Magma Wine Shop

Four-year-old Magma specialises in German wines, although owner Leonardo de Noto makes sure to stock at least six German beers at any one time. The beers and 250 bottles of wine are imported directly from Germany, resulting in one of the best selections of wines outside the country. A native Italian, de Noto moved to Achern, a city in the former West Germany, when he was six. Nine years ago he came to Singapore, but it was only after an unsuccessful retirement that he set up this shop and Magma Bistro. Despite having no formal training, de Noto has a natural nose for what works; he devises his food pairings himself and travels to small breweries and wineries to sample potential stock. This Oktoberfest 2010 he brings in the ‘Oktoberfest Beer’, a dark number made in a small, innovative monastery brewery close to the Polish border that’s as old as Oktoberfest itself. The brewery also makes an ‘anti-ageing’ beer that de Noto imports occasionally.

Beers $5-$15.

This story first appeared in 'Prosts with the most' (Oct 2010).