French Gourmay – Rhômantic Bistronomy

EVENT DESCRIPTION

French GourMay Food & Wine Festival is the one and only major festival in Hong Kong and Macau dedicated to gastronomy à la française, organised by French Trade Commission – Business France, under the umbrella of French May Arts Festival. The 13th edition of French GourMay, with Hong Kong Tourism Board as supported organisation, will celebrate the theme of Rhômantic Bistronomy with Côtes du Rhône as Wine of Honour. From 1 to 31 May 2022, French GourMay will unbox the art on the plate with over 100 partners in Hong Kong and Macau.

The festival will be highlighted by the 8th edition of ”French Traditional Gourmet Market”, sponsored by Chinachem Group, from 19-22 May at Central Market, and 26-29 May at NINA MALL (Free admission).

❖ Wine of Honour of French GourMay 2022: Côtes du Rhône

“Côtes du Rhône”, one of the world’s first winegrowing regions, refers to “hillsides of the Rhône”. The vineyards flourish across 171 communes with their variety of rich, varied terroirs, all bathed by the same bountiful sun.

Heritage, terroir, location, expertise and quality are what define the Côtes du Rhône wines. Thanks to 6,400 winemakers and merchants, making wines that the world loves, you can enjoy Côtes du Rhône wines anytime and anywhere. Committed to quality, the vineyards can be further divided into 2 categories: Côtes du Rhône and an upper tier called Côtes du Rhône Villages, a separate category to showcase the quality and character of wines produced in certain villages. Today, there are 22 Côtes du Rhône Villages with a specific geographic name.

❖ Characteristics of Côtes du Rhône wines

Sun and mistral are the recipe for a perfect harvest of Côtes du Rhône wines of important characteristics that make them perfect for contemporary taste:
– Wide range of deliciously laid-back blends, reds, whites and rosés
– Ideal for food pairing – cool enough to party, smart enough to impress
– More than 23 varietals of grapes: the best-known being Syrah, Grenache, Mourvèdre, Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne, some native to the Rhône Valley

Avignon as the capital of Côtes du Rhône is what the region is all about: a warm welcome, history, culture, good food, good wine – something for everyone. The rich history of both the region and the city enriches each other’s reputation, which are elegantly reflected in the flavour of the wine.

❖ Rhômantic Bistronomy

Bistronomy is a combination of bistro dishes cooked with seasonal produce and gastronomic haute cuisine methods. Its prompts us to reconsider how to make the art of dining more accessible, engaging the people we love in a friendly environment. It can be realised through the romantic harmony that unfolds on our palates, a marriage between food and wine. The beauty and versatility of Côtes du Rhône shows us that romance can be effortless, approachable, and diverse. With the various combination of colours (white, rosé, red), Côtes du Rhône wines will work wonders with a variety of dishes, be it meat or fish, and will perfectly accompany a platter of cheese or a dessert.

For example, begin your pairing journey with seafood pasta with a delicate white. The fresh complexity of rosé can be brought out by roasted seasonal vegetables. To wrap up a meal, you will not forget the sweet harmony of a full-bodied red with blackberry macarons.

During the whole month of May this year, more than 100 partners – over 40 restaurants, 14 wine importers, 40 food and wine retailers and 6 learning centres in Hong Kong and Macau – will join hands to celebrate French GourMay 2022 by creating dedicated Rhômantic Bistronomy menus, wine tastings, promotions and workshops on Côtes du Rhône wines.

ABOUT THE ARTIST / ORGANISER

Established in 1993, French May Arts Festival is one of the largest cultural events in Asia. With more than 150 programmes presented across two months, it has become an iconic part of Hong Kong’s cultural scene that reaches out over 1 million visitors each year.

Being an important part of French May since 2009, French GourMay Food and Wine Festival, organised by French Trade Commission – Business France, has been celebrating and promoting the French food and wine culture in Hong Kong and Macau. It has become in a few years, thanks to a strong communication and involvement of the gourmet community, a major food and wine festival.

Every year in May, French GourMay presents a different region (Midi-Pyrénées, Rhone Valley, Provence, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Alsace, Champagne, South of France), introducing and encouraging people to experience the dining culture in French style and letting go through an authentic French gastronomic journey through a network of more than 200 local partners.