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 […]
Singapore Wine Fiesta 2014, biggest ever
Every October I have something exciting to look forward. One, my birthday. Two, the Singapore Wine Fiesta. In its seventh year since the event’s humble beginning in 2008, the Singapore Straits Wine Company has once again grew the event bigger. To be held at Clifford Square, Singapore Wine Fiesta 2014 has caught the attention and garnered support from Singapore […]
Eddie McDougall – The Flying Winemaker
Who is Eddie McDougall? If you have that question in your head, I am certain you are not alone. I was equally clueless when I first heard the name, but very soon he will be appearing on one of my favourite television channels, TLC. A new 13-episode series, titled The Flying Winemaker, hosted by Eddie will début on September 15. But […]
Back from Wine Educator's exam
I thank you if I have been missed. Having just came back from an intensive month of studying, I admit that one should not expect sympathy because none will be shown to people who chose to embark on the Society of Wine Educators’ (SWE) Certified Wine Educator (CWE) program. I asked for it, I went for […]
Turbiana, is it a Trebbiano or not?
Modern DNA profiling ability has enabled researchers to name most grapes and their parentage. But for those who won’t be spending time on reports, they find the proof in the glass. While not always exact, some characteristics that run in the vine family can be tell-tale signs of its lineage, with slight variations attributed to […]
Fast track to becoming a Wine Expert
Lean. Thin. Acidic. Astringent. Bitter. No, not your mother-in-law. And not me, either. These are the notes that recently appeared in a wine critic’s notebook. It requires pondering — can a bottle wine resemble, to such an astonishing degree, someone you personally know and, heavens forbid, have to live with? Let’s face it — if […]
Argentina, not just Malbec
Think Argentina and think Malbec. That was the tagline commonly used to get people acquainted with Argentinian wines. While the French originated thick skin inky black grape remains popular for making wines in this South America country, others are blending Malbec with European varieties to create a fresh expression. An expression that potentially might change […]
Austrian Wine Experience 2013
Matching wines to each dish that are strictly from a single country is a massive challenge even for the most experienced. Even more so for diners who have a stronger preference for the mainstream wines. In the landlocked country of Austria, the farmers grow a diverse range of grapes that are made into food-friendly wines […]
Bordeaux Legends – From past to present
Bordeaux, how could any wine lovers not know its name, its place and its fame for its wines. To the world this is terre du vin. But to be what it is today, Bordeaux had seen long period of turmoil, revolutions and rolled many heads. Much has been said about the prices, even more had […]
Chemical residues in wines – A wakeup call on farming practices
This year’s Valentine’s Day was a moody one for the wine makers in France. A research study published by renown France Laboratoire Excell reported chemical residues were found within 90% of finished wines. While there hasn’t been any complaint made against toxicity effect arises from wine consumption (other than alcohol poisoning), it is certainly worthwhile […]