One of Asia’s most dramatic city skylines will provide a stunning backdrop to the 2013 Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival, as Victoria Harbour gets set to light up for a fun-filled two-month run into Hong Kong’s boisterous Christmas and New Year festivities.
When the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival first set up stall in 2009, it did so with the aim of introducing some of the finer things in life to an appreciative Hong Kong crowd.
It didn’t take long for the festival to make its mark – it was soon named by Forbes Traveler as one of the top 10 international food and wine festivals in the world – and the fifth edition of this epicurean extravaganza will once again tantalise the tastebuds of gourmands from across the globe.
Hong Kong lights up for the Wine & Dine Festival
Harbourfront wining & dining
In 2012, more than 300 booths from 18 different countries served up a mouth-watering array of food and wine – with a staggering 32,000 bottles of wine consumed through the four days of festivities.
With this year’s event expected to be bigger and better than ever, it’s safe to say the locals have taken to the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival like Camembert cheese to a wafer-thin cracker.
What sets this year’s Wine and Dine Festival apart is a stunning New Central Harbourfront location. With a sweeping view of Victoria Harbour and a towering Tsim Sha Tsui backdrop beyond, visitors can soon be sipping Chardonnay against the bright city lights of southern Kowloon.
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Along with the dazzling location, visitors can also enjoy multiple tasting pavilions. There’s a Country Pavilion offering some of the finest wines from around the world, as well as a Sweet Pavilion with an emphasis on dessert and sweet wines.
The Discovery Zone lets wine producers showcase their own wares, while the A-Lister Zone and Everyday Wines strike a tastebud-tingling balance between top-shelf quality and affordable daily drops.
A new addition is the premium Tasting Room, where master chefs pair fine wines with gourmet meals, as well as deliver classes in the art of wine and food appreciation – making the Hong Kong Wine and Dine Festival a one-stop-shop for everything fine dining related.
Wine & Dine, Hong Kong style (Image: Discover Hong Kong)
Signing off in style
The four-day Wine and Dine Festival marks the start of two months of festivities geared towards celebrating the Christmas and New Year periods in the midst of an Asian winter.
The wildly popular wine-soaked extravaganza helps kick off the equally prominent Hong Kong Winterfest – a fun-filled eight week countdown towards celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Day in typical Hong Kong style.
Look no further than Winterfest for an intriguing dash of East meets West, as ancient Chinese traditions mix with a decidedly western ambience to forge a uniquely Hong Kong take on Christmas.
From the decorations hung high above the city on towering skyscrapers, to spectacularly lit Christmas trees and the carollers who entertain shoppers on street corners all over the bustling city, this festive time of year is a real highlight on the Hong Kong cultural calendar.
While Hong Kong’s raucous Chinese New Year celebrations are arguably the high point of annual festivities, the city’s December 31st fireworks are nevertheless nothing to sniff at.
With a colourful fireworks display rounding out Winterfest proceedings and ringing in the New Year in explosive fashion, Hong Kong’s fabulous festive season has helped cement the city’s reputation as one of Asia’s most fun-filled travel destinations – especially when Christmas comes calling.
