Uncorking Natural Wines: A Beginner’s Guide & Where To Find Them in Singapore
PUBLISHED November 27th, 2023 06:00 am | UPDATED July 25th, 2024 04:25 pm
With the clean-eating trend raging in Singapore, surely it was just a matter of time before word about natural and organic wines came into the mainstream. After all, it’s already taken Australia and the US by storm – Because if there’s anything that modern gastronomy has taught us about food and drink, it’s that we can always consume better things – and there’s no way wine would be left out, becoming an increasingly popular choice for those craving a more sustainable and authentic drinking experience.
Scroll on as we introduce you to the world of natural wines and help you discover where to find them in Singapore.
What are organic & natural wines?
Back in the day, there was a time when grapes were completely harvested and processed by hand without the use of chemicals and technology. And the result? A much purer product that modern-day winemakers are trying to recreate. Generally, natural wines are produced using minimal intervention in the vineyard and cellar, made with organically grown grapes (obviously), fermented with native yeasts. They usually also lack the presence of additives like sulphites.
Within the category of organic and natural wines, there are also biodynamic wines that follow a strict astronomical planting calendar that has specific days in the year for planting, harvesting, and so on, so as to extract the best flavours from the fruits while leaving a minimal carbon footprint. The result is a unique, often unpredictable, yet expressive flavour profile that reflects the terroir.
Why you should drink natural wines
Like your farm-to-table dining and mindful eating trend, natural wines are for one, much more sustainable. Regular wines contain chemicals that are ingested or washed out and could subsequently damage the ecosystem of the region. Some winemakers even opt to use less machinery for their wine-making process, in turn reducing the amount of emissions in the environment.
Natural wines come in various styles and flavours. Taste-wise, organic wines are described to have a more delicate and softer mouthfeel. Some even claim that such wines have more ‘personality’, but that’s up to the drinker to decide. Just like your favourite reds or whites, experiment with different grape varietals and regions to discover your preferences.
Finding natural wines in Singapore
Today, plenty of bottles shops in Singapore, as well as restaurants and bars, are offering organic wines as an alternative to the usual stuff. Here are some of them.
Restaurants & Bars
Le Bon Funk
It’s only natural (!) that Le Bon Funk love their organic wines. After all, their name indicates a preference for the funkiest bottles you can get. This is where Beverage Director and Assistant General Manager, Jos Kjer introduces an ever-evolving wine list that is quite literally alive, including earthy and spicy Hughes Beguet Silk Blue, warm and fine tannins of Rene-Jean Dard & Francois Ribo Crozes-Hermitage ‘Les Rouges des Baties’, and the delicate yet adventurous L’Élevage en Fût Rouge Bailey A from Takeda Winer. And to go with your thrilling adventure, dig into a communal dining programme by Chef-Owner and Burnt Ends alumnus Keirin Buck.
Le Bon Funk has outlets in Club Street & Holland Village.
RVLT
You can be assured that the folks here are serious about their natural and biodynamic wines. Opting to focus on small-batch winemakers, look out for varietals from Delinquente Wine Co, Jan Matthias Klein, Lucy Margaux Wines and more. To keep things casual and light, fuel up with a curated selection of Makan bites that span the categories of easy snacks, appetisers, mains and desserts at the gastro-bar.
RVLT is located at 38 Carpenter St, Singapore 059917, p. +65 +65 9388 1436. Open Mon-Sat, 4pm-late. Closed on Sun.
Nothing Fancy
One of the more aesthetic forward natural wine bars in Singapore, don’t let their name fool you -Nothing Fancy is nothing but fancy. Adorned under neon lights, the refrigerator here remains stocked with indie and well-known brands like SÉLÉNÉ, Domaine Bobinet and more. Not to mention the delicious grub, fun pop-ups and music parties that make the evening more fun. Read our review here.
Nothing Fancy is located at 11 Hamilton Rd, #01-00, Singapore 209182, p. +65 9183 4880. Open Wed-Sat 6pm–12am. Closed Sun-Tue.
Rebel Rebel
Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or a newbie dipping your toes in the world of natural wines for the first time, Rebel Rebel has got your back. The wine bar offers a range of bottles that span across the world – from old world to new world, or take your pick from a weekly rotation of Wines by the Glass. Expect pours from the Italian vineyards of Le Coste, and Fuchs und Hase, all the way from Austria.
Rebel Rebel is located at 14 Bukit Pasoh Rd, Singapore 089828, p. +65 6224 5466. Open Tue-Sat, 5pm-12am. Closed Sun-Mon.
Bottle Shops
The Straits Wine Company
Surely everyone knows The Straits Wine Company? The wine distributor has slowly worked towards the cause of sustainable drinking, and has a whole section dedicated to organic wine on its web store, including a Natural Wine of the Week promotion. Highlights from some 20 winemakers on offer include an Urlar Riesling 2013, dry-styled with lime zest, Granny Smith apples, and citrus aromas, and a Leeuwin Estate Siblings Sauvignon Blanc Semillon 2015 that parades tropical fruits, snow pea, and citrus.
Shop The Straits Wine Company here.
Benchmark Wines
Launched by Australian entrepreneur Rob Lockett, the wines at Benchmark are all personally selected from small, high-quality and highly-praised vineyards in Australia, the US, France, Italy, and New Zealand. Organic options include the vegan-friendly Paxton ‘The Guesser’ Organic White Blend 2016 ($29) from one of Australia’s most respected wine growers from down under, and Battle of Bosworth ‘Puritan’ Shiraz 2017 ($32), bursting with soft tannins and fantastic with a juicy steak.
Shop Benchmark Wines here.
Drunken Farmer
A natural wine bar and bistro by Spa Esprit Group, Drunken Farmer combines tangy, chewy sourdough, cheese of all kinds, and the heady joys of wine all under one roof. From organic to biodynamic wines, shop some of the best selection of wines in store or online with same day delivery! You can also find their handpicked selections featured on the wine menus of Common Man Night Shift and The Butchers Wife.
Shop Drunken Farmer here.
Wine Mouth
Strategically located in Singapore’s Joo Chiat neighbourhood, Wine mouth’s retail store in Singapore is dedicated to natural wine. With a regularly rotating selection and option for island-wide delivery, you’ll never be out of options. Best of all are the Friday tasting sessions that go for just S$15, and offer you sips from three different bottles.
Shop Wine Mouth here.
