LEXPERT MAGAZINE
|
JUNE 2018 73
TRAVEL
Hong Kong's
diverse pleasures
From the high to the low, this vibrant urban centre won't disappoint
Perold kept in touch with his former colleagues
and maintained his interest in his abandoned pro-
geny. He was invited back by Dr. eron to help select
the vine that would be best for further propagation.
Once the chosen vine had been serially reproduced
and begun to flourish, it was time for the new grape
to be given a name.
In South Africa, Cinsaut was known as Hermit-
age, so Perold and Niehaus began devising port-
manteaux for the new crossing. 'Herminoir' was
originally considered but mercifully rejected in
favour of Pinotage.
e first vintage of a Pinotage wine was made in
1941 from six-year-old vines at Elsenburg Winery
in Stellenbosch. In that same year, Pinotage vines
were planted at the Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stel-
lenbosch, which has had a long and illustrious history
with the grape.
e uncrowned king of the variety is Kanonkop's
current owner, Byers Truter, who has been producing
outstanding Pinotage since 1981. In 1991 Truter was
named International Winemaker of the Year at the
International Wine and Spirit Competition in Lon-
don for his Kanonkop Pinotage 1989.
Today 7.5 per cent of South Africa's vineyard sur-
face is planted to Pinotage. Pinotage is also grown
in Brazil, Israel, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and the
USA (where there are plantings in Arizona, Cali-
fornia, Michigan, Oregon and Virginia). Some Ger-
man producers are currently experimenting with
the variety, and even here in Canada we have some
Pinotage being made: in Lake Breeze Vineyards and
Stoneboat Vineyards in British Columbia's Oka-
nagan Valley, and at Del-Gatto Estates in Ontario's
Prince Edward County.
So, what does this much-travelled wine with a
short history taste like? e grape itself is quite high
in tannins, which give the final product a lot of struc-
ture; this means a well-made Pinotage can age for
twenty-five years. Depending on the soil in which it
is raised, it will have forward, fruity flavours of black-
berry, black plum and mulberries.
Some South African producers are making their
wines with a distinctive coffee-bean flavour: witness
e Grinder Pinotage from Swartland and e Bean
Coffee Pinotage from Stellenbosch. e unmistak-
able aroma and flavour of coffee are not because of
the addition of coffee grounds during fermentation,
but due to the interaction of the wine with high toast
French oak barrels.
e fact that there is nothing on the back label
of these products to suggest that this could be your
breakfast wine is a missed marketing opportunity,
I guess.
WHETHER IT'S BUSINESS or pleasure that brings you to Hong Kong,
making the most of your stay there is a must. ese desination must-do's will
ensure that the daylong errors-and-omissions discussions or late-night docu-
ment discoveries won't prevent you from having a trip to remember.
>
e Stay: e Peninsula Hotel e territory's oldest luxury hotel (pic-
tured above) hasn't slumped in its 90 years. Book even the lowest category of
room and you can expect touches from the lighted mirror that rises out of the
desk, to the Nespresso machine tastefully hidden in a drawer near the bed, to
the ability to control everything from lights to curtains to TV set from the tab-
let at your bedside. Pop up to the sky-high Felix restaurant for delicious meals
or a drink with a view of the Hong Kong harbour. Don't feel like making your
way to the hotel through Hong Kong traffic? Fly in. It is the only one in Hong
Kong with its own helicopter service. www.hongkong.peninsula.com
>
e Dine: Shang Palace, Kowloon Shangri-La A two-Michelin-star Can-
tonese fine dining experience, Shang Palace places as much attention on its
presentation as on its authentic cuisine. Don't miss the pan-fried spotted ga-
roupa fish in egg white sauce or the braised seasonal greens with conpoy (dried
scallops). www.shangri-la.com/paris/shangrila/dining/restaurants/shang-palace
>
e Tailor: Sam's Tailor e 24-hour suit is a Hong Kong staple. But don't
be distracted by the legions of tailors on the streets tempting you into their
shops. If you're aer quality and timeliness, the choice is the same as it has been
for the past 60 years. Sam's Tailor is a family-owned business that has recently
suited notables from Jon Hamm to Meghan Markle. www.samstailor.com
>
e Insider Tour: Heritage of Mei Ho House In 1954, Hong Kong built
public housing for thousands displaced by a recent fire. Today, one of those
concrete blocks houses a museum showcasing the housing estate's history. At
the edge of the Sham Shui Po area of Kowloon, it is also a reminder that rough-
ly a third of Hong Kongers live in public housing. www.discoverhongkong.com
| DETOURS |
Heather Greenwood Davis is a lawyer, a contributing editor to National Geographic Traveler,
and a columnist for The Globe and Mail. Reach her at Heather@globetrottingmama.com.
Tony Aspler is the author of 17 books on wine,
including his latest, Canadian Wineries.
PHOTO:
SHUTTERSTOCK
