[Report] The World's 'Kami no Shizuku' Festival... Han River Colored with Wine

Hosted by Our Newspaper, 'Global Wine and Food Trip' Successfully Concluded
Sevitseom Floating Island Attracts 2,300 Visitors Over Two Days

"It was an event where I could taste various regional varieties and focus solely on wine, so I really wanted to come."

Jeong Da-hee (39), who participated in the '2023 Global Wine and Food Trip' held on the 25th and 26th at Sebitseom Floating Island in Seocho-gu, Seoul, hosted by Asia Economy, said, "There are many other liquor tasting events, but since this event introduces various types of alcohol such as whiskey together, I thought this place was more suitable for wine enthusiasts."

Now in its second year, the Global Wine and Food Trip was successfully concluded with the participation of 16 domestic and international wine distributors, manufacturers, and food and beverage companies, attracting about 2,300 visitors over two days. The sunny weather combined with various wines and performances added to the seasonal atmosphere of late summer transitioning into autumn. Many attendees received warm applause for expressing heartfelt feelings to their families or lovers in public, which they had not conveyed before.

Participants are enjoying various wines at the '2023 Global Wine and Food Trip' held at the Floating Island on Sebitseom, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Falling for the Sunset, Intoxicated by Wine and Atmosphere
An Opportunity to Taste Various Regional Varieties
"Great Weather and Beautiful Views"

One of the biggest attractions of the Global Wine and Food Trip at Floating Island is the ability to enjoy wine while gazing at the gentle waves of the Han River and the Seoul sky. Attendees were busy taking commemorative photos everywhere, holding wine glasses against the backdrop of the sunset turning red at dusk.

Kim Seo-hee (33), who visited through a wine club, said, "I was worried it might be hot, but the breeze was cool and the sunset was really beautiful, so the atmosphere seems great." A female visitor in her twenties also said, "The weather is nice and the view is good, making it suitable for taking photos," adding, "Since popular photo spots get crowded, it would be nice to have a separate photo zone."

Jazz band performances and recreational activities were held simultaneously at the venue to boost participants' spirits. Many attendees confessed their love to their loved ones on stage, cheered on by wine enthusiasts. In particular, middle-aged men celebrating their 32nd and 29th wedding anniversaries respectively moved the audience by kneeling on one knee and expressing their love to their wives along with words of appreciation for raising their children.

A man who has been dating his girlfriend for two years also received applause after proposing, saying, "Let's not fight anymore and get married soon," while handing over flowers prepared by the organizers. Support also continued for a man who pledged his love to his Russian girlfriend. A woman in her thirties who visited with her partner emphasized, "I am not good at drinking alcohol, but wine is attractive not only because of its diverse tastes and aromas but also because it allows you to create pleasant moments with people you like."

A couple visiting the '2023 Global Wine and Food Trip' held at the Floating Island on Sebitseom in Seoul is proposing during the performance event.

Premium Wines from Famous Wineries Draw Enthusiasts to Limited Tasting Event
Domestic Wine Booths Featuring Omija and Strawberry Wines Also Crowded
"In-depth Questions on Blending Ratios by Variety... Feeling the Expansion of Wine Popularity"

This event featured major domestic wine importers and producers such as Shinsegae L&B, Lotte Chilsung Beverage, Hite Jinro, Interlicor, Vino H, Dongwon Wine Plus, Cella Prive, One One, Jaspero, Wellgreen Radler, Ominara, and Haemi Eupseong Strawberry Wine, showcasing wines from various regions.

Shinsegae L&B, the largest wine importer in Korea, presented wines from famous wineries including Robert Mondavi, Shafer, Cono Sur, Two Hands, and Federico Paternina. Especially, high-end products such as 'Shafer Vineyard Relentless' and 'Robert Mondavi Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Two Carlon,' which are sold in the market for around 200,000 to 300,000 KRW, were introduced in a time-limited tasting event. Many visitors formed queues at the booth, proving the recent high popularity of Napa Valley wines from the U.S.

Participants are enjoying various wines at the '2023 Global Wine and Food Trip' held at the Floating Island on Sebitseom, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Choi Moon-il, marketing team leader at Shinsegae L&B, said, "Participating for the second year, I realized once again that the base of wine in Korea has greatly expanded. Instead of simply asking for recommendations for delicious wines, many people clearly specified the wines they wanted to taste and asked in-depth questions about blending ratios by variety and characteristics of the wines."

One One also attracted attention by introducing Italian indigenous varieties 'Piano' and 'Aglianico,' which are relatively hard to find domestically. Hong Seo-in, CEO of One One, said, "We took some risks bringing wines with varieties unfamiliar to domestic consumers, but it was unfounded. Many people asked detailed questions about wines and varieties, so I felt that interest in wine is definitely increasing and more people are studying it."

Vino H, a wine import and distribution specialist under Hyundai Department Store Group, showcased five types including Italian cost-effective sweet wines and newly imported Australian and New Zealand wines. The most expensive 'Kings of Prohibition' had the highest demand for tasting as well as sales. Hong Young-seok, sales team assistant at Vino H, noted, "Generally, at public events, the cheapest products or popular Moscato d'Asti sell the most, so this is a meaningful change in comparison."

An increase in visitors enjoying refreshing white and sparkling wines was also a notable change this year. Interlicor, a subsidiary of Drink International, presented the champagne 'Golden Blanc,' and Dongwon Wine Plus showcased the Italian sparkling wine Prosecco '47AD Prosecco Extra Dry Black.' Hite Jinro also prepared various white wines such as 'Mud House Sauvignon Blanc' and 'Balbi Soprani Moscato d'Asti.'

Participants are enjoying various wines at the '2023 Global Wine & Food Trip' held at the Floating Island on Sebitseom, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Domestic wine producers' booths were crowded with visitors throughout the event. 'Ominara' from Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk, and 'Haemi Eupseong Strawberry Wine' from Seosan, Chungnam, introduced wines made from omija, strawberries, and apples instead of grapes. Kim Jeong-man, vice president of Ominara, said, "This was our first time participating in a wine tasting event targeting the general public outside of liquor fairs. We thought it was a great opportunity to showcase our products to MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z) consumers, so we prepared a variety of all the products we produce, and we received great interest, achieving results beyond expectations."

Visitors also offered advice, hoping the Global Wine and Food Trip would grow into a sophisticated wine-specialized event. A female participant in her thirties said, "I had high expectations to taste premium wines, but it was not easy to get the chance due to limited quantities," adding, "I hope more wine importers and distributors participate and the range of products available for tasting expands." Many also expressed that "the food section was limited to finger foods, which was the biggest disappointment," and suggested, "It would be great to introduce various foods that pair well with wine, fitting the event's name."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.