We ask some of the best sommeliers in Singapore to demystify the art of wine pairing across French, Japanese, and Chinese cuisines, and give advice on how to curate your own beverage pairings at home
How do you pair wines with food? The question adds a layer of complexity to the already-obscure world of wines. Pair the wrong wine with the wrong dish—say, a full-bodied syrah with delicate white fish—and you could end up overpowering the taste of the food. The reverse is also true—a light sauvignon blanc will never stand up to a gamey roast duck. Luckily, some of the best sommeliers in Singapore are more than willing to share their knowledge. We ask sommeliers from the acclaimed restaurants Les Amis, Wakuda, and Summer Pavilion to share their insights on pairing wines (and in Wakuda’s case, sakes) across three wildly different cuisines. Along the way, you might pick up some useful tips that are perfect for your next dinner party.
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Hervé Pennequin, wine director and general manager at Les Amis
Within the storied halls of the three-Michelin-starred Les Amis works Hervé Pennequin, the wine director and general manager who was also ranked the 3rd Best Sommelier of the World by the Association de la Sommeliere Internationale in 2004. One of his jobs is to create a wine pairing with executive chef Sebastién Lepinoy. Once Lepinoy finalises the seasonal menu, Pennequin carefully selects wines to complement its flavours. “If needed, I source specific wines from trusted suppliers in Singapore and all around the world,” he shares. “We then taste and refine the selection over several days.”
The pinnacle of French haute cuisine, Les Amis shoulders the responsibility of “presenting a complete tapestry of French gastronomy”, and the wines are no exception; the restaurant’s wine selections are exclusively French. While Pennequin says that Les Amis does not “impose strict rules about the origin of our wines”, the rulebook at Les Amis is always “balance”, “harmony”, and a commitment to French identity.
This is not to say that you will only find traditional beverage pairings at Les Amis. “When brave souls walk through our doors seeking a 'wow moment' with some offbeat pairings, I put on my creative hat,” Pennequin says. “Picture this: a journey with Belgian beers, Madeira, and a bit of spirited fun, all dancing cheek to cheek with different types of cheese. It's like taking a detour through Europe right at your table!”