SFETO Promotes Hong Kong’s Wine Trading Business in California

Mr. Dino Mencarini, owner of Abundance Vineyards (left) shares hands-on demonstration of a working vineyard to Ms Doris Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco and Mr. Mark Chandler, Executive Director of Lodi.Woodbridge Winegrape Commission in Lodi, California. Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco encourages US wine traders to take advantage of Hong Kong’s zero wine duty and use Hong Kong as a wine trading and distribution center.

Invited by the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, Ms Doris Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco, toured the wine region in Lodi, California. Lodi is known as the ‘Zinfadel Capitol of the World’ and grows more grapes than Napa Valley and Sonoma combined, the two key wine regions in California. There are 75 wineries in Lodi and they export their wines mostly to the United Kingdom and Canada in addition to the domestic market.

At the tour, Ms Cheung met with representatives of Abundance Vineyards, Van Ruiten Family Winery and Barsetti Vineyards. They, together with Benson Ferry, Irish Vineyards, Miramont Estate, Watts Winery and Weibel Vineyards participated in the first Hong Kong International Wine Fair in Hong Kong on August 14-16.

The International Wine Fair in Hong Kong has attracted more than 230 exhibitors from 25 countries and regions. “Support from overseas wine marketing boards and consulates is strong. Many large wine importers and distributors will take part in this Fair,” Ms Cheung said.

Mrs. Janis Barsetti Gray (left) and Mr. Richard A. Gray, owners of Barsetti Vineyards present a brochure of their vineyard to Ms Doris Cheung, Director of the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in San Francisco. They participated in the first Hong Kong International Wine Fair in Hong Kong on August 14-16. “In terms of wine trading and distribution businesses, Hong Kong is geographically well placed. We have advanced transport and logistics infrastructure and rich experience in international promotion. With the exemption of wine duties, Hong Kong is poised to be a major player on the global wine scene,” Ms Cheung said.

Mr. Pat Patrick, President & CEO of the Lodi Chamber of Commerce, agreed that Hong Kong is positioning herself to become one of the most important wine hubs in the world. He urged local wineries to take advantage of Hong Kong’s zero wine tariff to trade and distribute wines through Hong Kong. To further expand their export markets to China and Asia, Hong Kong is a natural gateway.

Also attending the tour was Mr. Gao Zhansheng, Consul General of the People’s Republic of China in San Francisco.

If you have any questions or comments, write to the Editor at ehkeditor@hongkong.org
You may unsubscribe by sending an email to: unsubscribe@hongkong.org

Copyright ã 2008, Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in San Francisco