Decanter made a remarkable debut in the Singapore wine scene on Saturday, hosting its inaugural Fine Wine Encounter in the region—the first to be held in Asia since Decanter’s Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) took place in Shanghai five years prior.
Over 550 attendees gathered at Singapore’s luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, where 54 wineries from 13 different countries showcased their wines in the exquisite ambiance of the Tower Ballroom. The wines were elegantly displayed in pristine glassware provided by Riedel, gracious sponsors of the event.
The all-day tasting presented guests with the opportunity to savor wines from renowned estates globally, served by the individuals behind the brands. A stroll around the Ballroom offered an exhilarating exploration of classic Old World regions including France, Spain, Italy, Croatia, and Switzerland, alongside the New World powerhouses of Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, California, Oregon, and South Africa.
China showcased an impressive lineup of five prominent wineries from the regions of Shandong, Yunnan, Ningxia, and Hebei, providing a unique glimpse into the vibrant Chinese wine industry. Each of the Chinese estates in attendance has earned accolades at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) and displayed a variety of styles, including a Petit Manseng dry white from Longting Vineyard, Marselan and Tempranillo reds from Canaan, along with Chardonnays, and Malbec from Xige. They also featured the Bordeaux red blends that have put the country on the map, with contributions from prestigious estates such as LVMH-owned Ao Yun and Mystic Island.
A stunning array of large-format bottles graced the tables throughout the venue, featuring Pichon-Baron from Pauillac in Bordeaux and Remírez de Ganuza from Rioja, both serving older vintages from double magnum – Pichon’s 2016 and Remírez de Ganuza’s 2012 Reserva. However, the main attraction was the winery principals who traveled specially for the occasion, personally sharing their wines with guests.
Among them were Philippe Chandon-Moët, co-owner of Château de Ferrand in Bordeaux; Marielle Cazaux, managing director and winemaker at Château La Conseillante in Pomerol; José Ramón Urtasun, owner and winemaker at Remírez de Ganuza in Rioja; and Giovanni Frascolla from Tua Rita estate in Tuscany. From the New World, Travis and Elisabeth Wray flew in to showcase wines from their House of Cards estate in Australia’s Margaret River, while Eddie McDougall, known as The Flying Winemaker, poured selections from various Australian regions. Helen McCarthy, Hardy’s first female chief winemaker, presented vintages of Eileen Hardy Chardonnay and Shiraz, along with Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon and Heritage Reserve wines.
Additionally, a selection of 45 award-winning wines from this year’s DWWA were made available at a dedicated table. All the wines served had received scores of 95 points or higher, providing attendees with the opportunity to taste an eclectic array of styles. The lineup included English sparkling wines, top Brut Nature Cava, whites from Valle d’Aosta, Friuli, and Sardinia in Italy, a rosé from Moldova, a Platinum-winning aged rosé Rioja, and reds from Switzerland, Mallorca, and northern Greece, as well as more traditional regions. The experience was rounded out with two Spanish fortified wines – an Amontillado Sherry and a Verdejo from Rueda – creating a memorable journey through the world of wine.
In the entrance area, the DWWA Regional Chair for Asia, Ch’ng Poh Tiong, based in Singapore, was seen signing copies of his latest publication, ‘A Primer on Pairing’, while engaging in conversations with attendees. This book serves as a captivating resource about Chinese gastronomy and the appropriate wine pairings. It features his selection of the world’s top 30 Chinese dining establishments, making it a must-have for adventurous food and wine aficionados.
Alongside the primary tasting event, attendees had the opportunity to buy tickets for an array of special tutored sessions, with detailed masterclass reports available soon.
The day commenced with a masterclass led by Decanter’s Burgundy authority, Charles Curtis MW, who guided participants through a selection of twelve wines in the session titled ‘Clos de Vougeot: An exploration of terroir’, which centered around the well-known Burgundy grand cru. He was joined by co-host François Labet, the proprietor of Château de la Tour, Clos de Vougeot. Other featured wines included offerings from Domaine de la Vougeraie, Domaine Anne Gros, Domaine Thibault Liger-Belair, and Domaine Jean Grivot.
In a recent sellout masterclass, Saskia de Rothschild, the executive chairwoman at Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, showcased an exceptional tasting experience that combined the renowned wines of first growth Château Lafite with selections from its Chinese venture, Long Dai. The masterclass, titled ‘East meets West: A Lafite story from Pauillac to Shandong’, offered attendees an in-depth narrative about Lafite and its winemaking efforts in China. Participants sampled four vintages of Long Dai alongside four prestigious wines from the Pauillac estate, including the 2018, 2008, and 1988 vintages of Lafite’s grand vin, served from magnums, and the 2018 vintage of Carruades de Lafite, also poured from magnum.
The final masterclass of the day featured ‘Nikka Whisky celebrating 90 years of Japanese craftsmanship’. This was Decanter’s inaugural whisky masterclass, led by Diego Araud, the marketing director for La Maison du Whisky Asia Pacific, alongside Ch’ng Poh Tiong. Guests were treated to a variety of single malts, a pure malt, and a Coffey malt whisky, culminating in a tasting of Nikka’s flagship From the Barrel whisky, which is a harmonious blend of Coffey grain and malts sourced from the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries. To conclude, attendees enjoyed a special surprise pour of a limited-edition whisky crafted to commemorate the 90th anniversary.
Stay tuned for a collection of highlights from the event coming soon. If you were in attendance, check our photo gallery — you might just find yourself featured! On the horizon, our next Decanter Fine Wine Encounter (DFWE) is set for The Landmark London on 16 November, where we’ll showcase more distinguished names from across the globe. For those located in the USA, our annual New York DFWE is scheduled for June 2025. For additional details, please visit our Events page.
The ‘East meets West: A Lafite story from Pauillac to Shandong’ masterclass.