Ian Lim, co-owner, Wine RVLT

The veteran sommelier and co-owner of Wine RVLT on the pour that changed his opinion of wine forever, the best beachfront bottle and the glass he’d choose to be his last

Our By The Glass series sees sommeliers and wine experts share some vinous inspiration for your next pour.

Wine RVLT has made a name for itself in Singapore as a hub for natural wine, with an enviable collection of organic, biodynamic and minimal intervention wines hailing from both highly regarded and lesser known wine producing regions. The wine bar’s co-owner Ian Lim, who founded Wine RVLT with fellow sommelier Alvin Gho, picks his pours.

An early (in your career) wine that made you go ‘Wow! (I want to be a somm)’?

Ian Lim (IL): It was in 2002 and I tasted a 1991 Peter Lehmann Stonewell Shiraz. I was expecting more fruit aromas as wine is made from grapes. Instead it had layers of dark cassis, black pepper, with a meaty and earthy finish. It threw me off as I had never experienced such flavours in a beverage.

Most memorable pour?

IL: Daniel Sage Nyctalopie 2016 

Tipple for a Tuesday?

IL: Commune of Buttons Pretty Fun Pet Nat 2021

Sun, sea and …?

IL: A crisp, fresh bottle of white—something bright and clean with a nice saline finish, like the Borachio Savagnin 2020.

What you wish a customer would order (so you can taste it—for taint, of course)?

IL: Probably a wine that is super allocated—those of which we have very few bottles for the year, such as Frank Cornelissen’s Magma.

What you love to recommend to guests?

IL: Something they have never tried before. 

Best from your by-the-glass list?

IL: Whatever we have opened for the day—we change our wines by the glass daily. 

Bottle to bring to a dinner party?

IL: Something the guests at the dinner party have never drunk before. 

What’s in your cellar?

IL: A mix of organic wines with a variety of styles. I like to drink diversely and dangerously.

Last glass

IL: Wine, of course. Probably a red from Auvergne, such as a Benoit Rosenberger Loup de Vignes.

If not wine, then what?

IL: #NoWineNoLife