As the festive season rolls in, eating, drinking and being merry becomes a way of life. Along with chocolate for breakfast being perfectly acceptable, more alcohol than usual often plays a part in the celebrations, from Christmas dinner to New Year’s parties. Whether it’s a bold red to complement a hearty roast or a sparkling Champagne to toast the holidays, the right wine can really set the mood. Here, ANZA gathers advice from some of Singapore’s finest wine experts to ensure that your beverage choices this year positively fizz, not flop. Cheers!
GET EDUCATED
Boost your wine knowledge and confidence with advice from Jen Hoskote, Director of Not S**t, Fun Wines (NSFW).
nots**tfunwines.shop
What makes a good wine retailer?
One with a varied selection, knowledge, and endless passion for wine! Their selection will usually cater to various budgets and they should be able to give recommendations based on how much you want to spend and your drinking occasion.
I’m interested in learning more about wine, but don’t know where to begin …
Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) (thebeverageclique.com) is a good place to start. They provide courses that cater to various levels of interest, from novice to professional, and several certified teaching organisations in Singapore collaborate with them. Some courses can be completed over a weekend, while others require a bit more dedication.
How can I keep track of the wines I’ve tried over time?
Apps like Vivino, WineSearcher or Notes are helpful for this. Otherwise, a good old-fashioned notebook will do just fine!
How do I develop my own wine palate and not be led by others?
Attend wine-related tastings and dinners, visit different wine regions and chat with producers, or create or join a tasting group with other enthusiasts. Basically, expose yourself to trying a large variety of wines from everywhere. You’ll quickly get a sense of what you enjoy and start to notice the wines you keep returning to. Most importantly, stay curious and be open to trying new options. Our palates continue to develop as we get older so a variety of wine you may not have enjoyed in your 20s could easily become your new favourite in your 40s or 50s.
What’s exciting in wine right now?
We’re seeing a shift in preferences in Singapore. Drinkers used to seek out big, bold, high-alcohol reds, whereas now we’re noticing customers gravitating towards lighter-bodied, chillable reds with moderate levels of alcohol.
Why do you think this is?
For starters, it’s hot out and chillable reds are more refreshing. They’re versatile and can be paired with several types of food, from hot pot to grilled duck. Also, they’re riding on the coattails of no and low alcohol beverages which are a good option for those wanting to drink less.
WINE Q’s YOU’RE TOO SHY TO ASK
Worried about getting the budget, variety and etiquette just right? Director of Petersons Wines Singapore, Joe Keats, answers your drinking dilemmas.
petersonswines.com.sg
We’ve got a small budget and a big dinner party with wine afficionados. Help!
You don’t have to spend big bucks to get good wine, but you do need to know what to look for. Generally speaking, wines from “the S countries” provide the best value in Singapore – South Africa, South America, Spain and ‘Straya! Let a professional wine nerd know your menu and your budget, and get their ideas. Oh, and don’t leave your choices until the day of the dinner!
Which wine pairs with Christmas curry?
It depends very much on your curry, but conventional wisdom is a slightly sweet (off-dry) white wine, which in Singapore is not a bad idea. If you’re somewhere cooler, or in aircon, an Aussie Shiraz with soft tannins would work really well.
Can you ever judge a wine by its label?
Yes, but maybe not the way you’d think! I’m always suspicious of wines with extravagant packaging; aside from being bad for the planet, you’d think good wine wouldn’t need bling. That said, I do appreciate a stylish or amusing label. It just don’t make the stuff inside taste any better. The same applies to having French words on the label – it doesn’t make the inside liquid magically superior.
Can I really add ice?
Absolutely! If that’s how you like it, then that’s how you should have it. The same goes for chilling reds, or adding soda.
Most acceptable way to chill wine?
A bucket of ice water is quickest way to do this. Salt in the water speeds up chilling it a little more too.
Please recommend good bubbles that won’t break the bank …
Spanish Cava is great value, but as with all wine styles, there’s better and worse examples. If you have Champagne tastes but not the budget, a “traditional method” wine is generally how you find something similar at a better price. I look for a winery that specialises in sparkling wine, rather than someone who does a bit of everything. (Peterson House, our sister winery, has made wine for over 300 other wineries!). Our very creatively named Sparkling White ($45), and our famous Pink Blush, ($39) are two great bubblies at less than $50.
What should Champagne be served in?
Great quantities and great glassware! A flute is not as good as most white wine glasses, as there’s not much space for aromas to form. Something with a bit of a “bowl” in the glass is better for flavours, but flutes maintain fizz for longer. (Mine has never lasted long enough to go flat!). Crystal glasses are better as you get a finer lip on the glass, and they stimulate the release of gas from the liquid a little more.
Screwtop or cork – is this still a thing?
Sadly, yes. Nearly all wine is better off under a screwcap, but we all have this notion that the cork makes wine better. New World wines (“not Europe”) are often unafraid to treat their wine in the best way possible, but it can spell financial disaster for wineries, due to consumer misconceptions around corks and quality. A small percentage of wines, usually reds with a lot of tannins, will benefit from a cork. I wince when people screw up their nose at a screwcap.
Wine in a box: yay or nay?
A can or box is perfectly legitimate. They’re sometimes great value if you’re on a budget, and the best choice if you’re on a picnic, boat, camping, and so on.
Where’s the surprisingly good wine coming from right now?
