Wine has been viewed as a luxury item for many regular Singaporeans. However, they are not necessarily costly. Most importantly, do you know they can bring about lots of health and even social benefits?
Benefits of Buying Wine
It’s a Very Convenient, Yet Classy Gift Idea!
You’re heading for a row of Christmas parties, and you have absolutely no idea what to buy. There’s a vast number of people turning up for the party. Everyone has different interests and preferences. To make matters worse, during the mystery gift exchange, you might not even know if the receiver’s going to like your present!
One gift idea that will likely be accepted by many is, you guessed it, a bottle of wine! They’re like the Chicken Rice of Christmas gifts. It’s a popular option when you run out of ideas. It’s favoured by both genders, and people would rarely complain about receiving an additional bottle of wine.
Aside from Christmas, bringing along a bottle of wine during a brunch gathering or a dinner party at someone’s home is definitely very appreciated. Read on to the next point to find out why!
Improves Your Dining Experience
When paired correctly, wine can create a symphony of delight, together with your food’s aftertaste. That’s why many fine-dining establishments hire professional sommeliers to help diners pair a suitable wine to enhance your dining pleasure.
Amazing Health Benefits
Wine has been linked with several health benefits. For example, a research done in 2006 (1) has shown the links between procyanidins found in red wine and healthy blood vessels.
Additionally, drinking red wine in moderation has also been linked to longevity.
Outside of Japan, the region with the highest life expectancy is the Mediterranean region, also known as the Blue Zone. In various areas in Italy and Greece, it’s not uncommon to find centurions who frequently feast on the famous “Mediterranean Diet”, which includes drinking red wine! Various studies (2) have shown that the resveratrol found in wine has a positive effect in promoting longevity.
Increases Your Creativity
Stuck in a writing task? According to some Austrian scientists (3), a glass of wine can also increase your creative brainstorming juices! Again, please drink in moderation!
How to Order Wine at a Shop for Beginners
Best Wines for First-Timers
If you’re buying wine for yourself and are totally new to this realm, it’s reasonable to be a little concern about the taste and the alcoholic content. To help bridge you to the world of wine appreciation, you can start off with:
White Wine:
- Moscato – A dessert wine that’s low on alcohol content and has a sweet and fruity aftertaste.
- Sauvignon Blanc – Another light-bodied wine that delights your tongue with notes of lime, peach and apple.
- Chardonnay – Possibly the most known white wine out there, this white wine is usually dry, meaning not sweet. Yet, you can still experience notes of apple, pear, butter and toast!
Red Wine:
- Grenache or Garnacha – A light to medium-bodied wine that’s high on acidity and gives your tongue a citrusy sensation.
- Australian Shiraz – From the valleys of down under, this is an excellent wine for beginners to experience a full-bodied taste, i.e. strong in flavour and aroma.
- Zinfandel – Originally from Croatia, this wine has also flourished in many places. Italy and California have also evolved and produced their own versions of Zinfandel. It’s a delightful fusion of fruity and spicy tastes.
Wine Pairing Knowledge
Wine pairing is a delicate art which may take some experience to master. Fortunately, I’ve searched through the online world and found 2 videos for you to ease your workload!
In the above video, the 2 main guidelines for pairing wine are “mirroring” and “contrasting”. The former refers to choosing wines with ingredients and tastes that are relatively similar to your food. The latter usually refers to pairing foods that are high in fat with wines high in acidity and tannins.
With that being said, our taste buds are a very peculiar sensory organ. Different people will experience the wine-food pairing differently. You can also use your own discretion to determine the best pairing for yourself!
You can also learn more about wine to build up a more discerning palate, which brings me to my next point.
Attend a Wine Appreciation Class
Several wine shops hold regular wine appreciation classes and wine tasting events. It’s an excellent opportunity to get oriented in the world of wine and meet new friends!
Knowing about wine is more than just being able to purchase the right wine for your food pairing. It broadens you cognitively. With sufficient wine knowledge, you can say goodbye to awkward moments during conversations about wine! Additionally, you can also ease your way into establishing a relationship with high-ticket clients through wine talk!
(1) Corder, R., Mullen, W., Khan, N. et al. Red wine procyanidins and vascular health. Nature 444, 566, 2006. https://doi.org/10.1038/444566a. Accessed 26 June 2020.
