Celebrity Life

Matthew Lamb, group beverage manager for The Lo & Behold Group shares about the wines he'll be drinking this holiday season.

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

When we last wrote about robots replacing somms, we weren’t that serious about the idea. That said, New York-based Calvary Robotics is. Enter the Winecab, a wine management system that’s designed to ease and embellish your wine-and-dine experience in equal measure, thanks to some serious tech (including a metal arm).  The largest model of the […]

The post Winecab: your very own AI-powered wine management system appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

When we last wrote about robots replacing somms, we weren’t that serious about the idea. That said, New York-based Calvary Robotics is. Enter the Winecab, a wine management system that’s designed to ease and embellish your wine-and-dine experience in equal measure, thanks to some serious tech (including a metal arm).  The largest model of the […]

For more stories like this, visit www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg.

Not too keen on mass-market wine retailers or unreliable e-commerce operators? For a better wine-buying experience, visit our picks of the best and most well-stocked wine shops in Hong Kong.

While there’s no shortage of outstanding wine bars and restaurants with extensive wine lists in Hong Kong, that same level of excellence isn’t so easily found when it comes to the city’s wine retailers. Sure, you’re never far from a supermarket with a sizeable selection or even a big retailer with bottles from all over the world, but shopping at such places feels transactional and a bit joyless. Similarly, an increasing number of online stores offer variety and convenience but little guidance — it’s impersonal and uninspiring.

But then there are a handful of wonderful specialty wine shops where you can chat with passionate staff, expand your knowledge and challenge your palate with unusual and intriguing selections. If you enjoy going to stores where the experience is edifying and enhances your love of vino, consider our selection of the best wine shops in Hong Kong.

La Cabane Wine Cellar

Unwaveringly focused on natural and biodynamic wines, this stairside shop carries around 700 references from both New and Old World producers that tend to be small and artisanal. The knowledgeable staff can extol the virtues of unfiltered, additive-free wines before recommending funky skin contact wines and bottles of Pét Nat. Unfortunately the biweekly tasting events ceased in mid-March and have yet to resume, but buying one of their curated wine boxes is a smart way to sample unfamiliar styles and vineyards from the comfort of home.

La Cabane Wine Cellar, 10 Shing Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2517 0816

Burgundy Etc

A temple to one of the world’s great winemaking regions, this sophisticated shop houses a selection of more than a thousand wines and access to an inventory of over 6,000 labels — one of Hong Kong’s biggest Burgundy wine collections if not the biggest. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert on this wine region’s geography, however, because the shelves are organised by appellations, from all-important Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune to Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and beyond.

Burgundy Etc, Shop 108, 1/F, Central Building, 1-3 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2812 2009

Premier Cru

Billing itself as a “wine library,” this utterly charming and cosy venue is not only one of the best wine shops in Hong Kong, but also one of the most well-stocked. It carries more than a thousand French labels and is run by the third generation of a wine-loving family. The idea is that, similar to pulling a book from a shelf, you can pick up any bottle of wine here and learn something from owner Martin Perino and his talented team. Come for the reasonably priced wines — the markup here is two times rather than the typical three to five times found in most retail outlets — and stay for the welcoming, non-pretentious vibe, which spills out onto a lovely little terrace in the back.

Premier Cru, 15 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, +852 9522 5267

Oz Terroirs

Deepen your knowledge of Australian winemaking at this shop specialising in organic, biodynamic and small-batch wines from Down Under. Linked to a Melbourne-based exporter that mainly sources bottles from the Victoria region and passes its knowledge on to the Hong Kong team, this stairside boutique is the perfect place to learn more about the differences between wine from the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Beechworth and beyond. The selection changes regularly, so you’re bound to find something new each time you go back.

Oz Terroirs, 2 Mee Lun Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 6147 0460

Penticton

Helmed by Olivia Lee, a trained sommelier with a diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, this store celebrates innovation and the craft of winemaking while featuring labels that can’t be found anywhere else in Hong Kong. The shelves are stocked with small-batch bottles sourced from top-notch artisanal producers across France, including female winemakers, a relative rarity in the industry. The team here can tell you the story behind any bottle of wine, so ask away or learn more during one of their regular tastings and workshops.

