese here. We have representation here with TH Fine Wines, www.thfinewines.com. We have had meetings with MGM and the City of Dreams complex, Dreadnought Syrah on the opening list of City of Dreams. It opens next Monday, they complex in the final stages with 6000 staff members in training still. It will be wonderful to see it again open.

Off to see some more complexes today, and then leave on Sunday for Shanghai. Hopefully without losing too much money at any of the Casinos here!
Until the next time. Sara