Interview With Edwin Soon

With Paul Ippolito

Ed Soon is a wine writer and wine educator who trains sommeliers in South-East Asia and is based in Singapore.

Ed is also a qualified oenologist from Australia's renowned wine school, Roseworthy College, Adelaide University. He is contributing wine editor to various magazines and newspapers such as Wine and Dine, Harpers Bazaar and Malaysian 'Star'; has co-authored the book "Soave and Asian Food"; subsequently co-wrote the 2004 Italian Wine Guide and judges international wine competitions.

Apart from that he is my source for all matters wine related in Asia and a true gentleman. I thought I'd interview him so he can give us his views on being a wine figure in Singapore and South East Asia:

Paul: Tell us how you discovered wine?

Edwin: Mum stopped buying Woodward's Gripe water (in those days it contained a tiny bit of alcohol) when I began walking and so then I moved onto Dad's Tawny Port that was on the bar trolley. However it was the Mateus Rose at Christmas time and later, a Chassagne Montrachet that I was allowed to taste in a restaurant when I was 16, that turned me onto wine.

Paul: How did you get involved in the wine profession?

Edwin: I gave up the foreign service and moved to Australia then trained to be a winemaker, later giving up winemaking to study IT in France, hoping to make lots of money in order to buy a vineyard. That was not to be and then I went on a consulting project back in Singapore and somehow ended up writing about wine.

Paul: How did you end up in Australia for your winemaking studies?

Edwin: As a migrant to Australia I wanted to open a wine shop and thought the best way was to get some experience - so began working in the trade - from door to door sales and then later working for Liquorland - an excellent way to learn about the retail business and also integrate into Australia. I then enrolled in Roseworthy College for some wine marketing courses, moved over from Sydney and was told the marketing course had been cancelled. There was nothing left to do but to try out the winemaking course.

Paul: What type of wine do you enjoy drinking?

Edwin: The wine that is in my hand at the moment. However I do confess I love well made biodynamic wines - and well matured wine. My favourite varieties are Pinot Noir, Nero d'Avola, Montepulciano D'abruzzo, Tempranillo, Blaufrankirsch, Shiraz, Pinot Blanc and Furmint.

Paul: How has your taste in wine changed?

Edwin: Its gone full circle - from sweet whites, to dry whites to dry reds to heavy reds to stickies and sparklies, from New World to Old World and back - but now any good wine is much appreciated - especially wine that has not yet been over-reviewed and whose price has not yet risen.

Paul: What was it like making the transition from winemaker to wine writer?

Edwin: Easier than that for other wine writers - although when I first began writing, I learnt the hard way and finally realised that, one writes for one's readers, and not for one's editors, neither for oneself, nor to impress one's colleagues.

Paul: What's the wine scene in Singapore like at the moment?

Edwin: There is a sophisticated segment - those that drink only the best, and even those that buy their wines direct from negociants, merchants in London or even have representatives pick up wines for them every year from around the world. Then, there is also the wine curious, the beer and spirits drinkers who love to explore the world of wine, and of course there are the wine wannabes and trend followers. Overall there is a lot of interest in learning about wine.

Paul: What's your view regarding Australian wine?

Edwin: I wish I had bought more of it in the 1990's. I always am pleasantly surprised when someone (normally an importer) unveils a new Aussie import - and it is always very good but having said that the prices are rising.

Paul: How are Australian wines perceived in Singapore?

Edwin: Aussie wines have now the largest market share, having overtaken French wines in the last year.

Paul: What other Asian markets do you see as important for Australian wine?

Edwin: The markets of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Korea and Taiwan.

Paul: Describe what your best wine experience has been to date?

Edwin: Seeing faces light up at my wine tastings - especially when the audience realise that anyone can taste wine like experts, if they apply a few basic principles.

Paul: What's next on the horizon for you?

Edwin: I am working on a couple of books related to wine but one day, I want to write highly entertaining fiction - like those of Matthew Reilly.

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Paul can be contacted by email at Paul_Ippolito@hotmail.com where you can also request to be placed on his mailing list for his wine newsletter.

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