(2) Giacosa A, Barale R, Bavaresco L, Faliva MA, Gerbi V, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Opizzi A, Perna S, Pezzotti M, Rondanelli M, Mediterranean Way of Drinking and Longevity, Critical reviews in food science and nutrition, n.d., https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25207479/. Accessed 26 June 2020.
(3) Benekdek Mathias, Panzierer Lisa, Jauk Emanuel, Neubauer Aljoscha C. Institute of Psychology, University of Graz, Austria. “Creativity on tap? Effects of alcohol intoxication on creative cognition”, Consciousness and Cognition, Volume 56, Pages 128-134, July 10, 2017. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1053810016303713?via%3Dihub. Accessed 26 June 2020.
Shop |
Le Vigne Wines & Spirits
|
| Speciality | Founded in 2002, this wine shop has a generous curation of the finest wines for special occasions, such as Father’s Day. Aside from wine, Le Vigne Wines & Spirits also sells whisky, spirits, liqueurs, as well as glassware and chillers.
If you like to attend a wine tasting event, they can also arrange one for you at any place of your convenience! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.singaporewines.com/ |
| Address | 72 Namly Pl, Singapore 267220 |
| Telephone | (65) 6314 2287 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 10.30am – 6.30pm Sat-Sun: 12pm – 6.30pm |
| Review | “Wide selection of whiskies and wine for retail purchase. Excellent service from staff. We had a good group whisky tasting session with finger food like nice cheeses, sausages etc” |
Shop |
Fine Wines |
| Speciality | Fine Wines has an equally fine website. One thing that impressed me about their website is that it’s highly intuitive. After lingering around for some time, a helpful pop-up appears, offering a LiveChat function to guide you in choosing your ideal wine!
Fine Wines specialises in Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne. Additionally, they offer a catalogue of wine accessories. Looking for wine as an investment? Fine Wines also offer En Primeur wines, where you can invest in before-bottled wines and sell it off years later for a profit. Last but not least, Fine Wines also host an impressive range of wine appreciation and wine tasting events, including a personal sommelier for hire! Their wine tasting room is also available for hire. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.finewines.com.sg/ |
| Address | 114 Lavender Street CT Hub 2, elTOV #02-60, Singapore 338729 |
| Telephone | (65) 6385 2438 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 10am – 6pm
Sat: 10am – 5pm |
| Review | “Attended a virtual class conducted by PK. Learned a lot from about Bordeaux wines and got me interested more on wines. Worth to attend for beginners even with no knowledge of wines” |
Shop |
Wine Connection |
| Speciality | Featuring a list of wine shops around Singapore, Wine Connection also offers a Live Chat service for any enquiries. Additionally, there are several sister bistros where you can marry delicious dishes with some of their finest wine selections. There’s a range of wine tasting and food/wine pairing promotions available all year round at their outlets!
Most importantly, you can find award-winning wines in their online catalogue! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.wineconnection.com.sg/ |
| Address | Find a store near you |
| Telephone | (65)6256 1092 |
| Operating Hours | 10am – 10pm daily |
| Review | “A great place for last min wine shopping.. so many to choose from..” |
Shop |
The Straits Wine Company |
| Speciality | Aside from a collection of Red and White wines, The Straits Wine Company also boost a selection of Rose and Sparkling wines. Additionally, self-proclaimed wine snobs can also find a collection of niche items, such as biodynamic, sustainable and vegan wines.
Aside from wine, The Straits Wine Company also retails gin, vodka and whisky. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://straitswine.com/ |
| Address | 930 E Coast Rd, Singapore 459118 |
| Telephone | (65) 6243 2833 |
| Operating Hours | 12pm – 9pm daily |
| Review 3 | “Great recommendation by the store on a red wine selection. Flexible on bringing your own food. No gimmicks, just great wine.” |
Shop |
Underground Wines |
Specialty |
|
Website |
https://www.undergroundwines.com.sg |
Address |
Online exclusive, Walk0-Ins welcome by prior appointment: 315 Outram Road, #07-04 Tan Boon Liat Building, Singapore 169074 (By Appointment Only). |
Telephone |
(65) 6514 3227 |
Shop |
Bottles & Bottles |
| Speciality | You’d definitely be expecting a wide array of wine from a name like this! Bottles & Bottles offer an online catalogue that will definitely not disappoint wine geeks. They have painstakingly put all the wines into various categories, such as region, varietal and brands.
