It’s not only rose, as some of Singapore’s leading sommeliers suggest.
Our hot tropical clime may not vary very much between persistently summery and periodically balmy, but the range of wines imbibers here in Singapore enjoy is far from humdrum. Even when the heat and humidity is turned up this time of the year, or when the perennial favourites we crave are defiantly spicy, we are always spoiled for choice.
I, for one, have had a delightful experience of pairing a brilliant 2010 Clos Saint Jean Châteauneuf-du-Pape with some Janggut laksa early this year. And I could, should I choose to, enjoy it again over the weekend. Point is that I also have the option to go with co-founder of Artisan Cellars Henry Hariyono’s recommendation to pair a bowl of laksa with an Indie Fuchs und Hase Pet Nat Vol. 5 (2015) from Austria.
The wine, he shares, is a blend of welschriesling and gruner that finished its ferment in the bottle, and has no added sulphur dioxide. More importantly, it’s a highly adaptive and aromatic wine with bright but not astringent acidity.
(Related: Fancy Blending Your Own Châteauneuf-du-Pape?)
“In summer, aromatics are important,” says Hariyono, explaining that in cooler weather, body of the wine is more important. “It’s also a sparkling—juicy and quite light-bodied with a sound acidity that makes it thirst quenching.”
Similarly, a crisp white wine can be your best friend during summertime, adds Jaan’s charming wine whiz Celine Chatte. Perhaps a fruity blend of garganega and trebbiano from Italy’s north, she posits. And why not. In fact, here are more than a few other elegantly scrumptious recommendations should you crave something different.
CELINE CHATTE, HEAD SOMMELIER, FAIRMONT SINGAPORE & SWISSOTEL THE STAMFORD RECOMMENDS:
2016 Ochota Barrels Surfer Rosa Garnacha, South Australia
Rosé wine is one of the most popular styles of wine in Europe during summer, as consumers are looking to have something refreshing, easy to drink with a bit of structure that can match most of the food. This wine is actually from South Australia, made by some ‘crazy’ but very talented Australian surfers. Mainly garnacha for the grape variety used, this dry rosé is full of flavours, especially cherry and strawberry, and has a clean and fresh finish.
Recommended pairing: This wine can be drunk as an aperitif but can be so delightful with a beetroot salad and, why not, even a chili crab.
2016 Soave Classico, Pieropan, Veneto, Italy
This wine comes from Soave, a small medieval town north of Italy in the Veneto region. Produced by Pieropan using garganega with a touch of trebbiano, this Classico boasts white flowers on the nose and citrusy flavours, a vibrant acidity with a round texture.
Recommended pairing: This easy to drink wine can match a variety of foods, such as a salad of artichoke, a cold crab dish, scallop carpaccio, grilled white fish and garlic prawns.
NV Billecart-Salmon, brut reserve, Champagne, France
“Summer is a time of many celebrations, why not drink champagne?” This non-vintage champagne is a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay, usually from the last the vintages. It is crisp, elegant and harmonious. It is also very good value given the quality of the wine, Chatte adds, made by a family-owned winery that dates back over 200 years.
Recommended pairing: It can be enjoyed on its own but is also enjoyable with a platter of aged cheese (comté or gouda), a fresh sea food platter, or even slow cooked pork jowl.
2014 Morgon, M. Lapierre, Beaujolais, France
Summer is a great time to discover lighter-style wines, such as those from Domaine M. Lapierre, the pioneer biodynamic winery in Beaujolais, located at the heart of the Grand Cru Morgon. The late Marcel Lapierre took over the family domaine from his father in 1973; it is now run by his daughter Camille and son Matthieu. This particular wine is made with 100 per cent Gamay. The nose is about red fruits and purple flowers with a hit of spice. The tannins are silky with a juicy finish. A “no makeup wine” as they like to say.
Recommended pairing: This wine can be enjoyed with barbecued sausages, a selection of cold cuts, a steak tartar or even chicken rice.
(Related: 10 Of The Best Brunello Wines To Drink Now)
2014 Banyuls, M. Chapoutier, Languedoc-Rousillon, France
For something much sweeter, Chatte recommends this fortified red sweet wine from the south of France. Made with 100 per cent Grenache, it has an intense nose of blackberry, plum and raisin and also some spice and flowers. The palate is very harmonious, with a balance of sweetness, acidity and alcohol. It has a long finish (with prominent notes of red and black berries). Summertime calls for it to be served a little colder than usual (about 10 degrees C).
Recommended pairing: It is not only chocolate that will complement this wine. Try also a cheese plater, a red berry dessert. Or just have it as an aperitif.