Four wine experiences you need to try this month

From a hotel wine bar offering specially curated wine flights paired with food to an outdoor drinking garden dedicated to serving rosé wines, we look at four different wine experiences you may just want to check out this month.

When it comes to drinking wine, we’re really kind of spoilt here in Singapore. From the entire gamut of wine events on our social calendar to the number of wine dinners one can find in restaurants here on a daily basis, those of us who live on this island metropolis literally see wine bottles at every turn.

But if you’re still looking out for more interesting ways to enjoy wine, we look at four new concepts that recently popped up in town.

Try top-rated wines at Park90.

Regent Hotel Singapore‘s Tea Lounge serves up the quintessential afternoon tea experience during the day but in the evening transforms into the 40-seater fine wine bar Park90 with an insane repertoire of over 800 wines. If you’re wondering about the name, Park90 is actually affiliated with Robert Parker Wine Advocate, licensing the use of ratings and tasting notes from the wine authority. It’s also why many of the wines offered here are highly rated labels, most of which are rated RP90 and above by RPWA.

Selection here ranges the entire gamut of winemaking regions and price points, but prices here are surprisingly reasonable considering the provenance and rarity of some of these bottles. Award-winning sommeliers Mason Ng and Yeo Xi Yang may point you to the likes of the Champagne Marguet Shaman 13 Grand Cru ($20++ per glass, $69++ per bottle) to start, followed by the extremely limited 2015 Coche-Dury Bourgogne Chardonnay Blanc ($199++ per bottle) that’s only via special allocation, or the 2013 Domenico Clerico Barolo 2013 ($108++ per bottle).

But if you’re feeling particularly indulgent you can even avail yourself to some Domaine de la Romanée-Conti by the glass.

Park90 | 1 Cuscaden Rd, Regent Hotel Singapore, Singapore 249715 | 6pm to 12mn daily | 9027 0641

Wine and food pairings at Club55.

Marina Bay Sands‘ member lounge Club55 – which sits on the 55th floor of the hotel with a commanding view of Singapore’s city skyline – opens itself to the public every evening after 8pm to offer a special food and wine pairing concept.

Termed ‘Flights of Fancy’, the concept offers seven different tasting flights each of which comes with a selection of small bites meant to pair with your choice of beverage. Fans of red wine may opt for the Rouges of the Old World ($55++, three 60ml glasses), for example, a flight comprising of  a Tempranillo from Rioja, a Merlot from St Emilion and a Barbera d’Alba from Piedmont, each of which is paired with petit plats, in this case some duck rillette, aranicini and a ribeye brochette.

Then there are options for champagne, white wine, dessert wine, sake, or even beer, if you so choose. If you’re not into wine, we highly recommend the sake flight Rice in a Bottle ($47++, three 45ml glasses), featuring Nanbubijin’s signature Tokubetsu Junmai, the Junmai Daiginjo of Kitagawa Tomioh, and finally a Den-En Gold Shochu.

Bottles do change depending on availability and seasonality, which makes things interesting for future visits.

Club55 | 10 Bayfront Avenue, Marina Bay Sands, Level 55, Hotel Tower 2, Singapore 018956 | 8pm to 12pm daily | 6688 8858

Late night wine sessions with Esquina’s Wine Club.

Contemporary Spanish tapas restaurant Esquina recently kicked off ‘Wine Club by Esquina’, an after hours wine and small bites promotion on Thursdays and Fridays. Think of it as a kind of happy hour for wines after 10pm, where you can expect a rotating menu of around 12 wines by the glass – all priced at $14++ – as well as a special ‘wine of the week’ promotion at just $78++ per bottle, that you can have with some light snacks.

This one’s really for fans of Spanish wines – you’re looking at a selection that ranges across a number of Spain’s most famous winemaking regions, and in some cases employing indigenous Spanish grapes. You’re looking at the likes of 2017 N12 by Paco y Lola from Rias Baixas made with Albarino, for example, or Bodegas San Roman 2014 Prima from Toro made with Spain’s iconic Tempranillo grape.

If you’re a fan of sherry, Esquina has got you covered as well even if the selection comes from big producers such as Tio Pepe and Leonor.

Esquina | 16 Jiak Chuan Rd, Singapore 089267 | 12pm to 2.30pm and 6pm to 10.30pm Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed on Sundays and Mondays | 6222 1616

Wake up and smell the rosé wine at Pandora’s Garden.

Newly opened outdoor bar Pandora’s Garden at Ann Siang House – we hesitate to call it a rooftop bar since it’s really just a floor above ground – is perhaps Singapore’s first wine venue dedicated to serving rosé wines. In fact with almost three dozen rosé wines on offer it may house the most comprehensive collection of rosé wines in Singapore, a rather bold move by founders Jamie and Jasmine Gripton – they also own The Brightside on Duxton Hill – considering that the exploding popularity of rosé wines across Europe hasn’t quite reached this part of the world yet.

Those looking to splurge can avail themselves of Chateau d’Esclans Garrus ($535++ per bottle) from Provence – the world’s most prolific region for making rosé wines – or even ultra rare rosé champagnes such as the Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé ($1,888++ per bottle). But you can also find affordable, everyday-drinking types starting from $12 per glass or $41 per bottle; we’re big fans of the Squealing Pig Pinot Noir from New Zealand that comes in at just $18++ per glass or $80++ for a bottle.

Rose wine snobs may also find themselves surprised to see rosé wines from Tavel and Luberon represented here. The Griptons may just be on to something.

Pandora’s Garden | 28 Ann Siang Road, Ann Siang House, Singapore 069708 | 5pm to 12mn Tuesdays to Saturdays; closed Sundays and Mondays | 9485 4226