Penticton, The Mills, Shop 121, 45 Pak Tin Par St, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, +852 2111 2621

Schmidt Vinothek

Is there a reason you’re not drinking more Riesling? If it’s because you’re only frequenting stores focused on countries like France, Italy and Spain, then it’s time to explore the wonderful wines of Germany, Austria and Switzerland at this shop, which has a sister location in Quarry Bay. These countries are most often associated with white wines, but you’ll find reds, roses and even sparkling wines on the shelves of this well-stocked shop, so be adventurous and your palate will be rewarded.

Schmidt Vinothek, Yuk Sing Building, 1-9 Yuk Sau St, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, +852 2838 2818

L’Imperatrice

With a name that means ‘the empress,’ you might expect this handsome shop to only sell wines priced for royalty. Fortunately that’s not the case, but the well-curated selection is very fine indeed, with a primary focus on up-and-coming producers employing organic or biodynamic techniques, as well as outstanding examples of traditional winemakers. This is a great place to expand your knowledge of under-appreciated French wine regions such as Jura, Savoie and Languedoc-Roussillon, in addition to artisanal grower Champagnes.

L’Imperatrice, 56 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, +852 5345 3582

Avize Wine Cellar

There’s much more to the world of Champagne than Krug, Dom Pérignon and Veuve Clicquot, as you’ll learn firsthand at this shop specialising in labels from the world’s most famous sparkling wine region. Yes, you can find those big names here (including hard-to-find vintages from past decades), but take advantage of the overwhelming variety to try something new. Whether you’re looking for a bottle that costs less than HK$500 or more than HK$15,000, you’re sure to find a sparkler that suits your taste here.

Avize Wine Cellar, G/F, 17 Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2567 0883

(Main image: Burgundy Etc; Featured image: Roberta Sorge/ Unsplash)

The post Raise a Toast to the Best Specialty Wine Shops in Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Not too keen on mass-market wine retailers or unreliable e-commerce operators? For a better wine-buying experience, visit our picks of the best and most well-stocked wine shops in Hong Kong.

While there’s no shortage of outstanding wine bars and restaurants with extensive wine lists in Hong Kong, that same level of excellence isn’t so easily found when it comes to the city’s wine retailers. Sure, you’re never far from a supermarket with a sizeable selection or even a big retailer with bottles from all over the world, but shopping at such places feels transactional and a bit joyless. Similarly, an increasing number of online stores offer variety and convenience but little guidance — it’s impersonal and uninspiring.

But then there are a handful of wonderful specialty wine shops where you can chat with passionate staff, expand your knowledge and challenge your palate with unusual and intriguing selections. If you enjoy going to stores where the experience is edifying and enhances your love of vino, consider our selection of the best wine shops in Hong Kong.

La Cabane Wine Cellar

Unwaveringly focused on natural and biodynamic wines, this stairside shop carries around 700 references from both New and Old World producers that tend to be small and artisanal. The knowledgeable staff can extol the virtues of unfiltered, additive-free wines before recommending funky skin contact wines and bottles of Pét Nat. Unfortunately the biweekly tasting events ceased in mid-March and have yet to resume, but buying one of their curated wine boxes is a smart way to sample unfamiliar styles and vineyards from the comfort of home.

La Cabane Wine Cellar, 10 Shing Hing Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2517 0816

Burgundy Etc

A temple to one of the world’s great winemaking regions, this sophisticated shop houses a selection of more than a thousand wines and access to an inventory of over 6,000 labels — one of Hong Kong’s biggest Burgundy wine collections if not the biggest. Don’t worry if you’re not an expert on this wine region’s geography, however, because the shelves are organised by appellations, from all-important Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune to Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault, Puligny-Montrachet and beyond.

Burgundy Etc, Shop 108, 1/F, Central Building, 1-3 Pedder Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 2812 2009

Premier Cru

Billing itself as a “wine library,” this utterly charming and cosy venue is not only one of the best wine shops in Hong Kong, but also one of the most well-stocked. It carries more than a thousand French labels and is run by the third generation of a wine-loving family. The idea is that, similar to pulling a book from a shelf, you can pick up any bottle of wine here and learn something from owner Martin Perino and his talented team. Come for the reasonably priced wines — the markup here is two times rather than the typical three to five times found in most retail outlets — and stay for the welcoming, non-pretentious vibe, which spills out onto a lovely little terrace in the back.

