Singapore: Cavernous or compact, there's a cellar for everybody

            Space-starved oenophiles, take heart -- 20 bottles is all it takes
            to start a wine collection and even the humblest of fridges can
            serve as a cellar, according to a Singapore-based wine consultancy.
            From advising you on the best cellar to suit your needs and budget,
            to what to put in it, the newly set-up Artisan Cellars boasts of
            being one of Asia's few one-stop-shops for everything wine-related.
            They also host tastings and events.
            "From a small fridge in a flat to a huge purpose-built cave, anyone
            can have a cellar, depending on how much you want to spend and how
            much space you've got," CEO Aman Khan told Reuters.
            "More and more people in Asia are getting into wine, maybe less so
            due to the financial crisis, but the interest is definitely still
            there," he added. "Once wine is part of your life, it's hard to get
            it out."
            Several winemakers have named Asia, especially China, as their
            biggest growth market and after years of being able to buy wine only
            from supermarkets, vintners have recently cropped up all over
            Singapore to slake its growing thirst for quality vintages.
            In addition to the cellar consultancy, Artisan Cellars is also
            trying to set itself apart by offering boutique champagnes and
            unique burgundies, mainly Old World, as well as vintages from
            family-owned wineries that still make everything by hand.
            "We saw a particular niche that was not being fulfilled, that of the
            collector who's heard of a particular vintage, or wants something
            different, and doesn't know where to get it," said General Manager
            Henry Hariyono.
            And special does not always mean prohibitively expensive, with some
            unusual, quality European vintages costing less than Singapore $100
            ($66) a bottle.
            Unlike other experts who have dedicated a lifetime to wine, Khan and
            partner Hariyono say they stumbled into the trade because they both
            loved to drink wine.
            After studying vintages as a hobby, attending many tastings, as well
            as visiting several vineyards, they decided to make it their
            profession and say they are living proof that anybody can enjoy
            wine, given the right opportunity.
            "The more you drink, and the more you experience, the more your
            palate will crave something with elegance," Hariyono said.
            "People who start out with Australian or Californian wines usually
            tend to gravitate toward Old World wines in the end."
            And for aspiring collectors who just don't know where to start, Khan
            advises that small is better.
            "More than 20 bottles is a collection, and anybody can start one,"
            he said.
            "Wine is also an investment, and a pleasurable one, so collect a few
            things that could be gratifying in a few years -- if not
            financially, then they'll please your palate."