Wine is no longer just for expats—these days everyone is into a good drop. And to satisfy the growing market for those wanting to know more about their vino vino, several restaurants round town are holding regular wine dinners starring guest wine makers and speakers. Here’s how you can get in on the action.
LE PONT DE VIE
Where: 42 Waterloo St., 6238-8682.
When: This is a new restaurant already has two wine dinners under its belt. Since they are so young, they’re not sure how often they’ll hold wine dinners, so join the mailing list for more info.
Why you should go: As you would expect from a French restaurant, the wine list is populated with vintages from the most prestigious names in wine-making, and expect their wine dinners to be a celebration of French wine. Last year they hosted a Bordeaux wine dinner with Monsieur Lemaitre from Cadillac Leda. All is not just old world here though—the wines featured in the last wine dinner in Jan hailed from the Wyndham Estate, the home of Australian Shiraz. With the food on the five course menu tailor-made for the wine and a small and intimate location, wine-dinner maniacs can rejoice.
Price: Around $100.
How to find out more: Look up the website at www.lepontdevie.com.sg or join the mailing list by sending an email to [email protected].
FRIENDS AT CHOMP CHOMP
Where: #01-01A Serangoon Garden Village, Maju Ave., 6289-2600.
When: Around once a month. Private wine dinners are also available on request.
Why you should go: The food at wine dinners here is all about the wine. Crafted specifically to complement and bring out the varied and intricate flavors of the individual wines, the food is prepared to be clean and subtle in taste. This love and enthusiasm for wine can also be seen in the truly varied natures of wines that are on show at the wine dinners here. At Friends, wine connoisseurs can expect more interesting vintages to be featured to delight and challenge their palates. Past wine dinners have included anything from a vertical tasting of Leasingham wine of differing vintages, to an organic wine dinner featuring Rosnay of Australia, to a Lanson champagne dinner.
Price: $79.90 to $89.90 for a five- to seven-course dinner.
How to find out more: Email [email protected] to get on their mailing list.
FLUTES AT THE FORT
Where: 21 Lewin Terrace, Fort Canning Park, 6338-8770.
When: Around four to five times a year.
Why you should go: As you can expect from a place whose menu boasts a fine selection of Modern Australian dishes, the wines featured at the wine dinners here hail mainly from the new world, especially from Down Under. Such established new-world wineries like the Kay Brothers and Torbreck have hosted wine dinners here where the winemaker introduces and explains the wines to the guests. As you would expect, the food is made specifically for the wines featured and all this fine dining and wining is normally done within the cozy part of the restaurant which is the Fire Chief’s retreat.
Price: On average $150 including food and wine.
How to find out more: Check out the website http://www.flutesatthefort.com.sg for more information and to sign on to the mailing list.
MAGMA GERMAN WINE BISTRO
Where: 2-4 Bukit Pasoh Rd., 6221-0634.
When: Once or twice a month. Private wine tasting is available on request.
Why you should go: For a wine tasting dinner Deutschland style, this is the place to go where the owner is German, the chef Austrian (OK, so almost German), and the place represents over 20 wineries from all over Germany. Wine dinners here comprise five to seven courses of excellent German food to accompany six to eight German wines for tasting. Wines chosen for the dinners in the past have been based on regions and grape varieties such as the perennial favorites, the reisling and pinot varieties. Those who choose to further their knowledge of German wines will also be able to enjoy five percent discount on all the wines (about 150 labels) at the shop. This is by far the best place to go if you like your reislings or eisweins.
Price: Normally between $69-79 for a five course dinner.
How to find out more: Check out the website at www.magmatc.com or join the mailing list by sending an email to [email protected].
LA STRADA RISTORANTE
Where: #02-10 Shaw Centre, 1 Scotts Rd., 6737-2622.
When: A wine dinner is held every three months where the winemaker is flown over to discuss the featured wines. The restaurant also has an ongoing wine dinner menu.
Why you should go: At the quarterly wine dinners, the winemaker gives guests a first hand account of the wines from the vineyard that is being featured. Past wines that have been on show have hailed from France or Italy. But what makes this restaurant stand out are the other monthly wine dinners on offer. The Resident Sommelier handpicks a glass of wine to specifically accompany each course of the menu degustazione, and is available to discuss with patrons his choice of wine for a particular dish—making this a good way to understand more about how food and wine can work so beautifully together. For those who can not distinguish their Bordeaux from their Burgundy, the ongoing wine dinner is a non-intimidating and great way to start.
Price: Ongoing wine dinner is $135 for five courses and five glasses of wine. The wine dinner held every three months starts from $180.
How to find out more: Check out the website www.lesamis.com.sg to find out more and to sign up to the mailing list.
