Wine Masterclass: Swiss Wine & Women in Wine

In a wine masterclass organised together with EHL Campus (Singapore) and Robert Parker Wine Advocate, wine lovers learned about organic wines made in sustainable and biodynamic vineyards by Swiss women winemakers.

VIRTUAL ENCOUNTERS OF THE WINE KIND

The participants met trailblazing winemakers Marie-Thérèse Chappaz, Laura Paccot and Anne-Claire Schott, who were live-streamed from the EHL Campus in Lausanne and their homes into the class at the new EHL campus in Singapore.

SWISS WOMEN IN WINE

Though the wine industry is traditionally a male-dominated domain, the masterclass confirmed that it is slowly but surely changing. After Jenny Ang, Managing Director EHL Campus (Singapore), Ambassador Fabrice Filliez, and Oliver Mumenthaler (Robert Parker Wine Advocate) welcomed the class, we handed the microphone to Switzerland, where moderator Johanna Dayer introduced Swiss winemakers Marie-Thérèse Chappaz, Laura Paccot and Anne-Claire Schott.

One by one, the winemakers guided the audience through a selection of three white and three red wines. Moderated by Claudio Salgado, the participants addressed their questions directly to the wine makers. "What grapes does this one contain?" they asked. "The grape composition actually doesn’t matter much in this situation. What determines this wine’s character is the holistic approach to how it is made," Anne-Claire emphasised.

SUSTAINABLE AND BIODYNAMIC VITICULTURE

All the featured wines were certified by Demeter, one of the strictest certifications for organic and sustainable agriculture in Europe. Their makers do not use chemical pesticides and artificial fertilisers, and respect the ecological diversity in the vineyard. To preserve the natural quality of the biodynamic grapes, minimal or no technology, auxiliary materials and additives are used throughout the wine-making process.

FASCINATING FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Among the many things we learned during the masterclass was that the phases of the moon help determine when to prune, harvest and bottle wine. Biodynamic farmers go beyond organics and strive to grow their vines in sync with natural rhythms.

The evening served up much food for thought as well as a stellar Swiss wine to drink. A most enjoyable time was had by all. "We don’t have winemakers in Singapore. It is such a unique experience to be able to directly talk to them," said participant Adela Tan. "And to see pictures of the agricultural landscape helped a lot with grasping their unique approaches on making natural wine."

RELIVE THE EVENING, RELISH THE HIGHLIGHTS

A short video showing highlights of the evening is available on our Facebook page and Ambassador Filliez’s Twitter

The wine masterclass was jointly organised by the Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore, EHL Campus (Singapore), Robert Parker Wine Advocate:

IN SUPPORT OF A GOOD CAUSE

The Embassy donated S$7.50 from every bottle used at the event to the organic label Demeter Switzerland, in support of their project on soil fertility and Swiss sustainability in agriculture.

Article and photos courtesy of Embassy of Switzerland in Singapore