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Fortunately for Dawes, her wine-loving father sparked her interest in wine. The timing was perfect to open a wine bar in 2008, as the Hong Kong government had abolished all taxes on wine and beer. “My dad got an Enomatic wine-dispensing system, and during that time, it was a very new and innovative thing for Hong Kong, and I decided to open a wine bar in Central.” Tastings Wine Bar (now closed) was among the first in Hong Kong to use the Enomatic system, offering 40 wines by the glass. She said, “There was something for everyone to try and discover, from different regions and at different price points.” It was also fortuitous timing, as the Hong Kong government imposed a ban on indoor smoking, making the environment more conducive to exploring and enjoying wine — without a side of cigarette smoke. “The F&B industry was entirely new to me; there are a lot of moving parts, and I honestly don’t know how it all happened. I just powered through, learnt by trial and error, and made a lot of mistakes. I was fortunate to learn from the wine bar manager, who showed me the ropes. Like most things, I believe it’s luck, resilience, persistence, and a whole lot of effort and time,” shared Dawes, who — after many trials and tribulations — had to make tough decisions to close her wine bar, whisky bar, and, most recently, The Envoy this year after 10 years of operation. Sincerity, humility and trust are values that Dawes upholds firmly. “When people know that you’re eager to do something, they will help you. When you’re still in your 20s, the stakes are lower, and people seem to have more patience.”