Premier Cru, 15 High Street, Sai Ying Pun, Hong Kong, +852 9522 5267

Oz Terroirs

Deepen your knowledge of Australian winemaking at this shop specialising in organic, biodynamic and small-batch wines from Down Under. Linked to a Melbourne-based exporter that mainly sources bottles from the Victoria region and passes its knowledge on to the Hong Kong team, this stairside boutique is the perfect place to learn more about the differences between wine from the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula, Beechworth and beyond. The selection changes regularly, so you’re bound to find something new each time you go back.

Oz Terroirs, 2 Mee Lun Street, Central, Hong Kong, +852 6147 0460

Penticton

Helmed by Olivia Lee, a trained sommelier with a diploma from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, this store celebrates innovation and the craft of winemaking while featuring labels that can’t be found anywhere else in Hong Kong. The shelves are stocked with small-batch bottles sourced from top-notch artisanal producers across France, including female winemakers, a relative rarity in the industry. The team here can tell you the story behind any bottle of wine, so ask away or learn more during one of their regular tastings and workshops.

Penticton, The Mills, Shop 121, 45 Pak Tin Par St, Tsuen Wan, Hong Kong, +852 2111 2621

Schmidt Vinothek

Is there a reason you’re not drinking more Riesling? If it’s because you’re only frequenting stores focused on countries like France, Italy and Spain, then it’s time to explore the wonderful wines of Germany, Austria and Switzerland at this shop, which has a sister location in Quarry Bay. These countries are most often associated with white wines, but you’ll find reds, roses and even sparkling wines on the shelves of this well-stocked shop, so be adventurous and your palate will be rewarded.

Schmidt Vinothek, Yuk Sing Building, 1-9 Yuk Sau St, Happy Valley, Hong Kong, +852 2838 2818

L’Imperatrice

With a name that means ‘the empress,’ you might expect this handsome shop to only sell wines priced for royalty. Fortunately that’s not the case, but the well-curated selection is very fine indeed, with a primary focus on up-and-coming producers employing organic or biodynamic techniques, as well as outstanding examples of traditional winemakers. This is a great place to expand your knowledge of under-appreciated French wine regions such as Jura, Savoie and Languedoc-Roussillon, in addition to artisanal grower Champagnes.

L’Imperatrice, 56 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong, +852 5345 3582

Avize Wine Cellar

There’s much more to the world of Champagne than Krug, Dom Pérignon and Veuve Clicquot, as you’ll learn firsthand at this shop specialising in labels from the world’s most famous sparkling wine region. Yes, you can find those big names here (including hard-to-find vintages from past decades), but take advantage of the overwhelming variety to try something new. Whether you’re looking for a bottle that costs less than HK$500 or more than HK$15,000, you’re sure to find a sparkler that suits your taste here.

Avize Wine Cellar, G/F, 17 Moreton Terrace, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong, +852 2567 0883

(Main image: Burgundy Etc; Featured image: Roberta Sorge/ Unsplash)

The post Raise a Toast to the Best Specialty Wine Shops in Hong Kong appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

The elusive quality that makes us want to drink a glass of wine right away is often encapsulated by critics and connoisseurs in a single word: Wine drinkability. But what does it mean? James Suckling and Zekun Shuai explain.

Many years ago, when talking about drinkability we were probably discussing whether the wine in question was within the suitable drinking window to pull out the cork. Today however, drinkability means much more than simply “suitability for drinking”.

At JamesSuckling.com, drinkability is one of the measures we use for quality, and often it’s one of the basic yet essential indicators for a wine scoring 90 points or above – a threshold for high quality. A 90-point wine is a wine that you want to drink the whole glass right away; 95 points or more, you want to finish the bottle yourself!

A “drinkable cabernet” in a tasting note needs to be interpreted within the context. Is the wine suitable for now? Are we euphemistically suggesting the wine has minimally worthy concentration? Or increasingly, are we saying the wine is an approachable, easy-to-drink bottle that arouses the desire to drink effortlessly? The latter is a way of showing how much the drinker likes the wine in a simple way.

