New Delhi, 26th October, 2020 - The Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival, organised by the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), will go ahead with an “online + offline” format for the first time to allow the event to continue despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Festival, which will run for five weeks from 11 November until 15 December, will feature a wealth of exciting online experiences, including an Online Wine Cellar, Gourmet at Home Menus, and live-streamed cookery and wine-tasting masterclasses on a new one-stop online platform. Offline experiences include special deals and gastronomic events offered by hundreds of dining outlets across the city for consumers to enjoy.

HKTB Chairman Dr YK Pang said: “Although the HKTB’s mega events have been suspended for some time, we are drawing on our ingenuity and resources to optimise and adapt promotions against the backdrop of a pandemic that will be with us for some time.

“That’s why we have decided to resume the staging of mega events, and adopt a new ‘online + offline’ format for the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2020. It is a new venture designed for the new normal in which we find ourselves. The HKTB is doing this to ensure people can join this annual event in spite of the pandemic, and to help our hard-hit businesses to promote their products and open up new business opportunities in these challenging times.”

Dr Pang added: “Our objective is to continue giving the Hong Kong economy a boost and to send out a positive message to the world that Hong Kong’s can-do spirit and love of life have not been dampened in any way by the pandemic, and that we can use our innovation to stage our signature events while we prepare to welcome visitors back to our city.”

“Online + Offline” format offers a broad range of experiences to suit all tastes

The “online + offline” format allows Festival participants to enjoy an undiminished gastronomic experience from the comfort of their homes through the convenience of online shopping and delivery, if the pandemic situation worsens. They may opt to dine at the participating restaurants to enjoy the offers when the pandemic becomes relatively stable.

In addition, the Festival period has been extended from a few days in the past to five weeks (11 November – 15 December). Highlights of the Festival include:

An Online Wine Cellar with listings from over 100 wine merchants;
Offers and special Gourmet at Home Menus from more than 530 dining outlets; and
34 themed live-streamed cookery and wine-tasting masterclasses.

Hong Kong’s Global Wine Critic James Suckling will introduce three bottles of affordable new wine from Bordeaux in his online masterclass. He said: “Hong Kong is one of the best wine cities in the world, ranking at the same level as London and New York. Hong Kong also remains the number one export market for Bordeaux wines. This year’s Festival is going to reach more people around the world, and I’m really looking forward to it.”

A selection of the “online + offline” experiences available at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival 2020 are summarised below:

“Online” Gastronomic Experiences

Event website - winedinefestival.discoverhongkong.com

Online Wine Cellar

More than 100 wine merchants will participate in the Online Wine Cellar, with wines from France, Italy, South America, Australia, and Japan as well as local brands
Lesser-known wines from Lebanon and Turkey will debut at the Hong Kong Wine & Dine Festival
Various offers from merchants will include an exclusive discount code with up to 25% off most products, 50% off selected products. All purchases delivered to buyers’ doorsteps

Gourmet at Home Menus

30 special Gourmet at Home Menus from top-tier hotels and popular restaurants
The menus feature Chinese, Western and Korean cuisines. A highlight is the limited-edition afternoon tea set by the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong offering at 15% off discount.
The first 50 customers at each dining outlet are entitled to free delivery (if applicable) and will be gifted a Bordeaux wine and a set of wine glasses

Live-streamed Masterclasses

Date: Three consecutive weekends starting from 21 November, with a total of 34 masterclasses
Highlights: Cookery and wine-tasting classes from world-renowned wine critic James Suckling, respected Hong Kong chef Dai Lung, and Michelin-starred chef Vicky Cheng, among others
Fees: Live streaming and recordings are available on the event website for free. Participants can pre-order cookery or tasting kits (starting from HK$150) online and have them delivered before each masterclass
Enrolment: Through the event website from 11 November

Offers from restaurants

Dine-in Celebrations

A curated collection of mouth-watering offers from over 500 Hong Kong restaurants ranging from street bites to Michelin-starred diners, including:
- 30-50% off selected menus from 200 popular outlets;
- $20 off $60/ $40 off $120 and Friday Flash Deals from over 160 snack and street bite outlets.