Three Wine Festivals to Check Out This October

PUBLISHED October 13th, 2015 06:59 am | UPDATED July 3rd, 2020 06:29 pm

Humankind’s love affair with wine and wine-making stretches back thousands of years into history; and the industry is still booming in 21st century Singapore. This October, get ready for a copious amount of wine sampling as three of Singapore’s biggest wine festivals will be bringing in some of the best wine labels in the world to our sunny shores.

Wine Discovery Weekend

Organised by online retailer Ewineasia.com, Wine Discovery Weekend is a fledgling vino carnival that will be parading more than 100 exquisite wine labels from 40 established wineries across the globe.

Get cosy with 11 wine producers and representatives at the consumer walkabout session, as they share their expertise on enjoying the finest vintages. Some wineries to look out for include Emilio Moro (Spain), Mount Difficulty (New Zealand), Champagne Boizel (France), and Isole e Olena (Italy).

Unfortunately, complimentary masterclasses are full at the point of writing, but guest speakers include author Edwin Soon, who’ll be lecturing on describing wines using Asian terms and flavours (think lotus paste, wolfberries, and dried kumquat).

Wine Discovery Weekend will also be hosting three lavish wine pairing meals. The first at Me@OUE, prepared by one Michelin-starred Chef Jeremy Gillon, followed by a luxuriant Sunday Italian Brunch at Pietrasanta, with owner Giuseppe welcoming Italian winery powerhouses such as Primo Franco and Isole e Oleana. Lastly, an all-Spanish wine cast will grace the interiors of Catalunya, and only the finest vintages will be on display in this one-night-only dinner.

Wine Discover Weekend’s tasting walkabout session is happening on Saturday, 17 October 2015 from 11am to 6pm at the APS Lifestyle Gallery. Please click here to register. 

To check RSVP for Wine Discovery Weekend’s wine dinners, please click here. 

The Winefamily Gathering

For one weekend only, The Winefamily Gathering will take over the Singapore Flyer to provide oenophiles with one of the hottest wine celebrations of the year. Put together by the team behind Winefamily, an online marketplace where vendors sell directly to consumers, this two-day fair will exhibit a vast selection of wines from all across the globe, with wine merchants offering value-for-money prices for unique labels.

Visitors can unwind by the sparkling wine bar outside the beautiful terrace, as satisfying glasses of Prosecco, Cava, and Champagne become the perfect listening accompaniment for the harmonious melodies of live acoustic music. If you’re feeling peckish, The Winefamilly Gathering also provides a wide range of delights that are perfect for matching with the fine wines on offer. All you’ve gotta do is experiment with the various flavours, and you’re on your way to becoming a self-made wine maestro.

The Winefamily Gathering is happening from Saturday, 17 October to Sunday, 18 October 2015 at the Singapore Flyer. 

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here. 

Wine Fiesta 2015

The largest outdoor wine festival in Singapore, Wine Fiesta by Straits Wine Company is back for the eight year running. Featuring an expansive medley of 82 winemakers and 350 wine labels, Wine Fiesta 2015 is undoubtedly the perfect platform for appreciating the many different wine varietals.

There’s no need to feel intimidated if you’re a newbie. A barrage of free wine masterclasses will focus on differing wine-related topics, ranging from the subtleties of unique Sauvignon Blancs, to how quality glasswares can fully optimise the flavour profiles of distinct wines.

Labels to look out for include the organic AIX Rosé 2014 from Provence; a brand that has two illustrious Gold Medals under its belt in the 2015 grand tastings in France, and the Viña Pedrosa “Gran Reserva” 2006 from the Spanish region of Ribera del Duero; a beautiful Tempranillo that is blessed with an inkling of Cabernet. Another interesting wine to try out is the Castello di Brolio Chianti Classico Grand Selezione 2011 from Tuscan; a sublime blend that belongs to the founders of Chianti Classico – the oldest winery in Italy.

Expect a hodgepodge of flavoursome dishes from four local chefs – Malcom Lee from Candlenut, Bjorn Shen from Artichoke, Matthew Mok from The Rabbit Stash, and Cheryl Koh from Tarte by Cheryl Koh (of the Les Amis Group) – to go with your tipples.

Wine Fiesta is happening from Friday, 23 October to Sunday, 25 October 2015 at Clifford Square.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please click here. 

Top Image: Wine Fiesta 2015