In a tasting reminiscent of the 1976 Judgement of Paris, a relatively inexpensive New Zealand wine has been voted better than Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Margaux, losing out only to Chateau Mouton-Rothschild and Chateau Haut-Brion.

The Wall Street Journal reports that a blind tasting in Hong Kong, where French wines tend to be favoured above all others, may be challenging local perceptions of what makes a good wine.

Some 40 experts from Hong Kong's wine industry attended the event, where the Mission Estate Jewelstone Cabernet Merlot achieved surprisingly high results.

The tasting's Master of Ceremonies, Lisa Perotti-Brown MC, said events such as this remove preconceptions and allow people to focus on quality and personal preferences.

Meanwhile, Craggy Range winemaker Rod Easthorpe said the tastings are valuable in bringing New World wines to a new market, although he humbly admitted that they are just "a bit of fun".

One of New Zealand's most notable wines, Cloudy Bay, recently featured in the Ultimate Collection Box from Moet Hennessy.