Over 100 persons attend the Winefuture 2011 press conference in Hong Kong

Hong Kong, 1st June, 2011.

The Wine Academy of Spain has kick started the Winefuture Hong Kong 2011 conference, considered to be the most significant congress in the world focusing on the wine industry. An audience of 100 people, including government authorities, entrepreneurs, critics and journalists, attended the official presentation of the event at the Regal Hong Kong Hotel.

Pancho Campo MW, President of The Wine Academy of Spain, and Jennie Mack, Managing Director of AWSEC (co-organisers of Winefuture), ran through the event programme in detail, giving information on the panels and wine tastings which will give new life to the city of Hong Kong on November 6, 7 and 8. Anthony Lau, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, stated that this year’s conference would build on the success of previous events such as Winefuture Rioja’09 and went on to explain figures for wine imported into Hong Kong from Spain has risen dramatically to generated a staggering €16 million last year. Javier Sanz Munoz, Senior Trade Commissioner from The Spanish Trade Commission, emphasised the significant business opportunities offered by Hong Kong to the Spanish wine industry.

The speakers gave special mention to the tasting sessions of Spanish wines to be carried out by some of the most respected experts in the world, including Robert Parker, Jancis Robinson MW and Pancho Campo MW (also the President of TWA). Mr. Campo stated 50 per cent of the exhibition space taken up by the AsiaWorld-Expo has already been occupied by wine makers from all over the world, which is a sure sign that the industry expects to generate big volumes of business at Winefuture. He will come back to Asia in July to promote the event to other countries in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the press conference, various members of the Winefuture panels were introduced, including South Korean expert, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, one of the most renowned wine critics in Asia. She is Editor of Decanter and writes a column for the South China Morning Post and has a thorough knowledge of the Chinese, South Korean, Singaporean and Taiwanese markets. Ms. Cho Lee joined the attendees of the conference in tasting Freixenet cava and Tres Picos Garnacha from the Campo de Borja D.O. region of Spain. Both are classic Spanish wine choices, making them ideal for toasting to the success of the event.

Pancho Campo announced that as of next Monday, the event’s website, www.winefuture.hk, will also be available in traditional Chinese.

The conference will once again bring together some of the most influential experts in the sector to discuss the challenges and opportunities faced by the world of wine, especially in the commercial and economic sense. The list of experts includes Robert Parker Jr., Jancis Robinson MW, Felicity Carter, Mel Dick, Angelo Gaja, Miguel Torres, Michel Rolland, Nigel Greening, Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Debra Meiburg MW, Stephen Mack, Steven Spurrier, Pierre Lurton and Don St Pierre. Over 1,500 persons are expected to attend, including wine makers, Masters of Wine, authorities, distributors, importers, buyers, journalists and sommeliers.

WineFuture Hong Kong 11 is an event organised by and belonging to The Wine Academy of Spain, and is supported by Madwine and the Asia Wine Service & Education Centre (AWSEC). The event brings together experts from all over the world to analyse issues such as the economic crisis, consumption trends, drops in sales, the environment, labelling, packaging and emerging markets, to name a few. The aim of the event was born during the first edition of Winefuture Rioja’09, and involves the creation of a forum to study and evaluate the challenges faced by the wine sector. For further information, www.winefuture.hk

The Wine Academy of Spain & AWSEC

The Wine Academy of Spain is a private organization founded in 2003 by Pancho Campo MW, the first Spaniard to become a Master of Wine. TWAS focuses its activities on the training of professionals, the international promotion of Spanish wine, the Spanish Wine Experience program, the promotion of Spain as a wine tourism destination, and the analysis of the impact of climate change in the wine industry. It is also an Approved Programme Provider for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). It's organized three editions of the World Congress on Climate Change and Wine, WineFuture Rioja '09, and Vinoble 2009.

Asia Wine Service & Education Centre

AWSECR is the Asian partner of The Wine Academy and a premier provider of wine and spirits education. It has been providing wine education to the trade and the public since 1994. Our extensive range of services is all delivered by our experienced, knowledgeable and highly qualified team of wine educators. Headquartered in Hong Kong, AWSECR designs and provides top quality wine and spirits education and training in Asia, e.g. mainland China, India and Philippines, and the courses are available in English as well as some local languages.