Sip, savour, shop
At the inaugural Booze Fest 2018, visitors discovered fine wines, beers and products from all over the world, under one roof at I12 Katong.
From 5 to 7 October, epicure marked the debut of its first wine, beer and cocktail festival at the atrium of I12 Katong Mall. The flurry of activity started early as nine vendors set up their stalls to sling out beers, wines, food and drink accessories.
Adding to the atmosphere were tutored workshops by guest speakers, quizzes and lucky draws that enticed mall-goers. Up for grabs were a two-day hotel stay at
Hotel Indigo Singapore Katong, a Coravin wine dispenser set from Yeo Teck Seng, premium Schott Zwiesel beer and wine glass sets, wine hampers from Certain Cellars and Alentasia, dining vouchers from The Chop House, automatic wine openers from Made For Drinks, and cash vouchers from Marketplace and Hatyai Noodle Café, sponsored by I12 Katong.
All registered guests also received goodie bags worth $50, comprising gifts such as mall vouchers, wine vouchers, Made For Drinkers products, as well as epicure magazine and sister title Squarerooms.
World of wines and beers
Kosher wines reigned from Israel International Wine Chateau, where rounded, fruity Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot were the dominant grapes in their Noah Winery and Jerusalem Hills range. Alentasia specialises in wines from Portugal. Standing out was the Confidencial Tinto 2015, which keeps its 10-variety blend of reds a secret.
Certain Cellars, which showcased one of the most diverse range of wines from Spain, Australia, New
Zealand and U.S.A., also presented the Pizzorno Don Prospero 2015, a Sauvignon Blanc, and Pizzorno Select Blend Reserva comprising Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Malbec, from Uruguay. We also loved the wines from Iconic Wines, which carries one of the most comprehensive Spanish wines in Singapore. This time around, they had Beronia Verdejo and Crianza from Tempranillo grapes.
Oenophiles may be familiar with Barefoot, but Ghost Pines and Carnivor from E&J Gallo? The two labels hold 100% Zinfandel, the native grape of California, which was bold yet fresh and ready to drink. Also making a splash at the fair was 1855 The Bottle Shop, who brought along their Bordeaux and Rhone selections, plus some sparkling and Australian bottles for variety.
The beer variety was no slouch either, with Pilsner Urquell and craft beers like Blue Moon and State IPA from The Chop House; Spanish brand Estrella Galicia from Iconic Wines, and Trouble Brewing's range of bespoke beers, brewed in Singapore. Chug, a drinking lifestyle pass, also offered local Archipelago beer at their stand.
Stage presence
In between sipping and moving around the booths, attention was also drawn to the stage programmes, where chef Alvin Leong from Hotel Indigo and Holiday Inn Express Singapore Katong presented canapes featuring his Peranakan dishes from Baba Chews Bar & Eatery. Our wine editor June
Lee paired these Asian bites with three wines from Certain Cellars, looking for synergy between mini ayam buak keluak burger with Pinot Gris, beef rendang meatball with Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot, and pulled pork pongteh on brioche bun with Pinot Noir.
Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator Alvin Neo from The White Rabbit lent his knowledge to the wine workshops, the first with Israeli wines, and the second with Portuguese wines. Thanks to Neo, we got a taste of the premium Jerusalem Winery Reserve which cost $188, and was not otherwise available for sampling.
Certified whisky ambassador and bar consultant Hilda Tan also conducted workshops. The first was a muddled caipirinha with a tropical twist of gula Melaka, calamansi limes and coconut oil to bring out familiar flavours. Next was a refreshing Americano which received a creamy head of Estrella Galicia beer foam. Tan also helped to judge our Tastiest Gin & Tonic contest, using ingredients like strawberries, kaffir lime leaves and blue pea flowers together with Hendricks, Roku and Tanqueray gins.
All in all, we raised our glasses to a thirst-quenching weekend that left visitors wanting more at our next edition. Cheers!