The little guys. Smaller producers now have great access to everything they need to aid fantastic winemaking, and they tend to be more adventurous (using lesser known grapes, or classic grapes presented differently) than the big boys.
“WInes from south africa, South america, spain and ‘straya provide the best value”
Petersons Top 5 Holiday Wine
- SPARKLING RED
Petersons Sparkling Shiraz, $49
The bubbles make this fizz instantly festive. It’s much more versatile
with foods, particularly those with richer flavours that we tend to enjoy more of at
this time of year. - A GOOD CHARDONNAY
Petersons Cuvee Chardonnay, $40, and Petersons 2021 Clare Valley Unoaked Chardonnay, $42
It doesn’t matter where a chardonnay is from, or what’s its style, so long as the winemaker has done their job well. - SEMILLON
Petersons 2023 Mt View Semillon, $39.50
Particularly good if you’re a seafood lover. Light on alcohol, delicate flavours, and tailor-made for hot weather and sumptuous seafood - AUSSIE SHIRAZ
Petersons 2022 Shiraz Cabernet, $52, Petersons 2018 Block One Shiraz, $88
These are both big, bold and beautiful. They work well with most red meat dishes, and often have soft enough tannins to pair beyond red meat too. No need to be decanted.
PERFECT PAIRINGS
Whether you’re going traditional turkey, or making veg the star of the show, what to drink with Christmas dinner is the ultimate conundrum for wine lovers. Anthony McConnel, Owner of Indigo Wine Co reveals how to get the food-booze balance nailed.
indigowineco.com
- Best sparkly to kick off
What to look for: Sparkling is all about the bubbles and bright aromas; it should be fresh and vibrant. Christmas is the perfect time to splurge on a vintage sparkling with that extra bit of complexity.
What to choose: Stefano Lubiana Grande Vintage Brut 2011, $95 - Christmas starters
Pate & terrines
What to look for: It can depend on the ingredients, but a couple of great all-rounders to get things going are rose or light savoury rustic reds.
What to choose: Nocturne Rose, $49; Stargazer Rada Pinot Noir/Pinot
Meunier, $67; Koerner La Korse
Sangiovese blend, $55 - Oysters
What to look for: A splash of fizz over the oyster to enhance the flavours makes a perfect match. Or if you’re into crisp whites, Clare Valley Riesling is a great option.
What to choose: Stefano Lubiana Brut Reserve NV, $68; Vickery Watervale
Riesling, $39 
Shellfish
What to look for: One of the most versatlie wine styles that complements an array of shellfish is chardonnay. Everything from light, crisp, cool-climate chardonnays to the richer styles of the Margaret River.
What to choose: Paringa Estate Peninsula Chardonnay, $48; Stargazer Chardonnay, $90; Larry Cherubino Chardonnay, $79- The Main Event
Roast Beef
What to look for: Beef cries out for a good red wine with a mouthful of flavour. Depending on whether you like something a little drier, or a wine full of dark cherries and spice, I’d choose a cabernet or shiraz.
What to choose: Powell & Son Barossa Valley Shiraz, $60; Parker Estate Terra Rossa Cabernet Sauvignon, $54 - Cheese
What to look for: If you like the bite of a hard cheese like an aged cheddar, opt for a nice medium bodied wine such as a bordeaux blend or Tempranillo. If the creaminess of a soft cheese is more your style, a beguiling pinot or a cheeky chardonnay is your go-to.
What to choose: Nocturne Cabernets, $55; Koerner “The Clare” Red, $55; Marco Lubiano Pinot Noir, $79; Montalto Chardonnay, $73 - Christmas Desserts
What to look for: There’s nothing like a good Christmas pudding paired with a rich, sweet wine whether it be a dessert wine or a fortified wine.
What to choose: Oliver’s Taranga “The banished” fortified Grenache, $80, just screams Christmas joy!
Shellfish FIZZ FACTS
Catherine C Wong, Wine Ambassador & US Brand Manager at Treasury Wine Estates ( tweglobal.com) reveals her rules for getting fizz right.
FACT #1: There are two key differences between Champagne and sparkling wine: the bubbly wine must come from the Champagne region in France to be called Champagne. They’re both created with the “traditional method” where the second fermentation of the still wine happens in the sealed bottle and the carbon dioxide is trapped – hence, creating the bubbles.
FACT #2: When it comes to premium sparkling wine, there are a few things to take note of. Look for fine, effervescent bubbles and an inviting bouquet of floral and fruity aromas. A quality sparkling wine should also showcase delightful layers of citrus and green fruit flavours, a round, textured mouthfeel, and a long-lasting finish.
FACT #3: The traditional serving temperature for Champagne and sparkling wine is 6 – 8C for the best experience.
FACT #4: A popular fizz of choice for the end of 2024 is our 19 Crimes Cali Gold Sparkling designed by Snoop Dog ($37, redmart.lazada.sg). Some excellent food pairings to this include seafood, fresh oysters, salmon, and grilled lobster.
FACT #5: We also recommend Crimes Hard Chardonnay ($27), and 19 Crimes Red Blend ($38, both available from fairprice.com.sg). The Hard Chardonnay displays tropical fruits balanced with criminally toasty oak and butterscotch notes. The Red Blend boasts berry flavours complimented by cedary spice and chocolatey vanilla notes to balance out the fruitiness.