Aside from Red and White, you can also find Rose and Sparkling win in Bottles & Bottles. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.bottlesandbottles.com.sg |
| Address |
|
| Telephone | (65) 6288 8128 |
| Operating Hours | Find a store near you |
| Review 3 | “Knowledgable staff Clarence and knowibg my low budget n wanting a champagne. Introduced an affordable chamapgne. Spent weeks in singapore looking for one. Forget searching. Just come here.” |
Shop |
Century Cellars |
| Speciality | Century Cellars allow you to take a trip around the world with an impressive range of wine from all 6 habitable continents!
Aside from wine, you can also purchase beer, liqueur, whisky, champagne and non-alcoholic beverages such as sparkling water and fruit tonics! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://centurycellars.com.sg/ |
| Address | 374 East Coast Rd, Singapore 428983 |
| Telephone | (65) 6242 2120 |
| Operating Hours | 12pm – 9pm daily |
| Review 3 | “What can I say? Ever since they opened an outlet at east coast, I have been going to them for all my wine and whisky purchases. Keith and Jayson both have great knowledge about the assortment of goodies they carry,and would do their best always to find something good to suit my ever-changing palate. Kudos to you guys, keep it up!” |
Shop |
Kweichow Moutai |
| Speciality |
This brand houses the world’s largest distiller and also became the world’s most valuable liquor company in 2017. Specialising in Maotai Baijiu, a spirit that contains anywhere from 36%-60% of alcohol.
With a history that stems all the way back to the Qing Dynasty, this liquor claimed international attention during Nixon’s 1972 visit to China. Drinking baijiu has been linked with health benefits, such as improve blood circulation and prevention of cardiovascular diseases.
|
| Pricing | Click here to enquire |
| Website | https://kweichowmoutai-singapore.business.site/ |
| Address | 397 Jln Besar, #01-01, Singapore 209007 |
| Telephone | (65) 6291 2592 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 10.30am – 5.30pm |
Shop |
Wine & Spirits |
| Speciality |
Wine & Spirits is a whiskey shop that also offers wines, spirits, cocktails, beers and liqueurs. Additionally, you can also find non-alcoholic beverages, such as ginger beer and soda water.
|
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://winesnspirits.sg/ |
| Telephone | (65) 9223 7443 |
| Review | “If you like Japanese whisky as much as I do, Wines N Spirits is a good place to browse through. I managed to find this rare bottle from them cheaper than most on carousell and other sites. This place is great for collectors as the team was very helpful in getting a bottle with perfect condition for me. Definitely will buy from them again.” |
Shop |
California Wines & More |
| Speciality |
Specialising in wine from the famous Napa and Sonoma Valleys, you can find some of their renowned produce, such as Zinfandels, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in this shop.
|
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://www.californiawinesandmore.com/ |
| Address | 1 W Coast Dr, NEWest @01-81, Singapore 128020 |
| Telephone | (65) 6352 1264 |
| Operating Hours | 12pm – 10pm daily |
| Review | “Affordable Wine Bristol,fine napa valley wine establishments and everything in joys. With the widest 200 selection of CALIFORNIA grape wines,sherry wines and port wines here, plus a few selection of Australian,Italian and France bottles here,California Wine Bar is one of the best place in Newest,West Coast Dr to head to for a casual gathering while imbibing glass after glass of vino in my experience.” |
Shop |
Vinothek Leopold |
| Speciality |
In addition to the wine shop, The Leopold Group boasts a Gastrobar, where it played host to some events during the Austrian Wine Week in Singapore for many consecutive years.
They specialise in European wines, which has been featured and served in many upscale establishments in Singapore, such as Andaz and Atlas Bar. You can also purchase these exquisite wine online.
Their luxe factor doesn’t stop there. The Leopold Group have also started to offer private yacht trips to the southern islands of Singapore. You can have your private party, amidst a breathtaking view and fit-for-a-king feast!
|
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | http://leopold.sg/ |
| Address | 96 Tanjong Pagar Road, Singapore 088517 |
| Telephone | +65 6534 7644 |
| Operating Hours | 4pm – 10.30pm (Daily) |
| Review 1 | “(Translation) Great atmosphere, great wines and lots of fun!” |
Shop |
Wines Online |
| Speciality | Wines Online is Singapore’s first online and leading beverage retailer since 2003. Houses a huge collection of wine and spirits online. Also sells sparkling water.
