Riedel - My First Glass Pairing Experience!


Did everyone enjoy the 2013 Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival held between 31st Oct to 3 Nov 2012? I was invited over by Riedel, a main sponsor for the festival to have a glimpse of the event. This year the festival was held at the New Central Harbourfront, the open area right next to Central Pier 9 & 10. The ever changing entrance looked beautiful, like a magical entrance at Disney and could be seen from ifc.


The whole festival is decorated with beautiful light which kind of feel like Christmas decorations.


There are numerous Riedel light balloons like above in the festival, they looked pretty cool.


Within a few steps arrived the Riedel Grand Tasting Pavalion in a huge red tent which was super eye catching.



The pavilion was huge and spacious with a Riedel tasting stall, wine glasses and decanters display and numerous tables stands for people to sip their wine and mingle.



Do you know Riedel makes crystals as well? If you look up you will see a few sparkling crystal light made by Riedel.


Banner with slogan “Love Wine? If you wine can choose a glass, it would be Riedel” was hanged everywhere In the pavilion. With this in mind, Riedel arranged a glass pairing session for us to understand the importance of wine glass.


I had never attended any glass paring session before, so I was completely blank sitting in front of the bar table. There are 3 numbered circle on the table, with a work "joker" on circle 1.


3 types of wine glass were put onto the circles. Beer glass (the joker glass) was put on circle 1, white wine glass was put on 2, red wine glass on 3.


We tried Sauvignon Blanc in a typical white wine glass and a joker glass. In the typical glass, the Sauvignon Blanc had a decent floral aroma and sweet note with a sour finish. When savour in the joker glass, the floral aroma was totally gone and the wine tasted much sour than savouring the same wine in white wine glass. The reason is because of the inward curving mouth which traps the aroma and makes it more concentrated. The design of the glass also draws wine to the middle and the end of your tongue so the bitterness can be avoid (as the tasting cells are at the tip of your tongue.)


We also tried Cabernet Sauvignon in both red wine glass and joker glass. In a typical red wine glass, the red carried a light fruity aroma, it was light body, rubbery on the tongue but smooth at the throat. When savour in the white wine glass, the red smelled much strong and tasted stonger and less smooth on the throat. This proved the importance of the design of


Despite the glass pairing session, Riedel also shared a chocolate pairin session with us by using Lindt chocolate. Dark chocolate of 85% and 70% Cocoa were used to pair with the Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc. We found the red compliments the 70% very well, making it tasted sweeter.



After the fun session at Riedel's Grand pavilion, we also went to Riedel's stall outside. Lot of special deals were promoting on wine glasses and decanters! I found this dragon looking decanter pretty interesting!


There are also lots of wine stalls and a few food stalls in the area. The food were not too attractive, so we left pretty soon for dinner.

Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2013
(E) New Central Harbourfront (next to Central Pier 9 & 10), Central, Hong Kong
(C) 香港中環新海濱


Date of Event: 31 Oct 2013


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