[caption id="attachment_212394" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Wine drinkability means much more than simply “suitability for drinking”. (Image: Kelsey Knight/ Unsplash)[/caption]

Evaluating drinkability comes when we consider the essential function of a wine. If we were to make a comparison with two different piles of apples on a balance, when a taster highlights a wine’s drinkability, today that probably suggests that the pointer is tilting away from the riper, softer and sweeter red apples towards the fresher, crunchier green ones – the kind that make you salivate.

As many critics and journalists advocate for the drinkability of wine, top producers are also scrupulously assessing the sugar-acid balance of the grapes before harvest, as they simultaneously try to maintain ripeness and freshness, while staying away from overripe, jammy fruit or over-extraction in the cellar. Thus, the drinkability of wine is very much associated with descriptors such as “fresh and pure fruit”, “bright acidity”, “bone-dry palate”, “nuance or finesse”, “precision”, “harmony”, “elegance” and a “linear, mineral texture”, and most often is associated with wines that express character and a sense of place.

[caption id="attachment_212386" align="aligncenter" width="821"] Wine drinkability most often is associated with wines that express character and a sense of place.[/caption]

So, a wine’s drinkability today reflects a new and still-evolving trend of wine styles that underline the wisdom of “less could be more”. Whether driven by the trend or driving it, wine journalism is also adjusting, marking an aesthetic return to classicism. It turns the wheel to precision and balance again, even though “balance” itself is now a cliché that’s much too vague and inclusive.

For simple wines, drinkability is almost a given. But for the more complex, ambitious bottles with a substantial concentration of flavours that aim to please and can age, we can say it’s a gift.

Definitely Drinkable

The JamesSuckling.com team selects six sought-after wines that hit the spot in a range of prices and categories.

William Fèvre Chablis Gran Cru Les Clos 2017

[caption id="attachment_212389" align="aligncenter" width="452"] William Fèvre Chablis Gran Cru Les Clos 2017[/caption]

Score: 98
Chablis is probably one of the most underrated yet intellectually challenging and drinkable white wines. The best are known for their full but linear, minerally texture with the nuanced and complex limy, chalky mixture of yellow and green fruit. This William Fèvre Grand Cru Les Clos is a must-buy for quality and great value.

Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py 2018

[caption id="attachment_212391" align="aligncenter" width="354"] Jean Foillard Morgon Côte du Py 2018[/caption]

Score: 96
You don’t need to pay a high price for drinkability. Beaujolais has a name for making lighter, cheerful and drinkable wines, and this Jean Foillard Morgon Cote du Py gives “Bojo” a serious, structured dimension at a great-value price point. And, of course, drinkability is at its core.

Schäfer- Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck GG 2018

[caption id="attachment_212390" align="aligncenter" width="224"] Schäfer- Fröhlich Riesling Nahe Felseneck GG 2018[/caption]

Score: 99
The top GG German Rieslings have impeccable drinkability, with zesty, lightly fragrant but subtle aromas. And there are great-value bottles almost everywhere. This 99-point Schäfer- Fröhlich Riesling is a textbook example of a dry Riesling with succulence, mineral purity and power.

Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2012

[caption id="attachment_212388" align="aligncenter" width="263"] Catena Zapata Adrianna Vineyard Fortuna Terrae Malbec 2012[/caption]

Score: 100
A deeply coloured, rich Argentine Malbec from Catena Zapata, many of whose wines have a supple, ethereal character that unwinds evenly on the palate.

Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008

[caption id="attachment_212392" align="aligncenter" width="387"] Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008[/caption]

Score: 99
It’s almost unnecessary to mention the drinkability of a fine bubbly, especially Blanc de Blancs and the fine zero dosage. This nervy and composed Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 2008 was released recently and is perfect for drinking now, yet could also be cellared for a decade or two.

Gonzalez Byass Jerez Tio Pepe Fino Dos Palmas NV

[caption id="attachment_212387" align="aligncenter" width="333"] Gonzalez Byass Jerez Tio Pepe Fino Dos Palmas NV[/caption]

Score: 95
Still think that fortified sherries are old-fashioned? Try this rich but fabulously creamy, briny and well-aged fino, probably one of the top and best-value sherries made by Gonzalez Byass. The austere yet complex flavours, along with unique floral characters, deconstruct the common perception of drinkability — you don’t need high acidity to deliver that in a wine, or at least not with sherries.

The post What Exactly Does Wine Drinkability Mean? appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.