They also have an app where you can purchase wine at a lower cost! For regular wine consumers, you’d be delighted to know that Wines Online is also selling their gift card starting from $100! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://winesonline.com.sg/ |
| Address | 71 Bukit Batok Cres, #08-04 Prestige Centre, Singapore 658071 |
| Telephone | (65) 6974 8100
|
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 10am – 6pm |
| Review | “Excellent service! Kenny took time to arrange for a replacement wine for me when the one I ordered ran out of stock. Thanks for going above and beyond to get the wine to me!” |
Shop |
1855 The Bottle Shop |
| Speciality | A household name within the local wine retailing scene, 1885 The Bottle Shop houses a collection of a fantastic array of wines, whisky and spirits.
Their website is also very user-friendly. You don’t have to worry about which one is which. They have organised their liquor into type, vintage, country, region, brand, vintage and price to facilitate your buying process. They also offer wine and whiskey tasting events. For loyal customers, you’d be happy to know that you can also have a taste of their hospitality at their 4 fine-dining establishments. They are Grill By 1885, Wakanui, Perch and The Spot. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.1855thebottleshop.com/ |
| Address |
|
| Telephone | (65) 6820 1855 |
| Operating Hours | 11am – 9pm daily |
| Review 1 | “Excellent wine recommendations, great service from the store.“ |
Shop |
Nectars & Vine |
| Speciality | A down-to-earth looking establishment. Nectars & Vine offers a variety of craft beer, wine and whiskey. Dubbed as “one of the most popular hangouts in Serangoon and Kovan area”, you don’t have to worry about formal dress code while enjoying an exquisite glass of wine. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.nectarsvine.com |
| Address | 752 Upper Serangoon Rd, Singapore 534623 |
| Telephone | (65) 6372 1125 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Thur & Sun: 5pm – 1am Fri & Sat: 5pm – 2am |
| Review | “Always a great place to hang and drink. Super chill and relaxed. Great prices :)” |
Shop |
Whistler Wine & Spirits |
| Speciality | Specialising in the finest alcohol selections from various regions of Japan, this shop also sells liqueur and whiskey. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://whistler.com.sg |
| Address | 61 Yishun Industrial Park A, #04-02, Singapore 768767 |
| Telephone | (65) 6748 7820 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Fri: 9am – 6pm |
| Review | “Ordering online is easy. You can choose to pay via credit/debit card or bank transfer. Once payment is received, someone will email you to arrange for delivery. My purchases were delivered the following day. Super efficient.” |
Shop |
La Petit Boutique |
| Speciality | La Petit Boutique is a little slice of heaven for connoisseurs of French wine. You can also buy charcuterie platters and cheese from various animals. They even have a store where you can purchase vegetables, meat, cold cuts and other ingredients for you to whip up your ideal French dinner! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://petiteboutique-sg.com/ |
| Address | 4 Kensington Park Rd, Singapore 557256 |
| Telephone | (65) 6717 1489 |
| Operating Hours | 8am – 7pm daily |
| Review | “A near by place to learn about authentic French cuisine. The nearest place to have Tiong Baru bakery pastry for those who live at the north east or east.” |
Shop |
Hop Shop |
| Speciality | Here’s your chance to experience the world through a wholesome catalogue of craft beers from all around the world! Additionally, there’s also a wide variety of wine from various geographical regions available for purchase. Liqueurs such as cognac, tequila and vodka can also be purchased. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.hopshop.com.sg/ |
| Address | 1 Jln Anak Bukit, Bukit Timah Plaza #B1-15, Singapore 588996 |
| Telephone | (65) 9297 0579 |
| Operating Hours | 11am – 9pm daily |
| Review | “Small but very well stocked shop full of imported beers, ciders, spirits and wines. Friendly knowledgeable owner who is happy to make recommendations and suggestions. Good for finding beers from home (wherever you’re from) or trying new ones.” |
Shop |
Artisan Cellars |
| Speciality | Artisan Cellars is an art gallery-like shop which specialises in handcrafted artisanal wine from all over the world. The entire winemaking process is sustainable, organic and biodynamic. You can find handcrafted Champagne, Burgundy and Loire, among some of their selections. |
