Rewriting Wine 101: German Wine Queen Returns to Kick Off Riesling Weeks Hong Kong

Germany is one of the first wine countries to have returned to Hong Kong since our border has reopened. The country had a prominent pavilion with 14 producers at ProWine Hong Kong three weeks ago, and now its global ambassador, the German Wine Queen, is heading our way to celebrate Riesling Weeks Hong Kong with us.

Launched in 2013 and organised by Wines of Germany, Riesling Weeks Hong Kong is a month-long celebration of German wine that takes place each year in June. Together with wine suppliers, the campaign aims to introduce more German wine to HK wine lovers. Leading hotels and restaurants are offering German wine and food pairings, while retailers and wine clubs are hosting wine-tasting events. This year is the 11th anniversary of Riesling Weeks, and the campaign is highly anticipated by wine lovers.

Born to a winemaking family, the 74^th German Wine Queen, Katrin Lang from Baden, has been working in the vineyards since she was a child. Her passion for wine has grown since then. After completing her studies in viticulture and winemaking, she joined Weingut Zähringer as winemaker. During her stay in Hong Kong, Katrin has a busy schedule, attending various German wine dinners, speaking at the Vocational Training Council and Hong Kong PolyU and conducting guided tastings at Vinothek Berlin, the German wine pop-up shop at Central Market. 

White asparagus is a German delicacy grown between mid-April and the end of June. Just as in previous years, Riesling Weeks participants, including Nicholini’s at Conrad Hong Kong, Dot Cod Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar, German fine-dining restaurant Heimat by Peter Find and Trattoria Kagawa by Mihara, will be offering the pairing of this seasonal vegetable with German wine.

German wine pairs well with Asian cuisines. Diners can sample these perfect pairings at Aaharn, where the aromas of Riesling complement the fragrance of Thai ingredients, or at CHAAT at Rosewood Hong Kong, where the exotic flavours of Indian spices alongside Riesling delight the palate. Chinese restaurants including Dynasty 滿福樓, Sha Tin 18 and YUE 采悅軒 will also offer German-wine pairing menus.

Schnitzel & Schnaps will feature German sausages and a German wine menu, while Simon Rogan’s chef’s table, Aulis Hong Kong, will offer an interactive dining experience showcasing a German wine-pairing menu. For a fun evening out with friends, the German wine and snack pairing at Mirage Bar & Restaurant at Renaissance Hong Kong Harbour View Hotel is not to be missed.

Vinothek Berlin, Hong Kong’s first German wine-experience pop-up store, debuted in 2021, and it will be returning as part of Riesling Weeks Hong Kong. The location this time is Central Market. In addition to the around 100 German wines on offer, there are wine-grape juices to sample, including Riesling, Spätburgunder, Huxelrebe and Merlot, as well as delicious German delicacies.

Decorated with colourful Berlin street art, Vinothek Berlin is an ideal photo spot. There are a series of guided tasting sessions where wine lovers can learn more about German wine from experts, with nine topics to be explored (including The Many Faces of Riesling, Grosses Gewächs Grand Cru Dry Riesling and Savour Aged Riesling, 1982–2012). Places are limited and and can be booked online via this link.