From The Straits Times    |

Photo: 123RF

Whether you’re a complete newbie when it comes to wine or a well-read oenophile, Wine Fiesta is a worthwhile visit. You will be able to try over 300 types of wine from countries all over the world, not to mention the free afterparty you’ll have a blast at, but more on that later.

Here are 4 things you should know before heading to Wine Fiesta 2017.

 

1) Skip the queues to buy wine by using WAAVE

Wine Fiesta is going to be crowded. You’ll have to jostle among other wine lovers for your next cup and wait in snaking long queues to get the bottle of wine you want.

WAAVE is one of those apps that make life so much easier. You only have to download the app and use the scanner in it to scan the barcode of the wine to add it to your shopping cart. If you’re not able to scan the wine, just search for it in the directory that comes in the app as well.

Best part is, after you’ve paid, you can collect everything at the pickup point, or if you choose not to/forget to collect them, they’ll automatically be delivered to your home. Neat!

 

ALSO READ: 5 EPIC WINE, GIN AND WHISKY FESTIVALS TO CHECK OUT IN OCTOBER AND NOVEMBER

 

2) Join the FREE afterparty at Kilo Lounge

Photo: Kilo Lounge

Yes, there’s a party and you’re invited! Entry to Kilo Lounge will be free for all Wine Fiesta attendees, and you’ll get to enjoy specially curated music by Kilo Lounge as you sip on your wine. 

The party will start at 8pm on Friday and 6pm on Saturday – when the wine tastings end. So remember to grab a bottle of vino through WAAVE before heading to Kilo so you can get the real party started.

 

ALSO READ: 4 IMPORTANT RULES OF PARTY DRESSING ALL STYLISH WOMEN SHOULD FOLLOW

 

3) Get insider knowledge about wine during wine circles

Wine Fiesta (as you probably have figured by this point) is not a stiff-necked, atas event where you’re expected to quietly appreciate your wine over hushed conversations.

Instead, you’re expected to sit on empty wine crates in a circle, to have casual chats with different winemakers. There’ll be a bottle of the wine in the centre of the circle, which you can help yourself to for refills, and you can ask the winemaker straight everything you want to know about his or her wine. You’ll learn stuff you’d never be able to get from reading the backs of wine bottles, for sure.

Pro-tip: You’ll have chances to talk to many winemakers, but look out for Dan Sims, a sommelier, wine commentator, and educator, who’s really excited to share his extensive knowledge about wine, and Pinot Noirs in particular.

 

ALSO READ: 12 RED AND WHITE WINES FOR YOUR NEXT HOUSE PARTY

 

4) Pair your wine with the right food

Photo: 123RF

Not only is wine fiesta overflowing with all sorts of wine, there are moreish creations you’ll have to try, from six very renowned eateries in Singapore.

Expect chefs Andrew Baldus from Meat Smith, Drew Nocente from Salted & Hung, Felix Chong from Monti, Oliver Hyde from Maggie Joan’s, Petrina Loh from Morsels, and the folks from Kilo. Oh it’s a party alright.

Here are the food highlights, plus the wines you should be trying them with.

 

ALSO READ: 8 WAYS TO HAVE A FUN HEN’S PARTY IN SINGAPORE!

 

Meat Smith

Get a hot chicken hot pocket ($15) – spicy chicken wings that have been deboned and stuffed before being slathered in a tangy and hot Alabama sauce. It’s a guilty pleasure, but all that spice and meatiness are welcome respite between multiple glasses of wine.

After finishing your chicken, try one of the fruity and juicy wines from the USA, such as the Rutherford Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 from Napa Valley or The Federalist zinfandel 2015 from Dry Creek. The wines are sweet, having strong notes of berries and spice. A nice way to ease back into sampling wines.

 

ALSO READ: INSTAGRAM-WORTHY MILLENNIAL PINK FOOD YOU NEED TO TRY

 

Monti

Wine always goes with cheese, so a more classic food choice is the Truffle Risotto ($10) that’s been tossed and mixed in a large wheel of Parmigiana. Mm, we’re craving some right now thinking about how the risotto becomes more flavourful with each scrape of the cheese wheel.

