Sweet sixteen: Hilton Beijing Food & Wine Experience slated for November 2

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By Jim Boyce

“Is it man or beast!?” Men, women and children of all ages uttered those words last year at the Hilton Food & Wine Experience in Beijing as Philip ‘Awesometon’ Osenton picked up glasses, one by one, until he held 51 in one hand. Fifty-one! It was, indeed, an impressive sight. Because his hands aren’t even that big! (Seriously, he should get finger extensions. I’m sure he could hold 75 glasses.)

It was just part of what I’d say is the the top annual wine consumer event in Beijing. Now in its sixteenth year — that alone is a feat given how fast things change in this city — the Food & Wine Experience features over 1000 wines from over 20 countries, from distributors both big and small, plus food vendors, classes on coffee, chocolate, beer and more, and the chance to meet fellow consumers.

This year’s event is slated for November 2. The Hilton’s Simon Amos says over 80 booths are already reserved.

I posted before why I think distributors, especially those without a retail presence, should book space at this event. I don’t think I need to post why consumers should go, unless they have something against sampling a huge range of wines for a few hundred renminbi.

More on this year’s event soon…

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