| Website | https://www.artisan-cellars.com/ |
| Address | 390 Orchard Road, B1-01 Palais Renaissance, Singapore 238871 |
| Telephone | +65 6838 0373 |
| Operating Hours | 9 am – 6 pm (Mon – Fri) |
| Review | “8 excellent craft beers on tap at great prices. Especially at happy hour. And the bottle selection will make any beer nerd happy.” |
Shop |
Carecci & Figli |
| Speciality | Italians are passionate about their wine and dining culture, and if you’re equally as passionate, Carcecci & Figli is the store for you! Aside from the curated list of Red, White and Sparkling wines, you can also purchase Italian produce, such as pasta, truffles, olive oils and vinegars! |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.carecci.com |
| Address |
|
| Telephone | (65) 6734 0468 |
| Operating Hours | 11.30am -10pm daily |
| Review | “I just check the offers on wine when I do my weakly Carecci & Figli online shop. One of my favorite wines shop in Singapore but the taste of wine is the best comparatively to other wine shops.” |
Shop |
Wine To Share |
| Speciality | Wine To Share is a specialist in South African wines. Their selections step from the country’s finest winemaking regions, such as Constantia, Franschoek, Stellenbosch, Walker Bay, Elgin, and Hemel-en-Aarde. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://winetoshare.com |
| Address | 1 Piccadilly, Singapore 798364 |
| Telephone | (65) 9118 8130 |
| Review | “Wine To Share, is a fantastic company! they offer an incredible range of great South African wines that are very well priced. The delivery of the wines is also the exceptionally quick. The best wine company in Singapore, in my view, couldn’t recommend ordering wine from here enough.” |
Shop |
Grand Cru Wine Concierge |
| Speciality | Located in the historic Fullerton Hotel, Grand Cru Wine Concierge boasts a range of wines, including Red, White, Sparkling, Rose, Desert and Fortified. Their selection hails from many popular wine-growing regions around the world. |
| Pricing | Click here to view |
| Website | https://www.grandcruwines.com/ |
| Address | 1 Fullerton Square, #01-07, Singapore 049178 |
| Telephone | (65) 9067 8497 |
| Operating Hours | Mon-Sat: 5.30pm – 11.30pm |
| Review | “Attended the Wine Sensory Experience workshop and took the premium package. It was held in a private room; good ambience and nice setting. The sommelier Yang was very interactive and explained the details of each wine patiently to my friends and I. Really enjoyed the session and it was really really good!!” |
Shop |
African Market Place |
Specialty |
We are enthusiastic about introducing you to the beauty of South African wine.We have taken great care in selecting a wide variety of outstanding wines for your drinking pleasure, from family operated farms & boutique wineries to your firm mainstream favourites. All these wines are consistent top performers in their class and have been tried and enjoyed by our selection panel of experts. Singapore’s biggest importer of South African wines Over 140+ wines from the top estates in the beautiful Cape Wine Regions to choose from Wines are competitively priced and range from value for money everyday drinking wines to special occasion iconic wines |
Website |
https://africanmarketplace.sg |
Pricing |
Click here to view |
Address |
Henderson Industrial Park, 205 Henderson Rd, #06-01A, Singapore 159549 |
Contact |
Tel: (65) 6662 9291Email: [email protected] |
Operating Hours |
Mon – Fri: 10.30 am to 4.30 pm |
Review |
“Not enough stars to rate this place highly enough. Awesome selection of everything: food, wine and local artisan goods from South Africa. And a great gin selection to boot! Wonderful service … I got mine same day from order to delivery. Highly recommend.” – Melissa Eisner |
Editor’s Note:
While every precaution has been made to ensure the accuracy and fairness of this listing, we acknowledge that they may be inaccuracies. Therefore, we urge you to contact the service provider above for the correct information and/or contact us with the correct information.
If you are a service provider and wish to be featured in this listing (MediaOne reviews are read by hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans), please contact us at [email protected]. There is no charge! Please allow us up to 3 working days to review before adjusting the information or including your entry.
