A Taste of Wine in Dark
A New Experience in Life

If you have heard of “Dialogue in the Dark”, you would certainly be amazed by the inspiring idea that originated in Germany and surprised to see how things are different in a totally dark environment. DiD, the company that introduced the activity, has recently launched “Wine Tasting in the Dark” and incorporated the taste of fine wines into the innovative idea. Participants will be tasting different types of wine, while getting the chance to make new friends in the dark.

In the Wine Corner of HKU SPACE College of Business and Finance’s Facebook page, we have discussed about the four crucial elements of wine tasting – visual, scent, taste and aroma. However, when participants are invited into the dark environment, they can see nothing at all as if stepped into a dark void with no sense of direction. Although one would appreciate the assistance from trained staff who are visually impaired, it would still be impossible to distinguish different types of wines using our eyes as usual. It is, needless to say, one of the purposeful arrangements to force us to rely on our nose and taste buds only, during the whole course of wine tasting under the guidance of a professional master of wine.

Mind Sharpness in Total Darkness

Just like the “Orbis Moonwalkers”, Dialogue in the Dark and Wine Tasting in the Dark will let us understand what it is like without vision. But what is even more interesting is that you can share your views and feelings during and after wine tasting. For those who have tried, it was an experience when the sensitivity of your hearing, olfaction, touch and taste are all enhanced by a deprivation of vision ability.

It usually take one or two minutes for participants of “Wine Tasting in the Dark” to settle themselves in the dark environment and start talking with people around. Without any visual distractions, and you could not even see the person you are talking with, naturally you would concentrate and listen. As a matter of fact, concentration is the first step to facilitate efficient communication. Perhaps if we truly understand that, we can connect with colleagues, family and friends better.

The Impartial Eye Needs No Visual

The special experience also reminded us how much we rely on our eyes in everyday life. Maybe you still can work like normal without olfactory or tasting abilities, but everything seemed so different without eyesight. That said, our vision also gives us illusions and misleading perception from time to time. The same sentence, if spoken by different persons with different outlook or expressions, will be perceived very differently.

In the dark, without these superficial visual differences, listening to the voices (more specifically, the content) is the only way to communicate. Participants shared their views on the taste of wine, and would then be required to discuss and come up with a consensus. It is easy to understand why that can be done exceptionally efficiently. In a world where interpersonal communication is impartial, in that it is not affected by how we look, who we are, even a simple dialogue makes much sense.

The Drive to Overcome

Mr. Patrick Cheung, the Honorary Executive Director of DiD HK Limited, devoted his efforts to bring Dialogue in the Dark to Hong Kong. Apart from providing executives with a new enlightening experience, the activities are in fact his own way to contribute to the society. Through operating the company and organizing events, Mr. Cheung enabled cooperation and collaboration between the general public and the visually impaired.

Business Advisory Board members of HKU SPACE College of Business and Finance will usually be invited to an annual function as an expression of gratitude to their advice on the development of our programme.  This year we hosted the “Wine Tasting in the Dark” function instead of the usual luncheon, hoping that creativity and inspirations can be fostered in the specially designed environment.

Mr. Cheung said, “Innovation is a core element to initiate social changes and to make sure we can enjoy sustainable development. However, the path to innovation is also one with numerous obstacles. DiD tried its best to overcome them and hired a group of staff who are visually impaired, hoping to offer them job opportunities and also make good use of their skills to help others transform. There may be hard times and failures, but I found my driving force to continue my pursuits when I saw them treasured the opportunity to contribute.”

Enrolment to a “Wine Tasting in the Dark” Workshop jointly offered by HKU SPACE College of Business and Finance and DiD HK Limited will soon start. Whether you are new to wine tasting or an experienced wine lover, the innovative workshop will provide you with a life-transforming experience through a new way to appreciate wine as well as to communicate with others.

Mr. Patrick Cheung, the Honorary Executive Director of DiD HK Limited, stated that the innovative “Wine in the Dark” workshop is a life-transforming experience through a new way to appreciate wine as well as to communicate with others. (Photo below)

DiD hired a group of staff who are visually impaired, hoping to offer them job opportunities and also make good use of their skills to help others transform. (Photo below)

Dr. Jane Lee, Deputy Director and Head of College of Business and Finance, HKU SPACE, presented a souvenir to Mr. Patrick Cheung and expressed gratitude towards his devoted efforts. (Photo below)