Hong Kong’s First Winery

Unless you’re shopping for furniture or visiting the Lane Crawford outlet as a tourist, there is probably no other reason why you’d make a trip to Ap Lei Chau. Most locals haven’t even gone there, as it’s mostly residential. If you have been there, you might have noticed a sort of post-industrial vibe (evidenced by the move of the power station) that couldn’t seem farther away from Central. Which makes it all the more surprising that there’s also a winery out there.

Tucked away on the 3^rd floor of Harbour Industrial Centre on Lee Hing Street is The 8^th Estate Winery, and yes, they actually make the wine. Amazingly enough, this is Hong Kong’s first and only winery. You don’t have to be an enthusiast to know that Hong Kong and China aren’t exactly hot spots for wine, given its land and climate conditions. But the 8^th Estate is poised to change that, as it attempts to break into the scene this year.

The 8^th Estate’s wines are produced entirely in Hong Kong, with the exception of the grapes, which are flash-frozen and sourced from selected growing regions around the world. This year’s reserve comes from Washington State in the US. However, every other aspect of wine production – from fermenting to aging – is done entirely on site in Ap Lei Chau.

The yield is small (only 8,300 cases per year), due to the size of their facilities, but it seems fitting, because their emphasis is on the quality of the wine. The mantra of the 8^th Estate, run by wine master Gianni Seminari and managing director Lysanne Tusar, is to “bring people to the wine instead of wine to the people.” They stay true to this by only selling their wines in Hong Kong and are passionately determined to remain local.

Right now, they only have white and dessert wines, as their reds are still in production (but available for pre-orders). But I had the opportunity to taste their whites, and my favorite was a dessert aperitif wine (Cabernet Sauvignon) named Affair with a peach and mango bouquet. I also tried the un-oaked Chardonnay, which was fermented cold and aged for 6 months on lees. My palette, inexperienced as it may be, detected the quality in the wines, and they were impressive.

The point of the 8^th Estate Winery is that you don’t have to rely on expensive brand-name imports to enjoy good wine. The winery is even prepared to offer you an experience that is literally hands-on. Seminari, who has won several awards for his winemaking, is ready to guide you or your company (or whomever) through the process of creating your own blend. It’s as personal as you want to make it.

They also hold special events and wine tastings for groups on their outside terrace, which has a decidedly European feel to it. If you have a party outside at night, you can forget for a moment that you are in Hong Kong…and at a winery, no less.

The 8^th Estate Winery is a winery dedicated to furthering your knowledge and enjoyment of good wine without the pretense. Whether you’re a novice or expert, head over to the 8^th Estate for a different perspective of Hong Kong.

Tiffany, the author of this article, is a recent college graduate who knows a thing or two about boxed wines. She likes to think that because of her university years, or rather in spite of them, her taste buds are more acute than the average person’s when it comes to detecting bad alcohol. Note: this blurb may or may not have been written under the influence of said wine.

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