Ewineasia.com, Singapore’s first online wine shop is still going strong after 12 years in the notoriously choppy wine business. Established in 2004, they have partnerships with 65 wineries from all over the world under their belt, including Tuscany and Veneto in Italy, Rioja and Penedes in Spain, and Rhone and Alsace in France.
Why is this important? They’re organising their annual Wine Discovery Weekend, held over 3 days on 15th, 16th and 17th October 2016. With a sizeable number of old world wineries under their belt, they can access both well-known wines (the Tuscans) and somewhat underrepresented ones (Rioja wines, anyone?).
In fact, the focus this year is on “Discovering The Exceptional Less-Explored”.
That last part is particularly interesting. With the multitude of wine festivals popping up on our island, consumers are spoilt for choice. It seems that to us that for any particular event to be worth going to, there must be something unique about the festival. In this case, the good folks at ewineasia have chosen to indulge not just our senses- but our imaginations and curiousities as well. 3 complimentary masterclasses, covering the fields of biodynamic wines, Spanish wines and Friuli Pinot Grigio wines, will be held during the weekend’s Wine Discovery Walkabout Tasting. All 3 are new to our market- and that’s all for the good in this case!
With the chance to uncover the uncommon, we have the choice to enjoy wines on their own, or to heighten it into an exploratory experience.
The Wines
While there is a great deal of novelty, The event doesn’t lack for quantity either. More than 100 wine labels from over 40 wineries will be available during the weekend. The remaining question to be answered, then, is the quality of the wines themselves.
Fortunately, I had the chance to try a few of the wines and the overall quality was indeed quite high. The wineries on show tend to be the smaller, artisanal and family owned ones, not industrialised juggernauts. One can almost taste the passion and metaphorical sweat in the wine!
Highlights include the Lis Neris Gris 2007 – a white wine rich in complex botanical flavours. Lemongrass, ripe green grapes, lime rind and green apple suffuse this white wind from Italy. Refreshing and interesting in equal parts. If you’ve not tried biodynamic wines, be sure to have a quick taste of Marc Kreydenweiss Andlau Riesling 2013. It has some particularly interesting notes, with black duck soy sauce and leather coming through strongly on the bouquet. Fairly acidic on the tongue, with a definite flavour of sweet grapes and a slight tinge fermented flavours. Pazo de Senorans Albarino 2015 is ripe with grapefruit and bursting with peach and apricot aromas and flavours.
If you’re a red wine lover, do try the Quinta do Vale Meão Douro 2013– a Portugese blend. Red plums, berries and minerals, with some vanilla, coffee faintly in the background. Absolutely do not miss the Bodegas La Horra Corimbo 2012 . This Spanish Tempranillo-based wine is earthy, with good flavour of dark blackberries, light musk and vanilla. Good oak and tannins, which do not dominate the fruits.Full bodied and satisfying. My personal favourite of the wines tasted.
The Details
Wine Discovery Walkabout Tasting
The main event, with more than 100 wines available for tasting. Check out the free masterclasses- Pinot Grigio of Friuli and its Rare Back Vintages, The Rise of Organic & Biodynamic Wines, and Fine Wines of España .
- Date: 15 Oct 2016, 11am to 5pm
- 1pm to 1:45pm: Friulian Style of Pinot Grigio and its Rare Back Vintages with Federica Pecorari of Lis Neris
- 2:15pm to 3pm: The Rise of Organic & Biodynamic Wines with Marie-Agnes Labopin, Resident Sommelier, EWineAsia.com
- 3:30pm to 4:15pm: Fine Wines of España with Ivan Aquino, from the Spanish Fine Wine Institute
- Venue: APS Lifestyle Gallery, 9 Muthuraman Chetty Road S238931 (off Martin Road)
- T – 6235 1333
- Tickets: $45 ($15 redeemable off wine purchases and $100 Vintec Voucher) available for purchase online through EWineAsia.com.
Wine Discovery Weekend Dining Events
In addition to the Wine Discovery Tasting, 3 wine-pairing dining events will also be held at Michelin-starred and prestigious restaurants over the 3 days, where all 18 visiting winemakers will be in attendance.
Wine Discovery Dinner at Shisen Hanten
- 15 October, 7pm
- Venue: Shisen Hanten, Level 35, Orchard Wing, Mandarin Orchard Singapore, 333 Orchard Road, Singapore 238867
- T – 6831 6262
- Tickets: $108++/pax through RSVP confirmation to Shisen Hanten
Vino Español Discovery Brunch at Cherry Garden
- 16 October, 11:30am to 2:30pm
- Venue: Cherry Garden, Mandarin Oriental Singapore, 5 Raffles Avenue,Singapore 039797
- T – 6885 3500
- Tickets: $88++/pax. RSVP confirmation to Cherry Garden
Latin World Wine Discovery Dinner at W Hotel on 17 October
- 17 Oct 2016, Monday, 7pm
- Venue: Skirt, W Singapore, Sentosa Cove, 21 Ocean Way, Singapore 098374
- Tickets: $138++/pax, available for purchase on EWineAsia.com and winediscoveryweekend.com
