Message from the President:
Dear Esteemed Members, Industry Partners, and Fellow Wine Enthusiasts,
As we begin the 2026 edition of our annual address, I would like to reflect on a year of renewal and resilience for Hong Kong's wine and spirits industry, and to share the continuing journey of our association.
Navigating a Market in Recalibration
After three consecutive years of decline, Hong Kong's wine imports demonstrated a fragile yet significant recovery in 2025. According to the Census and Statistics Department of the HKSAR, the total value of wine imports reached €784 million, a marginal increase of 0.97% compared to the previous year. While the total volume decreased by 6.8% to 272.4 thousand kiloliters, the market's "value increase over volume decline" character — where consumers are paying higher prices for fewer bottles — confirmed a shift in maturity and selectivity.
France remained our largest wine supplier, accounting for 70% of import share at €552 million, while mainland China and New Zealand saw the most dynamic growth, with Chinese wine exports to Hong Kong surging by 139%. This signals not only a geographic diversification of supply but also an embrace of regional palates and emerging wine cultures.
The broader Asian wine market continues its strategic shift toward Hong Kong as a gateway. The Vinexpo Asia 2026 Outlook Report noted that 75% of core buyers and trade flows in the Asia-Pacific wine market are now concentrated in Greater China. Yet the market is no longer monolithic: still wine sales are slowing, while fresh white wines, rosé, and high-value sparkling wines are rising, alongside evolving consumption patterns that emphasize sustainability and authenticity.
From Volume to Value: The New Quality Paradigm
Our city's premium wine segment remains a global bright spot. According to IWSR, premium wines now account for over 50% of total wine sales in Hong Kong, making us one of the world's leading premium wine markets. This represents not merely a status-driven consumption pattern but a fundamental move toward informed enjoyment. Consumers are splitting between entry-level value and "blue-chip" investment labels, with the middle market under pressure.
This polarization underscores the need for industry-wide sophistication. Our role at the Hong Kong Wine Judges Association — established in 2010 as a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting wine knowledge and appreciation — has never been more critical. Our mission, as we define it on our official platforms, is to maintain close contact with wine judges locally and from around the world, exploring collaborations to advance wine judging standards across Greater China and APEC regions.
Our Vision: Benchmarking Excellence
We have set an ambitious vision: To be the leading professional wine judging panel for Hong Kong SAR and Greater China — and to lead Hong Kong as a benchmark for wine judging excellence both regionally and globally. To this end, 2025 witnessed important strides:
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Market Place Wine Awards 2025: Our chairman served as a key panelist among 12 distinguished wine authorities in a rigorous blind-tasting process that evaluated over 150 wines from around the globe, selecting 17 award-winning labels. The involvement of HKWJA leadership demonstrated our commitment to fairness and accuracy in wine evaluation.
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Wine to Asia 2025: As a strategic partner for this premier wine and spirits exhibition held in Shenzhen from May 9 to 11, 2025, we helped foster cross-border collaboration and business opportunities across the Greater Bay Area, supporting the event's theme "Seizing New Business Opportunities in Shenzhen". This event, featuring over 500 international brands and 30+ masterclasses led by Masters of Wine, embodied the type of professional exchange our association champions.
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Educational Initiatives: We continued to deepen our pedagogical footprint through our "Aged Wine Scholars Certificate" (VWS) program, which examines the interplay of climate, terroir, and winemaking traditions across Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, and Napa Valley. These programs are designed to deliver theory-based research alongside practical tasting skills, ensuring that Hong Kong's wine professionals remain among the best-prepared in the region.
Industry Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
While Hong Kong remains one of the world's top three wine auction centers and an international wine trading hub following the removal of wine duties in 2008, the competitive landscape is shifting. The rise of e-commerce and immediate retail strategies, the growing preference for no-alcohol and low-alcohol beverages, and changing consumer habits toward at-home consumption are reshaping the industry.
At the same time, consumer tastes are leaning toward lighter, more refreshing wines. The chilled red wine movement, biodynamic and organic wines, and natural pet-nat sparkling wines are gaining traction among younger consumers. This "lighter and brighter" trend offers exciting possibilities for winemakers willing to innovate.
Looking Forward to 2026 and Beyond
2026 marks a pivotal moment for the Asia-Pacific wine trade. Vinexpo Asia 2026, to be held May 26-28 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, will bring together approximately 1,300 exhibitors and over 25,000 professional visitors, consolidating Hong Kong's role as a strategic meeting point for producers, distributors, and buyers. The event will debut integrated sections for wine, spirits, and no-alcohol beverages, reflecting the evolving needs of the modern beverage market.
As HKWJA, our commitment is clear: to elevate, educate, and connect. We will continue to:
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Host professional wine competitions with constructive review and commentary.
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Build bridges between local and international wine judges.
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Monitor Greater China and APEC trends, seeking strategic partnerships.
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Expand our curriculum to include emerging categories such as natural wines, orange wines, and low-alcohol alternatives.
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Support trade events that showcase Hong Kong's position as Asia's wine hub.
Closing Remarks
To our members: your dedication to the pursuit of wine excellence is what makes our association a trusted voice in the industry. To our partners in the trade: we look forward to deepening our collaborations in the year ahead. And to the wider wine community of Hong Kong: we invite you to join us in our journey — whether through our judging panels, educational programs, or industry events.
Hong Kong's wine story is one of resilience, sophistication, and strategic reinvention. Despite global economic headwinds and shifting consumption patterns, our city continues to play a pivotal role as a "super connector" between East and West — a gateway to the fast-growing Asia-Pacific and mainland Chinese markets. At the Hong Kong Wine Judges Association, we are proud to be a part of this extraordinary transformation.
Thank you for your continued support and passion. Here's to a remarkable year ahead — filled with discovery, education, and, of course, exceptional wine.
Best regards,
Chairman of the Hong Kong Wine Judges Association
Dr. CHOI SHING FUNG 蔡丞峯, Calvin
19 May 2026