Sell an experience, not product
Two weeks ago, I published my new concept workshop that focuses on answering consumers’ questions. At its infancy stage, I had chosen to only announce via Twitter. The same day evening, I hosted the first workshop titled “Recognising common wine styles”, and despite a small turnout, my message of learning through experience was positively delivered. Over last weekend, an email newsletter […]
Hot 100 South Australia struck consumers chord
In a wine world where age worthiness is king, where exactly should deliciously delightful wine stand? That is a question that often goes quietly into the good night. Now, wine experts from South Australia are revolting and giving awards to wines that drink so well, keeping them in cellar is deprivation of pleasure. Who are these mavericks? They […]
My guide to Rosé Revolution 2016
If you are one of the four hundred guests who are going to this year’s Rose Revolution, then you are perhaps a little more spoilt for choice than last year. The trade tasting event, held one day before the public event, featured all the wines that are available on 14 May. After tasted all these, this […]
Drinking in a glasshouse – Verre
Glass. If the word conjures descriptors like transparency, clarity and polished refinement, then that is exactly what Verre Modern Bistro & Wine Bar feels like. Glass bottles, wine glasses, and glass walled cellar marked the interior highlights as I walked through the door, reflecting a strong contrast against the charcoal black walls on the outside. And that is what Verre means in French, […]
Scoring wines at Vinitaly 5 Star Wine
After hearing that I will debut as a junior judge in Vinitaly 5 Star Wine, my good friend Morgun quickly asked that I must have this experience written after I returned. So in a way, Morgun this is for you. Because I have mentioned Verona in the past, I will just skip the fluff about how beautiful the city is […]
Italian white wines for Singapore
“Italians don’t make interesting white wines”, a casual remark I heard after few pints of beer. If the probable beer-triggered gout didn’t kill me that evening, that statement against Italian white wines almost did me in. This misconception is common as Italian white wines are obviously a victim of its red’s success. Although I lost count […]
The De Marchi returns to Lessona
Given an opportunity, would you move back to where your ancestors’ came from? Unlikely for me. But now and then, there are some people who are driven by a dream of restoring family greatness, they actually do make the move. Here’s a story about Paolo De Marchi, the man who is better known for the famous Isole […]
Felton Road – The legendary Kiwi Pinot Noir
It has been a while since I last mentioned Central Otago, and so it seems fitting that I returned to the topic of this region with a remarkable winery, Felton Road. In my recent meeting with Blair Walter, the winemaker was more than generous by detailing differences in the vineyard plots and on the choice […]
A summer of wine education
Summer came and went. Along with it were The Business Times Wine Challenge 2015, a short trip to Napa Valley for my Certified Wine Educators examination, and our very own inaugural Singapore Wine Specialist Challenge that advocates continuous wine education. Despite being very intimately involved from the start till the end, and had the privilege to pen […]
Wanderwine – Speed is the essence
I have been to many wine events, met loads of merchants but no one exhibited a show of force like Wanderwine. At 530pm, I turned up at the company’s launch event. They took my picture with a Polaroid camera, recorded my residential address for a post-event gift, and sent me into the hall with two dozen wines and four dozen shoulders. Three hours later, a bottle of […]