© Wine-Searcher

Erica Berenstein works her way through six grands crus de Bourgogne at Vinexpo Asia-Pacific.

"I come from a small village in Burgundy of 400 people, who could all fit in this room," said Jean Soubeyard, director of Olivier Leflaive. He was introducing the second of six wine pairings at a Burgundy grand cru dinner in Hong Kong hosted by the Bureau Interprofessionel des Vins de Bourgogne – the Burgundy Wine Board.



"This wine is a little bit shy, but it will show all the potential for aging," Soubeyard said of the 2005 Olivier Leflaive Corton-Charlemagne grand cru.



The 114 guests dining in the Diamond Ballroom of the Hong Kong Ritz-Carlton were wine trade professionals attending Asia's largest wine and spirits fair, Vinexpo Asia-Pacific. With each course of delicately prepared Chinese fare, a new wine was introduced by a representative of the producer – three white wines followed by three reds.

The Wine Board recently reported that the total value of Burgundy wines sold in China had doubled in a year. China now represents its sixth-largest market.



Six thousand miles from France, the spirit of Burgundy was alive as guests got to their feet to sing the "Ban Bourguignon," a traditional ditty accompanied by much waving of arms. "Be prepared," said Aurore Monot-Devillard, proprietor of Domaine des Perdrix. "We are going to sing this several times."

As the fifth wine was poured, Beatrice Dubois explained that her 1998 Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru "could be very firm at the beginning, but very generous with time."



"I am glad to see that your glasses are empty," Burgundy wine board president Pierre-Henri Gagey told the sated guests as the dinner came to a close.

© Wine-Searcher

Guests enjoying the singing

The menu was as follows:

Canapes: Iberico pork, Saint-Jacques scallops cooked in lemon juice, and spring rolls + 2008 Domaine Louis Moreau Les Clos Chablis Grand Cru, Chablis

Prawns accompanied by traditional vegetables + 2005 Domaine Olivier Leflaive Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune

Shredded abalone braised in a creamy oyster sauce + 1991 Maison Louis Jadot Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Cote de Beaune

Garoupa fish consommé and dried scallops

Black Angus fillet of beef, accompanied by mushrooms and red wine jus +

2003 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Corton Grand Cru, Le Corton, Cote de Beaune

Roast cockerel on a bed of soya sauce, lotus flower and five-spice rice + 1998 Domaine Dubois & Fils Clos de Vougeot Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits

Japanese black mushrooms braised in a creamy chicken sauce. Tofu noodles sautéed with shredded pork + 1998 Domaine Taupenot-Merme Charmes-Chambertin Grand Cru, Cote de Nuits

Selection of desserts: chocolate fondant, chocolate and raspberry cup, sesame ravioli and red kidney beans.

© Wine-Searcher

Examples of the Burgundy grands crus dispatched at the Hong Kong Ritz-Carlton