Since its inception in 1996, Winecellars has maintained a strong presence in Malaysia as a distributor of some of the world’s finest wines. Catering to connoisseurs in Sabah and Sarawak, Winecellars imports wines from countries such as Australia, France, Italy, New Zealand, the United States and Chile, and carries boutique wines as well as prominent international labels such as Wolf Blass, Penfolds and Lindemans.

Managing Director Meng Tan has consistently poured her personal time and energy into refining this selection, often travelling to vineyards the world over in search of exciting vintages to introduce to her clients. She is also known for throwing lavish wine parties, dinners and degustations, often with unique themes and outrageous elements.

Meng has made no secret of the fact that she is on a personal quest to bring entertainment and merriment to her colleagues and acquaintances. This dedication to providing top-notch service and creating quality experiences is reflected in her approach towards both business and pleasure.

Perhaps her most memorable machination was a dinner held in honour of Spanish food and wine, in what was a grandiose introduction to the final course of the evening. Two flamenco dancers whirled through a restaurant to throw open its balcony doors, revealing chefs tirelessly stirring a massive pan of paella, surrounded by huge jets of flame that leapt merrily into the night. Was it excessive? That is open to debate. Was it an unforgettable spectacle? Why yes, it certainly was.

LifeAndStyle: What are your feelings on the current state of the wine market in Malaysia? Has your tactic of targeting the East Malaysian market proven successful for your specific aims?

Knowledge in wines has increased by leaps and bounds in Malaysia. Almost everyone I meet now professes to be a wine expert or critic. (laughs) The interest in wines has certainly translated into sales, and one has only to look at the accessibility of wines in restaurants and supermarkets to confirm that wines are no longer the exclusive domain of the snobs. It is not that we have all become snobs, but with knowledge comes power! We no longer fear when we purchase a bottle from the supermarket shelf and the need to hide a bottle in a nondescript brown paper bag when going to a friend’s house for dinner. With better knowledge, the consumer is empowered to choose and to try new wines. We have such a wide range of choice now compared to only a few years ago and this is very much consumer driven.

As a supplier, I feel that my role is to meet and exceed my consumers’ expectation, to find those gems to titillate their palates, to impart more knowledge for informed choices to be made. There is no secret to business success. Knowing your customers, and meeting and exceeding their demands and expectations is the key to success in any business. Malaysian consumers are no different. We have good sophisticated palates, and we know what we like even though our French pronunciation may not be up to scratch!

LifeAndStyle: What have you learned about Malaysian preferences in terms of wine? Are there specific varieties that are more saleable than others? Any surprising discoveries perhaps?

Traditionally, wine sales in Asia have always been driven by red wines. I guess this could be a Chinese cultural thing. Wine as we know it is referred to as ‘red wine’ in Chinese. Spirits on the other hand are referred to as ‘white wine’ in Chinese. The colour red is also synonymous to gayness and happiness, and will therefore be a choice in celebrations.

Weather, especially in South East Asia tends to favour white wine or rosé. These are consumed in lower temperatures and are a match made in heaven for seafood lovers. I have been seeing a distinct shift of preference towards white wines over the years.

International grapes such as cabernet sauvignon and Shiraz are always popular. I am pleased however to note that there is a growing number of wine aficionados trying out regional grapes and styles, like Cortese from Piedmond, Cinsaut from Bandol or Clairette from Provence.

With the mystique of wine taken away, Champagne and other bubblies have gained prominence in our repertoire of ‘daily’ drinks as oppose to ‘once in a year’, ‘New Year Eve’ drinks. My current favourite tipple is the Pommery Champagne, which serves as a great aperitif or with a delicate seafood dish. It is of course de rigueur with Hainan chicken rice.

LifeAndStyle: Travel appears to be an essential part of your business as you need to visit various winemakers and vineyards to examine their wares. What has been your favourite destination so far?

I totally enjoy travelling and I firmly believe we should all travel and explore as much as possible. Travelling opens up our mind to different culture and experience. Food experience is an essential part of any cultural understanding. In my line of work, I travel extensively and it has been a great joy and wonderful experience. Some of my friend’s think my travel consists of hopping from one Four Seasons to the next! This is totally untrue. (laughs)

Of course from time to time, there are the chateaus, but mostly I have had to scramble around the countryside appreciating the country and terroir. Once I had to trudge around the woods looking for white truffles. After all, what is Piedmont wine and cuisine without truffles? Well, I didn’t find anything and must have looked so cold and miserable that my principal had to buy some for me!

Work and no play cannot be the way. The occasional detour away from the foothills of Rheims and Tuscany to pay homage to the Prada and Christian Louboutin boutiques is the icing on the cake.

LifeAndStyle: Paint a picture of the perfect time and place to enjoy wine. Who are you with, which wines are you drinking, and why?

It is very hard for me to choose one perfect occasion or setting with wine. For me, wine has become very much an integral part of an occasion. It is not the wines per se but it helps to complete a perfect setting. It is the icing on the cake. I could be with my girlfriends by a beach bar having a good giggle sharing a bottle of Chateau D’Esclans. The fact that this is probably the best rosé in the world against a backdrop of the most beautiful sunset at Coast at Shangri-La’s Rasa Ria Resort matters less during our intense gossip sessions, but it is the fuel to make our time together perfect.

My family and I still talk excitedly recalling our holiday at the Kempinski Istanbul, dining at the Tuǵra in a rich Ottoman setting, with the Bosphorus Bridge lit to complete a perfect backdrop. The kids and I loved every bit of the food evoking the Sultan’s glorious era and the ambiance in this Palace. Champagne and wines flowed; alas Turkish wines were not the highlight of the evening, but it didn’t take anything away from our experience.

There was a time in Cannes where we were on holiday with another family from Malaysia and having a seafood meal at the Félix on the la Croisette. At the end of the evening, as I surveyed the table where we had earlier devoured an unimaginable quantity of fish and crustaceans washed down with a healthy dose of France’s finest liquids, I leaned back to savour the moment.

The younger kids picked away at the remnants of the evening (you know how us Asian mothers love to see our kids eat!) whilst the mothers and older kids compared their shopping bargains of the day. In the corner of my eye, I could see the men at a discreet distance blowing their Cubans into the dark Mediterranean night and savouring a 1963 Armagnac Castarede, if my memory serves me right. I remember thinking to myself, what a perfect moment, surrounded by all the important things in life, our family and our friends. What better way to bind us together at that moment in time than sharing our food and fine wine with the people we care for the most?