[Report] Wine Festival Enjoyed at Hangang... Intoxicated by Various Flavors and Aromas

Hosted by Our Newspaper, 'Global Wine and Food Trip' Successfully Concluded
Major Domestic Wine Importers Participated to Showcase Various Wines
A Platform for Direct Communication Between Wine Importers and Consumers

On the 23rd, participants are enjoying various wines at the '2024 Global Wine & Food Trip' hosted by Asia Economy at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

"It was a great opportunity to experience a variety of wines while enjoying the open view of the Han River."

Jung Yoo-seok (32, Bucheon-si, Gyeonggi Province), who visited the '2024 Global Wine & Food Trip' held on the 23rd and 24th at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul, hosted by Asia Economy, said this with a smile while holding the wines he purchased with both hands. Jung said, "I recently became curious about wine and learned about this event through the social media of a wine specialist influencer I had been following," adding, "When I came to the venue, I was able to compare wines from various regions, so I bought seven bottles with my girlfriend."

He added, "I usually enjoy all kinds of alcohol, including soju and beer," and said, "Although I started a bit late, the biggest charm of wine seems to be that you can experience various tastes and aromas depending on each product and the atmosphere."

The Global Wine & Food Trip, now in its third year, featured 21 domestic and international wine distributors, manufacturers, and food and beverage companies. Despite the record late heat and intermittent showers, about 1,500 wine enthusiasts visited over two days to enjoy the event. Side events such as jazz band performances, recreational activities, and prize draws enhanced the participants' excitement. Visitors cited the charm of the Floating Island with the Han River as the backdrop as the biggest attraction. Visitors gathered in groups of acquaintances or clubs held tasting glasses in their hands and captured Seoul's night view with the sunset on their phone cameras.

On the 23rd, participants are enjoying the festival at the '2024 Global Wine & Food Trip' hosted by Asia Economy at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Lee Ji-hyun (38) from Suwon-si, Gyeonggi Province, said, "I first learned about the Global Wine & Food Trip last year, and this year I visited for the second time after hearing that wines from an import company I was interested in would be available," emphasizing, "The point that differentiates this event from other alcohol-related events is that you can enjoy wine outdoors with the Han River as the stage while also enjoying jazz performances."

There were also voices hoping that the Global Wine & Food Trip would develop into a more substantial wine-specialized event. One participant said, "There were many reviews saying that there was a lack of food compared to the variety of wines, so I brought some light snacks in advance," adding, "I hope they introduce various foods that can be paired with wine, fitting the event's name." Another visitor who came through a club suggested, "There were not enough seats compared to the number of participants, and before sunset, it was too hot, so I could only focus on light drinks like sparkling wine," and proposed, "I hope they expand indoor spaces or structures to cool down the heat."

On the 23rd, participants are enjoying various wines at the '2024 Global Wine & Food Trip' hosted by Asia Economy at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

Clear Preference for Cool White and Sparkling Wines... Rising Expectations for Wine Market Recovery

Major domestic wine importers and producers such as Shinsegae L&B, Kumyang International, Hite Jinro, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Interwine, Vino H, Allbin Wine, Vinaroma, One One, Trend International, Naias Wine Selection, Achimmaru Winery, Wine Brothers, PNS Wine, Hansan W&B, and Your Wines participated in this event, showcasing wines from various regions and styles.

This year, there was a noticeable preference for cool white and sparkling wines. Lee Do-kyung, head of the Premium Planning Team at Hite Jinro, said, "Because of the hot weather, we prepared a lineup centered on white wines rather than reds," adding, "In fact, the visitor response was best for the two wines with good acidity, 'Terrace Gauda Abadia de San Campio' and 'Mud House Sauvignon Blanc,' and all the tasting wines we prepared were consumed."

Shinsegae L&B, the largest wine importer in Korea, also received a good response by showcasing sparkling wines such as 'Federico Paternina Cava Brut,' 'Undurraga Brut,' and 'Canti Moscato Collezione Familia IGT,' as well as 'Evan Williams Highball,' launched recently in line with the highball trend.

On the 23rd, participants are enjoying various wines at the '2024 Global Wine & Food Trip' hosted by Asia Economy at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

This event was also meaningful in that it provided an opportunity for general consumers and wine importers, who usually have few direct communication opportunities, to share information and check reactions. Jung Won-nam, head of the Marketing Team at Kumyang International, said, "We were able to confirm reactions that we usually only see in numbers through direct feedback," adding, "Many people asked detailed questions about the wine's production region, grape variety, and winery, which made me feel their genuine interest in wine." Seo Ho-seok, assistant manager of the sales team at Vino H, also evaluated, "The best part was being able to observe reactions to wine through direct communication in an open setting."

There was also a sense of expectation for the recovery of the domestic wine market, which has recently been somewhat sluggish. Hong Seo-in, CEO of One One, said, "It is clear from statistics that wine imports and sales have decreased recently after rapid growth during the COVID-19 period," but predicted, "If opportunities like this event increase where importers can directly expose and introduce products to consumers, the market size will expand again." Kim Min-gyeom, head of the Key Account Managing Team at Interwine, also said, "I feel that more people are drinking wine than before and that the overall base has expanded significantly," adding, "If importers can stably supply realistically priced wines with good accessibility, public satisfaction will increase even more."

On Saturday the 24th, participants of the '2024 Global Wine and Food Trip' event hosted by Asia Economy are enjoying wine against the backdrop of the sunset over the Han River at Sebitseom in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@