Nothing to whine about

Hong Kong has been putting itself on the world map for wine since the government removed taxes in 2008 creating a free port but this has not always translated to cheaper high quality wines in restaurants and at retail wine still isn’t that cheap.

Some restaurants continue to be committed to extracting maximum mark-ups, but access is all about to change for wine lovers. Of course there has been Crown Wine Cellars for storage and most members clubs offer wine, but they don’t make it their core business.

With the 18,000 sqft Club Batard in the iconic Pedder building set to open in summer 2024, with a joining fee of HK$100,000, and now 67 Pall Mall with an around HK$15,000 / year “membership” announced at a launch at The Upper House, new entrants are scheduled to shake things up with the desire to bring great wine at much cheaper prices to a Hong Kong public that wants it.

And if your taste is for wine at investment levels, Hong Kong will be home to numerous wine auction options, with commitments by Sotheby’s and Christie’s to opening grand scale facilities in the city, adding to the presence of Phillips. This global trio of auction powerhouses will soon occupy hundreds of thousands of square feet and can be expected to employ dedicated wine talent, believing in both the future of Hong Kong and of wine auctions here as part of the auction mix.

For both wine lovers in Hong Kong and collectors of anything here from art to antiques, these major commitments and huge investments in Hong Kong are all great news.

So will the restaurant market for wine respond with lower customer prices, now that dedicated club style enjoyment of wine is piling the pressure on, surely the F&B sector has little choice but to respond or miss the boat?

All good reasons to start popping a few corks for Hong Kong : certainly nothing to whine about!

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