On the 24th of November 2014, within the historic settings of Crown Wines Cellars in Shouson Hill, Fogolâr Furlan Hong Kong hosted the establishment of the “Friuli Wine County of Hong Kong”, which becomes the local chapter of “Ducato dei Vini Friulani” (the Friulian Wines Duchy). Established in 1972 in Udine, Italy, the Friulian Wines Duchy is a non-profit association aimed at promoting, endorsing
and appreciating wines and food from Friuli-Venezia Giulia, the north-easternmost of Italy’s twenty Regions. Currently the Duchy has more than 600 members representing the region’s top wine producers, restaurant managers and wine professionals. Piero Villotta, who flew from Italy for the event accompanied by a delegation of six Friulian “Nobles”. During the Inauguration Ceremony, the Duke appointed ten Hong Kong “Nobles” as founding members of the Friuli Wine County of Hong Kong: Mr. Stefano Bassanese, former General Manager at Domani Restaurant, Mr. Sandro Brusco, Sommelier at Tosca’s, Mr. Luca Luise, owner of Amorosso Fine Wines, Mr. John Ong, Wine Director at El Grande Group, Mr. Andrea Spagoni, Executive Chef of Armani Aqua, Mr. JR Robertson, owner of El Grande Group, Mr. JC Viens, Wine Educator, Mr. Benny Yeung, Lawyer and Wine Conoisseur, Ms. Lisa Zancanaro, Trader and Wine Lover and Mr. Paolo Sepulcri, President of Fogolar Furlan Hong Kong. Mr. Sepulcri was appointed as “Earl” and Head of the Friuli Wine County of Hong Kong. He is also the Co-Founder and current President of Fogolâr Furlan Hong Kong, a non-profit association established in 2007 to promote mutual knowledge and friendship between Hong Kong and Friuli-Venezia Giulia. As with all the events organised by Fogolâr Furlan, the money collected during the evening will be donated to a charitable local or overseas cause. The Friuli Wine County promises to bring to Hong Kong further knowledge of the super Friulian wines; authentic hidden gems that are bound to be loved by local wine enthusiasts.
