Singapore Wine Options 2003 sets September date

Having been postponed from its original April date, event organisers The Regent Singapore and The Cellar Door have announced that the Singapore Wine Options 2003 will now take place at The Regent Hotel Singapore on Saturday, 27th September, beginning at 1.00pm.

Designed to attract the best palates in Singapore, this friendly competition encourages competitors to experience new wines, improve their knowledge and increase their enjoyment of wine. Open to connoisseurs, aficionados and those simply looking for a fun afternoon, the Singapore Wine Options 2003 is the perfect opportunity to put wine tasting skills to the test using 'Tritan-crystal glasses created by Schott Zwiesel' and to meet and mingle with fellow wine lovers.

In this competition, teams of four attempt to identify eight wines from a set of multiple choice questions - four questions for each wine. The wines are made up of four whites (may include sparkling) and four reds (may include fortified), and are chosen to be characteristic of the country of origin, grape(s) variety, vintage and producer. The team that answers the most questions correctly, and accrues the most points will emerge as the winner.

The top three team prizes for 2003 consist of Luxus Jeroboam, Magnum and Standard Decanters accompanied by DIVA oversize glasses from Schott Zwiesel, Premium Wines from The Cellar Door and Sponsoring Wineries, Restaurant Vouchers from The Four Seasons and Regent Hotels and a host of attractive spot prizes. Total event prize packages carry a value in excess of S$14,000.

To further encourage creativity, foster wine appreciation, participation from new blood and to inject colour and fun to the whole event, prizes will be awarded for the Best Team Name, the Best Dressed Team and the Top Amateur and Industry Teams.

To get those creative juices flowing, previous year's winning teams included names such as 'The Fellowship of the Drink', Warre's Porto and the Goblet of Gaja', 'Pinotchio', 'The Quaffers Formerly Known As Prince'; some past names from international competitions have been 'Ron Smoothey's Wine Safari', 'The Dead Palates Society' and 'Back to the new Merlotnium'.

Injecting added pizzazz & knowledge to the entire event in his unique style is Question Master, Bob Campbell, Master of Wine. Bob is from New Zealand and abandoned life as a bean counter to dedicate his career to wine education, judging and writing. He is author of The New Zealand Wine Annual, and contributes to renowned magazines such as Cuisine, Wine, Wine & Dine, Wine & Spirit, Decanter and Sante.

Singapore Wine Options 2003 is co-organised by The Cellar Door & the Regent Singapore, with The New Asia Cuisine & Wine Scene as the official media. Pre-event registration requiring a S$180 per team entry fee can be made at The Cellar Door. Deadline for competition entries is on Sunday 14th of September.