Raise a glass (and a fork) to Wine Fiesta 2019 – spend 4 to 6 October with winemakers for a taste of the best wines around the world, paired with specially curated gourmet feast!
So adulting makes you wine? This weekend-long event in October has your name written all over it. Wine Fiesta 2019, organised by The Straits Wine Company, is not just about that glass of red (or white). This year, Grand Hyatt Singapore’s Executive Sous Chef Gregor Streun has put together a special menu for an epicurean journey of wining and dining from 4 to 6 October.
Read on for a sneak peek and find out why you should snag your all-inclusive tickets to sample almost 200 pours (some super rare) from across the world. What dishes to eat, which wines to taste? We spotlight some of our favourite pours from around the world and what to pair them with…
Australia & New Zealand
Seafood lovers will be all over this bash, starting with the freshly-shucked oysters with mignonette and tabasco. Do it like the experts and swap out the lemon for a sip of the Babich Black Label Sauvignon Blanc (2018) for that dash of citrus. Hailing from Marlborough, this is the perfect white to complement the briny flavours of the sea.
If you love prawns, you have to taste the sustainable Spencer Gulf prawn cocktail. Better yet, try it with Tasmania’s Ministry of Clouds Chardonnay (2018). The fruity profile of this white wine will bring out the sweetness of the prawns and leave a clean finish on the palate.
Italy
Praise be to the food-in-a-cheese-wheel trend. In this case, risotto in a parmesan wheel. Have it with a glass of Scarbolo My Time (2013), which has just the right amount of body to hold its own against the cheese. This white wine features a slight butteriness alongside its fruity, honeyed notes, balancing out the creaminess of the dishes beautifully.
For the hearty seafood stew, we’d pair it with the Scarbolo Pinot Grigio ILRamato (2017). An offshoot of the pinot noir, the pinot grigio is a dry white that we love for its balance of lightness and complexity. (Expect a crisp taste that’s akin to a Sauvignon Blanc.) This one from Scarbolo will be a refreshing palate cleanser for each bite of your stew.
France & Spain
Isn’t an elaborate cheese platter the most crucial part for a wine party? On the board are also fruits, nuts, and an artisanal bread selection. But that’s not all – arm yourself with a glass of Chateau Sociando-Mallet Haut-Medoc (2012) for a mature Bordeaux that complements the cheese with velvety notes of red and black fruits.
From the Ribera del Duero region, we’d recommend trying the Bodegas Hermanos Perez Pascuas Vina Pedrosa Gran Reserva (2012), a remarkably smooth aged red whose layered notes are further enhanced when paired with bites from the cold cut platter.
USA
It’s all about the smokey taste of BBQ cuts here. Get a helping of beef to go with a glass of Betz Family Winery Clos De Betz (2015). The hearty protein will be well-matched by the full-bodied character of this intense red, bringing out the fruity notes of your pour at the same time.
Austria & Germany
You already know we aren’t counting calories at this fiesta, so it stands to reason that we won’t say no to dessert. In particular, the apple strudel with lashings of vanilla sauce. And make your last course fancier with a glass of Schloss Gobelsburg Auslese Riesling (2017). This dessert wine boasts a floral nose and honeyed character that will invite tasters for a refill.
P.S. Don’t miss the Winemakers’ Table Dinner!
Think iconic wines and vintages alongside gourmet eats, with the winemakers themselves playing host to the table. Of course, we can’t start without some wine, so make your way to the wine buffet bar to start the night on a high note.
Of the wines available, we absolutely have to spotlight the Seppeltsfield 1919 Para Vintage 100 Years Tawny from the Seppeltsfield Centennial Collection. This lineage of Tawny vintages date back to the 19th century, with the estate releasing a century-old bottle every year – that’s 130 consecutive single vintages and counting! Believed to be the world’s only wine lineage of its kind, you can’t miss the chance to taste a spoonful of this exclusive pour at the dinner party.
To whet your appetite, open with starters like sourdough with whipped butter and smoked beef fat; roasted beetroot salad with truffle and feta; and smoked salmon with creme fraiche, dill and grated horseradish.
On to the mains: Choose from the likes of Australian grass-fed and slow braised beef shank; Impossible meatballs with Greek yoghurt and pickled cucumber; Cameron Highland organic vegetable and herbs; and potato gratin with Gruyere cheese.
Love your desserts? There’s apple strudel, organic chocolate and black sesame tarts, summer berry trifle and more to satisfy your sweet tooth.
Special section: Whisky
Shoutout to all the whisky lovers, there’s a special corner for you this year.
Introduce your palate to Indian whiskys, beginning with the Amrut Fusion Single Malt Whisky. This warming malt begins with fruity and vanilla flavours before ending with a smoky finish. Fun fact: Amrut means nectar of gods/ immortality in Sanskrit, a fitting name for a bottle that’s been a gateway to the world of Indian whiskys for many.
Those who enjoy the layered interplay of sweet and salty notes will love the Old Pulteney 15 Years. This single malt Scotch is like a salted caramel cookie in whisky form, toeing the line between toffee-like sweetness and sea breeze saltiness before the spiced warmth sets in.
The final bottle we’ll highlight, the Teeling Single Malt Irish Whiskey is rich and complex – expect the characters of citrus, oak, sweet vanilla, dark chocolate and spices all in one sip!
Wine Fiesta 2019, The Gallery, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228211
5 Oct 2019 (Sat), 12-9pm
Tickets: $88 per pax; 4 tickets for $75 per pax
6 Oct 2019 (Sun), 12-7pm
Tickets: $78 per pax; 4 tickets for $65 per pax
Winemakers’ Table Dinner, The Gallery, Grand Hyatt Singapore, 10 Scotts Rd, Singapore 228211
4 Oct 2019 (Fri), from 6.30pm
Tickets: $188 per pax; 4 tickets or more at $178 per pax; 6 tickets or more at $168 per pax;10 tickets or more at $158
This post is in partnership with The Straits Wine Company.
