Over 500 exhibitors from 17 countries and regions will showcase wines and alcoholic beverages around the world to merchants and citizens at the Hong Kong International Wines & Spirits Fair, taking place from November 3 to 5 at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center.

The fair, organized by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, will also have wine-related products and services such as wine education, wine accessories, equipment and services, as well as snacks and nibbles that pair well with wine.

The first two days will only be open to industry professionals and buyers. Members of the public aged 18 or above can visit the fair on November 5 with tickets priced at HK$200.

A special ticket price of HK$99 is available on various platforms including local media outlet HK01, online shopping mall HKTVMall, as well as websites including KKday, PopTicket, Price.com.hk and Timable. The tickets come with a Lucaris crystal wine glass worth HK$110 and will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis.

Visitors can find various kinds of fine beverages in this year's fair, from old-world and new-world wines, wines and liquor from mainland and Japan, as well as whiskeys and beers.

Eleven group pavilions from Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the mainland and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Wine & Spirits will showcase notable products at the fair.

Two wine industry conferences will be held on the first two days of the fair, titled "EcoVino: Sustainability Trends and Solutions" hosted by Master of Wine Debra Meiburg and "Uncorking Opportunities: Mapping the China & Asian Wine Markets" hosted by Master Sommelier Yang Lu and other industry elites.

On the final day visitors can attend tasting sessions and masterclasses, including a "Sip Around the World with CC" session hosted by renowned wine critic Cecilia Wong and a tasting session of Austrian wine conducted by Meiburg.

People who would like to join events on November 5 can register on the 15th Wine & Spirits Fair's website in advance.

HKTDC deputy executive director Sophia Chong Suk-fan said according to data portal Statista, global wine industry revenue would reach US$333 billion this year and there could be a 5.52 percent annual sales growth between 2023 and 2027.

"Hong Kong is a key connector to the wine and liquor market in Asia. Given the growth in consumption power in mainland China, many wine merchants are now making inroads into this sizable market. A lot of international wine companies have set up operations in Hong Kong to seize business opportunities in Mainland China and around the world," she said.

"As an elite global trading platform for fine wine, the Wine & Spirits Fair brings tremendous opportunities to local, mainland and international wine corporations," Chong added.