Let's face it, when it comes to selling wine it is very hard to break the triopoly of ParkNShop (owned by Hutchison Whampoa), Wellcome (owned by Dairy Farm), and Watson's Wine Cellars (owned by Swire). In my view, to sell wine cheaply you really need to have a high turnover to keep your margins low. Of course, Berry Brother's & Rudd, the established British wine merchants, have found their own niche by catering to the consumer who is willing to pay more than $500 a bottle. This means you can afford to have a shop in Lee Gardens the middle of Causeway Bay.
However, when it comes to supermarket wines or those slightly above in the $100-$500 price range, it is hard to escape ParkNShop, Wellcome, and Watson's Wine Cellars. So I was really very glad to find Les Q, a wine shop near Star Street in Wanchai run by four Koreans. Les Q specialise in French wines, and I am a sucker for a French wine, and have very reasonable prices. I also really appreciate the more mature wines they have on offer: 1992 Du Tertre (Margaux), 1997 Belgrave (Haut-Medoc). It is rare in Hong Kong to buy a wine that is more than 10 years old and not have to pay more than $500.
I have got to know the Korean owners of the shop and they are genuinely helpful and the nicest of people. Tastings are run every Thursday or Friday night and have included such highlights as 1989 Chateau Latour.
Les Q - French Wine
Saint Francis Street
Wanchai
Berry Brothers & Rudd
307-308 3rd Floor
The Lee Gardens
33 Hysan Avenue
Causeway Bay
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