The Man Behind The Wine

A lucky man who picked up the sommelier badge from the street and turned into one overnight …

JJ’s operational team is directed by none other than Ryan Cheng, the Consultant and Chief Sommelier while the wine bar is led by Jessica Chong, Training and Operations Manager. In this issue, we shall meet the man behind the wine and the lady behind the bar will be featured in the publications that followed.

Graduated from The Swiss Hotel Management School with a Higher Diploma in Hospitality Studies, Ryan’s wine journey began when he undertook managerial positions with leading wine merchants in Singapore invigorating his palate with wines of both famous names and lesser-known growth. His expertise in wine sourcing and connections with wineries were established as he took on the purchasing and sales responsibilities in the wine retailing sector.

During each stage of his career, Ryan’s knowledge of wine grew along with his passion but it was not until his employment as Sales Manager at Bistro Amigo in Singapore that he learned of the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certification programme. Encouraged by the Master Sommelier, Mr Darius Allyn whom he met through wine events they co-organised, Ryan decided to pursue the Master Sommelier accreditation and earned the Certified Sommelier title in 2010.

Following his accreditation, Ryan began consulting for The Singapore Institution of Management (SIM) and later, co-founded Gastrolution (M) Sdn Bhd which provides F&B consultation and wine education services to inculcate wine culture through knowledge and education. In 2014, he joined JJ Retails as Consultant and Chief Sommelier with the responsibility of sourcing and importing quality wines along with providing training and leadership to the wine department.

Ryan’s  well-established connections with wine wholesalers and wine makers alike has enabled him to source wines from a wealth of importers and origins, from premium wines to high quality everyday wine with competitive prices. For instance, his recent importation showcases a range of French wines from the Rhône valley region by Domaine du Pegau’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Chateau Pegau’s Cotes du Rhone which comprises the sheer perfection (with a score of 100!) Cuvée Da Capo Rouge top-end pick as well as the Gigondas Laurence Feraud, a high quality wine affordable to ordinary consumers and, in between, there are the Domaine du Pegau’s Cuvee Laurence and Cuvee Reservee selections that cater to the more experienced wine drinkers.

Besides wine scouring, Ryan (and Jessica) also conducts wine appreciation classes and workshops for the public. If you can interested in wine and wine tasting, you can check out the Facebook pages of “JJ Retails” and “Gastrolution Wine & Coffee Specialist” for more information and upcoming activities.