In a testament to its commitment to championing Chinese quality wines and wineries, as well as bolstering its standing as a culinary haven, Wynn unveiled its prestigious Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards. The awards ceremony unfolded amidst grandeur at the Wynn Palace on Saturday night, attracting a gathering of 500 international and regional industry luminaries and media representatives. Among the highlights were the presentation of 23 coveted awards from a pool of over 700 submissions originating from approximately 200 esteemed wineries across China.
Linda Chen, President, Vice Chairman, and Executive Director of Wynn Macau, underscored the significance of the newly inaugurated awards during her remarks at the ceremony. “The Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards seeks to elevate outstanding Chinese wines while showcasing Macau and Wynn’s world-class hospitality,” she emphasized. “By providing a global platform for wine experts from various regions in China to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and promote Chinese wines on an international scale, we capitalize on Macau’s distinction as the Creative City of Gastronomy and its pivotal role as the World Centre of Tourism and Leisure,” Chen elaborated.
Amid Macau’s concerted endeavors to diversify its tourism and leisure offerings and allure a broader spectrum of international visitors, local authorities have warmly welcomed initiatives such as the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards. Maria Helena de Senna Fernandes, Director of the Macao Government Tourism Office (MGTO), lauded the concerted efforts of Macau’s integrated tourism and leisure enterprises in organizing a plethora of events and activities. “This amplifies Macau’s reputation as the City of Gastronomy and enriches its stature as a World Centre of Tourism and Leisure, thereby fostering the sustainable development of Macau’s tourism industry and related sectors,” she affirmed.
Convening Industry Experts
An eminent panel of 27 internationally acclaimed wine judges, including seven Masters of Wine, three Master Sommeliers, as well as winemakers, educators, journalists, hoteliers, and wine buyers, undertook the arduous task of evaluating the myriad submissions from Chinese wineries. The distinguished roster of judges featured luminaries such as Fongyee Walker, Gus Zhu, Andrew Caillard, and award-winning winemaker Eddie McDougall.
Preceding the glittering awards ceremony, the panel of judges convened in Macau in early March to meticulously taste, evaluate, and rank the submissions across 23 categories. These encompassed “Wynn Signature Trophies,” “Varietals Champion Trophies,” and “Regional Champion Trophies,” aimed at honoring China’s preeminent winemakers while showcasing the diversity of major varietal expressions and regional nuances within China’s viticultural landscape.
In an interview with the media on the sidelines of the ceremony, Linda Chen of Wynn Macau extolled the unprecedented scale and caliber of the Chinese wine competition. “By leveraging Macau as a platform, we aspire to foster greater recognition and appreciation for the robust evolution of the Chinese wine industry and the quality of Chinese wines among consumers and wine enthusiasts, both domestically and internationally,” she affirmed.
Post-Awards Endeavors
Complementing the awards ceremony, Wynn orchestrated an array of Chinese wine pairing tasting events and masterclasses over the weekend. These included a Chinese Wine Forum, providing a forum for experts to delve into the intricacies of the Chinese wine industry.
Furthermore, Wynn unveiled plans for the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Month promotion in May, offering guests the opportunity to savor specially curated wine pairing tasting menus at select dining venues across Wynn properties in Macau. Additionally, visitors can indulge in the award-winning wines at various bars, with the esteemed libations adorned with the coveted “Wynn Signature Award” label.
These initiatives underscore Macau’s prowess as the Creative City of Gastronomy, a global tourism hub, and a vibrant nexus where Eastern and Western cultures converge. Looking ahead, Wynn announced the commencement of registration for the Wynn Signature Chinese Wine Awards 2025, slated to commence on May 1, 2024, following the resounding success of its inaugural edition.