Photo: folkofolk

Pair it with the Pasqua 11 Minutes Rose Delle Venezia 2016, which comes from Veneto, Italy. We have our eyes on this rose for its unconventionally beautiful bottle. It’s named 11 minutes, for that is the precise amount of time the wine spends in contact with the grape skins, to achieve that peachy-rose hue. It smells delicately floral and a sip will remind you fruits such as strawberries and watermelons. Fruity and light, it’s a good balance to the heavy risotto.

 

ALSO READ: 7 DINING SPOTS YOU MIGHT CATCH YOUR FAVOURITE CELEBRITIES!

 

Maggie Joan’s

Maggie Joan’s offers a selection of Mediterranean dishes such as the Taramasalata & Squid Ink Cracker ($5), which we thoroughly enjoyed snacking on, Salmon Tartare Taco ($10), and Fried Chicken Pita ($15) pictured above, which comes dressed in spicy green harissa and sprinkled with shreds of savoury and sharp pecorino cheese.

We recommend pairing any of these sinful treats with the award-winning AIX Rose 2016, Coteau d’Aix en Provence, which clinched a gold medal at the Mondial du Rose last year, the biggest rose competition in the world. The AIX Rose 2016 brings dry and fruity notes to the palate. It smells delicately floral but tastes fruity, yet crisp. 

 

ALSO READ: TOP BITES IN YOUR PART OF SINGAPORE

 

Kilo

If you have a hankering for local food, head straight to the Kilo booth where they dole out plates of steaming hot and fleshy stringray laden with red-hot sambal, spiked citrus acidity thanks to a squeeze of lime. And if you’d believe it, we have the perfect wine to pair this sambal stingray with.

Grab a glass of Cote Mas Blanc Mediterranee 2015, a crisp but easy-to-drink white wine that is made for enjoying with hearty foods. The acidity and structure in the wine make this perfect for contrasting with the strong flavours of sambal.

 

ALSO READ: SINGAPORE HAS HOT HAWKERS TOO

 

Morsels

At the Morsels booth, grab some of these adorable tiny tacos ($10 per serving) which are big on flavour. Pliable and soft tacos hold well-seasoned and shredded angus beef short rib, juicy ‘slaw, and a coriander leaf that gives it that authentic Mexican taste. These little guys also have a vegetarian substitute made from braised tofu. 

Pop a couple into your mouth and complete the experience with a glass of Fratelli Classic Chenin Blanc 2016 that hails from the vineyards of India. Expect a refreshing and vibrant wine that has strong notes of melon, peach, and lemon.

 

ALSO READ: ‘MEAT’ YOU THERE- SINGAPORE RESTAURANTS THAT SERVE THE MOST DELISH VEGAN MEALS

 

Salted and Hung

Salted and Hung is known for its delicious meats. You could enjoy the Charcuterie ($15) with duck rillette and salami, or the Wagyu Sandwich ($20), but we recommend you also try the Burnt Pavlova ($10) that is served with a dollop of chantilly cream and freeze dried blood orange. It’s a delicious mess of sweetness that will melt in your mouth with pulses of sharp citrus notes coming from the blood orange.

You must pair the pavlova with the 2015 ‘Little Miss Collett’ Moscato, which has notes of musk, strawberries, lychees, and lemon blossom on the palate, and aromatic floral notes. Exactly the kind of wine you’d want to pair with a delicious dessert!

 

ALSO READ: 14 FARM-TO-TABLE RESTAURANTS YOU NEED TO CHECK OUT

 

So there you have it – your cheat sheet to having a great time at Wine Fiesta! Check out all the dates, times, and locations below for your reference, and grab a ticket from SISTIC if you haven’t already got one.

Dates: 26–29 October 2017
Venue: Clifford Square, 80 Collyer Quay Singapore 049326
Opening hours:

Day 1 (27 Oct): 4pm–8pm* After Hours Wine Party: 8pm–10pm
Day 2 (28 Oct): 12pm–6pm* After Hours Wine Party: 6pm–10pm
Day 3 (29 Oct): 12pm–6pm* After Hours Wine Party: 6pm–9pm
*Last entry is one hour before tasting ends.

Ticket price: Walkabout ticket prices – $45 per ticket, $99 for three
Tickets can be purchased at SISTIC, Eventbrite or all 8 Straits Wine Company retail stores. Full address for all stores are available at www.straitswine.com