Glamour and excellence: an Asian date with the world’s greatest wines

In this article, our columnist Anabella Alcuaz (WSET Diploma) explores one of the categories of the Wine Pinnacle Awards: Mature Wines. She also introduces us to the Premium wine market in Singapore, the location for this first-class award. Read spanish version. 

TXT: Anabella Alcuaz (WSET Diploma)

From 28 October to 1 November, the second edition of the Wine Pinnacle Awards will take place in the luxurious Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore. This unprecedented event not only recognizes the wines and oenologists that take part in the contest, but it also includes a series of very attractive activities for oenophiles and consumers all over the world.

The excellence of the award is endorsed by a Technical Committee composed of five world-renowned experts: Jeannie Cho Lee MW & PhD; Andreas Larsson; Doug Frost MW & MS; Kenichi Ohashi MW; and Oz Clarke. The Committee has chosen the wine categories to be awarded in 2022, as well as the members of a jury of 61 experts from eighteen countries.

Wine Categories

There are a total of eighteen categories in the Wine Pinnacle Awards. Each one is thoroughly defined, based on present trends in the world of wine and on the main characteristics of different vintages. The nominees include wines without restrictions on origin, and without the need for an entry fee, with attention placed instead on diversity, quality and merit. Another interesting fact, which makes these awards unique, is that the nominated wines don’t usually enter other more traditional competitions.

For instance, the “Mature Wines” category encompasses several categories that the jury considers “ready to drink now”. This means that they are in an optimal condition for consumption. The expert opinion of the jury guarantees the enjoyment for collectors that have stored these wines for years in their cellars.

Among the “Mature Wines” categories, we can find: Best 2002, 2004, 2008 Vintage Champagne; Best 1999, 2002 Vintage Burgundy Red; Best 1996, 1998, 2000 Vintage Bordeaux Red; Best 2001, 2004 Vintage Piedmont Red; and Best 2004, 2006 Vintage Tuscan Red.

For us wine lovers that live in a region so different and distant from the Asian market, there’s a nice idea to ponder: Viticulture is made by people and their stories, and with talent, dedication and hard work, this translates into great wines. An event like the Wine Pinnacle Awards is a memorable milestone, because with its excellence, it reinforces recognition for the trajectory of the nominated wineries and oenologists. On top of that, it is a unique opportunity for seasoned consumers, gourmands, and collectors, to learn, enjoy, and form a connection with wine.

Wine industry in Singapore

Singapore is a city-state that harbours one of the most prominent and sophisticated wine markets in the Asian Southeast. It has a stable government and a high per capita income economy.

From the vantage point of the consumer, experts in this market agree to assess that young people between the ages of 25 and 35 usually enjoy a higher buying power, and that, along with a fair amount of wine collectors, they are driving the purchase of Premium and Super Premium wines.

Despite the fact that consumers are pretty open-minded when it is time to choose a wine label, they tend to feel safer with internationally renowned brands. There is a preference for red wines, and among them mostly Burgundy wines, as Pinot Noir pairs very well with the delicate flavours and ingredients of Asian cuisine. Wine lovers in Singapore are willing to drink less, but higher quality wines, a fact that further promotes this trend of “Premiumization”.

Furthermore, experts detect a great opportunity for growth for organic and natural wines, thanks to affinity and awareness by consumers.

In terms of wine trade, there are a lot of Western companies located in Singapore that import European wines and sell them through different channels. They are very competitive when it comes to lowering the final cost per bottle directly for the consumer. In addition to that, online wine sales are growing steadily.

Wine producers and exporters, especially regarding luxury items from France, Italy, Spain, and Australia, find the Singapore market very attractive, not only because of the high purchasing power of its consumers, but also due to the country’s expertise concerning logistics and a strategic geopolitical location to re-export to neighbouring countries.

For the latest news about the event, please visit: www.winepinnacle.com

Instagram: @winepinnacleawards #WPA2022 #RWSmoments