Heritage is important…

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What is “heritage”?

The Cambridge Dictionary defines heritage as “features belonging to the culture of a particular society, such as traditions, languages, or buildings, that were created in the past and still have historical importance”.

There is more recently the specific term “intangible cultural heritage” (ICH) which has a broadened meaning, especially with the active involvement of UNESCO. ICH would include traditions or living expressions inherited from ancestors and passed on to descendants, such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, knowledge and skills to produce traditional crafts. UNESCO note that “while fragile, ICH is an important factor in maintaining cultural diversity in the face of growing globalization. An understanding of the ICH of different communities helps with intercultural dialogue and encourages mutual respect for other ways of life.”

Yours truly always respect people who treasure heritage and would like to share the endeavour of a friend.

Cheongsam (or “qipao” in Mandarin) is a traditional Chinese costume that can trace its roots back to the Han Dynasty some 2000 years ago. The more recent rendition came about in the 1920’s when people discarded a lot of the Qing practices with the collapse of the dynasty. Cheongsam, with a stand-up collar, an asymmetrical slanted placket and lower side vents, became popular. When a large number of rich merchants and tailors migrated from Shanghai to Hong Kong in the mid 20^th Century, they brought too the trend of cheongsam, the construction of which was based on a flat paper pattern. The incorporation of the 3-D pattern from the West was key to the next developmental stage of the garment. Chinese at the time were conservative by nature but the paradox of the new version of cheongsam was that while the wearer’s body was totally concealed, the contour would be conspicuously revealed, perhaps signifying the openness to, even the embracement of, western culture which has been so typical of Hong Kong. The costume gained worldwide recognition though not sure in a totally positive manner when the 1960 Hollywood movie “The World of Suzie Wong” became a hit in the West, with the actress Nancy Kwan in the role of a bar girl dressing a somewhat shorter flirtation rather than the typical elegant version of it. The popularity of cheongsam was not to last following the rapid economic development of Hong Kong starting from the 1970’s, with people perhaps finding the elegant but somewhat restrictive outfit not the most user friendly in the ever-faster pace of life.

It was against this backdrop my friend Amy gathered a few experienced technicians to set up her tailoring workshop “Amy’s Clothing Design” in 2007. She always feels cheongsam to be more than an apparel. It is also an art and a medium carrying the Chinese culture, something to be conserved in order not to fade out with time. Her objective is not about the workshop making big profit but she realises that for cheongsam to continue existing, it needs to have a certain presence in the wardrobes as well as in the streets. So while tradition is being maintained, it does not become a dogma as she finds practical modifications to make cheongsam more versatile for daily use. Still, every piece that leaves her workshop is an object with a soul, a link in a chain of cultural values that connects the past with the present, and the future to come.  

With all her passion, Amy is part of the driving force behind the running of the Hong Kong Cheongsam Association, an organisation set up to preserve, inherit and promote the craftmanship of cheongsam, connecting technicians, designers, scholars and enthusiasts to maintain and propagate it as a culture. The association runs a “seed program” to teach the technique of cheongsam making. Through its efforts, the technique was inscribed into the First ICH Inventory of Hong Kong and the Representative List of ICH of Hong Kong in 2014 and 2017 respectively. It further made the Fifth National List of ICH in 2021.  

Yours truly would strongly encourage you to visit Amy’s workshop on 86-90 Wellington Street to appreciate her efforts in maintaining the heritage.   

Now to our other favourite subject, wine…and here are some of our recent adds you may find interesting:

NV Jacquesson Cuvee 742 Degorgement Tardif (WA95 at K$920/bottle) – Jacquesson champagnes have been getting better and better especially since under the ownership of Groupe Artemis of Francois Pinault, with this cuvee revealing a subtle, complex bouquet of exotic fruits, honey, beeswax, ripe orchard fruits, chamomile and herbs. Medium to full-bodied, sappy and textured, it has a vinous, fleshy core of fruit, racy acids and a saline, delicate mid-palate, leading to a long, mineral and ethereal finish.

2017 Domaine de la Bongran Vire-Clesse Cuvee Levroutee (WA95 at HK$570/bottle) – A good value Burgundy white as it unwinds in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, caramelized pineapple, mandarin, white flowers, pine resin and spices. It is medium to full-bodied, deep and textural, with structural tension and a layered core, racy acids and appreciable residual sweetness to make the entire experience unforgettable.

2020 Domaine Dujac Morey-Saint-Denis 1er Cru Monts Luisants Blanc (WA93 at HK$1,400/bottle)  – We are re-stocking this excellent Burgundy white from a top producer. As the wine opens up in the glass, it delivers scents of pear, freshly baked bread and citrus oil, followed by a medium-bodied, taut and chalky palate built around a bright spine of acidity. Highly recommended.  

2015 La Dominique (JS96 at HK$480/bottle) – From St-Emilion of Bordeaux, the deep garnet-purple coloured 2015 La Dominique is earthy on the nose with notions of red and black currants, blueberry compote, spice cake and potpourri. Full-bodied, rich and opulent with beautiful purity, it is soft and seductive in the mouth, finishing long and perfumed, displaying wonderful energy.

2017 Hosanna (WA97+ at HK$850/bottle) – 2017 vintage Bordeaux reds are of such great value and this sibling of Petrus is no exception as it sashays out of the glass with beautiful red rose and violets scents over a core of baked blueberries, mulberries and plum preserves plus wafts of vanilla pod and cinnamon stick. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is fully packed of perfumed black and blue fruits, supported by ripe, rounded tannins and oodles of freshness, finishing long and fragrant.

2019 Petrolo Galatrona (WA97 at HK$680/bottle) – This Italian red will beat all Super Tuscans for value and some by quality too. Made with organic Merlot grapes, it is soft and luscious, spreading evenly over the palate with elegance and sweeping intensity. The bouquet shows dark fruit, black cherry and sweet prune. Those dark fruit tones are woven into pretty layers of spice, leather and perfumed tobacco. The mouthfeel is compact and rich, ending with a lingering finish.

2020 Moric Lutzmannsburg Blaufrankisch Ried Schwemmer (WA95 at HK$580/bottle) – This red from Austria has a nose that is deep, very intense and complex, with darker, super concentrated fruit aromas intermingled with blood orange notes and hints of iron and iodine. Silky, round and very elegant, the palate is intense, saline, elegant and perfectly balanced but also tensioned, with a pure, saline finish that reveals very fine tannins and minerals.

2001 d’Arenberg the Dead Arm Shiraz (WA98 at HK$550/bottle) – Any lovers of Australian wines (or just wines) should be on the look out for the 2001 The Dead Arm Shiraz, one of the greatest examples of this cuvee. Its dense black/purple colour is accompanied by celestial aromas of melted licorice, graphite, blackberries, cassis, incense, anise, and toasty oak. Fabulously concentrated, with great purity, an unctuous, viscous texture, and an amazingly long, 60-second plus finish,

2013 Meteor Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Special Family Reserve (WA98+ at HK$1,500/bottle) – An excellent Napa red with a dense, opaque, black/purple colour, enormous extract and massive fruit, it has full-bodied power and stunning purity and depth. A real connoisseur's wine that is coming into its drinking window and will last for another 30-40 years.

Thank you for reading. Please feel free to go to our website www.vinopolis.com.hk to browse the full wine list. Purchases can be made through the website or by sending us an e-mail or simply WhatsApp 9195-7383.