While returning, recently, from the Solomon Islands to France, the flight from Port Moresby in New Guinea was delayed, causing me to miss my connecting flight in Singapore to Dubai. I ended up staying 24 hours in Singapore and took a room for the night.
During the day I followed advice of the owner of Couvent des Jacobins winery located in Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux in France. Xavier Jean lives and works in Singapore in the finance sector, but also spends part of his time in France (a 1962 bottle of Couvent des Jacobins wine was featured in the new (and excellent) wine series on AppleTV titled The Drops of God).
Xavier, who was in Korea for a Vinexpo event when I was in Singapore, suggested visiting the following:
Orchid gardens
Arab Street / Haji Lane
Lunch somewhere at Dempsey Hill
For lunch I chose the first restaurant I saw on Dempsey Hill – named Blu Kouzina.
Dish 1.
Hummus—with greek tahini, organic chickpeas and extra virgin olive oil.
Wine 1.
2019 Domaine Sigalas Au. Made from the Assyrtiko grape grown on the Greek island of Santorini. Delicious with three key characteristics of many Assyrtiko wines—honey, salt and lime. A few years ago in Santorini I interviewed the owner of this winery, —Paris Sigalas, for a Forbes article.
Dish 2.
Santorini Salad—with cherry tomatoes, arugula, onions, green olives, caper leaves, feta goat cheese, vinegar, anchovies and extra virgin olive oil.
Wine 2.
2021 Thema. Blend of Assyrtiko and Sauvignon Blanc from northern Greece. Crisp, acidic.
SCENE & INSIDER ANGLES.
I took the advice of Xavier and visited Arab Street and Haji Lane and the Orchid Gardens. Singapore is blessed with some amazing and massive parks within its borders.
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I am now in the Languedoc region of southeastern France, which is a HUGE wine production area. I’ve been given names of wineries to check out by Wine Consultant Thomas Marchand of Burgundy, by Wine Documentary Producer Frederick Lot of Bordeaux and by Winery Owner Didier Gil of Château Haut Peyrat in Bordeaux.
Soon I will begin visiting and writing about these wines.
Also—it turns out that two doors down from where I am living for the month of June in the Minervois region of Languedoc is a small winery named Domaine de Babio. Run by Cécile Weissenbach and Salvy Delegue, the wine is reasonably priced and attractive. I highly recommend their 100% Cinsault wine, and bought a box yesterday.
