Hong Kong’s annual Wine & Dine Festival is the foodie event you won’t want to miss.Supplied
Every October, Hong Kong transforms into a culinary paradise as thousands of travellers converge for the highly anticipated Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival. This annual event is a haven for wine enthusiasts and food lovers, offering a five-day celebration of fine flavours and world-renowned vino from around the globe. Amidst the vibrant atmosphere and endless entertainment, guests can indulge in world-class delicacies and sip on exquisite wines, all while enjoying the stunning backdrop of iconic Victoria Harbour. Here’s why this food festival should be added to your travel bucket list.
Taste the best meals the world has to offer
If your mouth waters at the thought of sampling sumptuous bites of inventive fusion foods or iconic classics, this is the festival for you. Come hungry (and hands-free!), because there’s a seemingly endless array of dishes to try, and you’ll want to taste them all. The city’s cultural diversity shines through on each plate, showcasing foods from all backgrounds – including Cantonese, Spanish, French, Italian, Korean, Japanese and more.
Visiting chefs and restaurants from around the world fly to Hong Kong to serve their very best to festival-goers. The chefs take the opportunity to introduce new dishes at the event that have yet to debut at their restaurants, meaning you can be one of the very first to taste meals that will soon grace the tables of the world’s best. You can expect to try everything from street food snacks such as fish balls to bite-sized Michelin-starred meals like French foie gras at the over 300 food and beverage booths.
Come hungry (and hands-free!) at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival.Supplied
Discover award-winning wines, spirits, beers and more
At the Wine & Dine Festival, you’ll find an eclectic mix of international wines from several countries to wet your whistle. From Australian shiraz to French sauvignon blanc, you can sip several varieties while learning about the tannins and terroirs from the industry’s top experts. It’s perfectly suited to both the connoisseurs and those newly exploring the intimate world of wine.
In recent years, countries with emerging wine scenes have made a splash at the festival, surprising and delighting those who imbibe – so be sure to drink outside of the regions you already favour. Don’t miss the Chinese Wine Discovery display, which showcases wine regions from around the festival’s host country like Shandong and Shangri-La regions.
At the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, sip on an eclectic mix of international wines.Supplied
You can take your leaning a step further with a wine-tasting class, where you’ll be sure to discover some new favourites. Many wineries will also offer exclusive tastings of soon-to-be-released wines, letting you into an exclusive group of early-adopters who will have a nose for the year’s top bottles. And when you’re done sampling the wines, there are plenty of sakes, spirits and craft beers to discover, too.
Can’t-miss cultural performances
Pack your dancing shoes: While you sip and snack the night away, you can enjoy live music and performances by local and international artists that range from jazz to blues to classical. And while wandering around the festival grounds, you can admire the eye-catching art installations, a reflection of the emerging arts and culture scene in the nearby Kowloon Cultural District of Hong Kong.
Enjoy live music and performances by local and international artists.Supplied
There also a ton of workshops to partake in; past years have included pastry-making with a five-star hotel, gin tastings and cooking demonstrations by world-renowned chefs. Every event, activity and experience is immersive, impressive and incredibly memorable.
Before you go
To ensure a smooth experience from start to finish, be sure to book your tickets well in advance. Visit the Wine & Dine Festival website for event details. Hot tip: There’s a Wine & Dine travel package, which offers you a luxurious culinary trip to Hong Kong. The package gives exclusive VIP access to the festival, dining at two Michelin-star restaurants run by “Demon Chef” Alvin Leung, a five-star hotel stay and premium-economy flight tickets with Air Canada, which includes priority check-in, wider seats and premium meals and beverages once on board.
And the festivities don’t end with the festival. Extend your stay to enjoy the “Taste Around Town” program, where bars and restaurants around Hong Kong have partnered with the Hong Kong Tourism Board to create a list of discounted offerings and limited-edition tasting experiences throughout the month of November, so tantalizing no traveller can resist. There’s no better way to get a taste of everything Hong Kong has to offer.
Advertising feature produced by Globe Content Studio with Hong Kong Tourism Board. The Globe’s editorial department was not involved.