Shouson Hill's
Crown Wine Cellars

Only 10 minutes’ drive from The Repulse Bay is one of the most unusual structures in Hong Kong, that also happens to be the home of priceless treasures. It is here that history, ingenuity and devotion to heritage conservation combine to create an oenophile’s dream come true. Crown Wine Cellars, discretely nestled in a wooded setting in Shouson Hill, is not only Hong Kong’s only underground private members’ club, but one of the world’s finest cellar facilities for prized wine collections. Its transformation from a WWII army bunker that looms large in Hong Kong history, to a luxurious private club, is nothing short of remarkable. The first indication of something extraordinary happening here is the sight of a conservatory, one of Hong Kong’s largest and most beautiful glass structures, set within a serene grove. Next to it, incongruously, there’s entrances to underground WWII army bunkers, and nearby, a guardhouse and sentry box. But it is only when visitors descend a Shouson Hill’s Crown Wine Cellars A Fortress of Fine Wines and Living History.

Crown Wine Cellars was the brainchild of South African Gregory De’Eb, a career diplomat, and American Jim Thompson, founder of Crown Worldwide Group. It opened to members in 2004 and in 2007 its transformation from decrepit war bunker to state-of-the-art wine cellar was awarded a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for the innovative and adaptive reuse of the site. Today, Crown Wine Cellars maintains close relationships with local schools, universities and charities, promoting heritage conservation as not only a sustainable business model but a celebration of vibrant “living history” in Hong Kong. These were the famous WWII underground bunkers known as “Little Hong Kong” tunnel adjacent to the conservatory that they discover the true marvel that awaits, 20 metres under the earth. These were the famous WWII underground bunkers known as “Little Hong Kong”, that were held by the British Army as the last allied position in Hong Kong to surrender to the Japanese army. British troops defended their position here for a full two days after Hong Kong’s official surrender, threatening to blow up the vast store of weapons, ammunition and explosives housed here rather than concede defeat, until they finally capitulated on 27 December 1941. Today the original underground bunkers, encased in one-metre-thick stone walls, are an elite private members’ club, with opulently appointed reception areas, bar, dining room and library, redolent with historical significance and memory.

Amongst the artefacts, there’s even the diary of Captain Bell, a fascinating journal of his wartime experience in Hong Kong, including his stint at “Little Hong Kong.” It is also where members hold their rare wine collections for safekeeping in an unparalleled storage environment. The underground bunkers provide the perfect cool temperature and balanced humidity, with zero vibration and light penetration – as well as security systems to rival those of the Crown Jewels. Crown Wine Cellars was the brainchild of South African Gregory De’Eb, a career diplomat, and American Jim Thompson, founder of Crown Worldwide Group. It opened to members in 2004 and in 2007 its transformation from decrepit war bunker to state-of-the-art wine cellar was awarded a UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award for the innovative and adaptive reuse of the site. Today, Crown Wine Cellars maintains close relationships with local schools, universities and charities, promoting heritage conservation as not only a sustainable business model but a celebration of vibrant “living history” in Hong Kong.