[Photo provided to China Daily]

Now, 25 judges from 12 Asian cities have rated the best food and wine pairings from the region in a global wine and spirits competition sponsored by Cathay Pacific airlines. The first round of results have been announced by Hong Kong-based Master of Wine Debra Meiburg.

"The Asian food-and-wine pairing categories were the star of the show this year, attracting a massive 50 percent increase in entries from last year."

More results of the tasting competition will be announced on Nov 10 at a gala dinner for the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Diversity highlighted this year's Asian pairing competition, with winning wines hailing from New Zealand, Germany, Thailand, South Africa, Australia, Japan, Portugal and Italy. In 2015, Australia and New Zealand wineries bagged the vast majority of pairing trophies.

Siam Winery of Thailand was a star for the second year in a row, winning the trophy for Thai fish cakes with its Monsoon Valley Blended Rose 2014. In 2015 its Monsoon Valley Shiraz 2014 was judged best wine with duck red curry.

Sashimi was the category attracting the most entries, with Singapore chili crab and beef teppanyaki tying for second, closely followed by new entrant smoked pigeon with oolong tea leaves.