Wine boutique Bacchic redefines the wine retail experience in Singapore 

A new wine boutique is redefining the wine-buying experience in Singapore, complete with a highly-curated wine list, bespoke displays, tasting rooms and an in-house sommelier. Bacchic, which opened on September 15, is a 1,200 sq-ft store on Keong Saik Street that looks more like a fashion boutique than a regular wine shop.

 A curvaceous feature wall, reminiscent of the silhouette of a wine bottle, anchors the store, which primarily stocks Old World wines from France, spanning about 500 labels. Bacchic comprises four zones, which are named after the seasons.

 The main retail section, which greets customers, is christened ‘autumn’, after the dark wood feature display. There is also a sitting room complete with armchairs and a vinyl player, a walk-in wine cellar and a tasting room, where customers can purchase food from neighbouring restaurants, such as The Teochew Kitchenette and Bistro Gaston and pair them with wines from Bacchic.  

 Unlike traditional distributors who act as ambassadors for specific wine domains, Bacchic positions itself on the side of the consumer, says its CEO, Nicolas Laurent, who has over a decade’s experience in the wine industry and closely curates the wine list. 

At the heart of Bacchic, which is named after Bacchus, the Roman god of wine, is a philosophy of discovery. Most of its inventory is intentionally limited. This evolving selection, priced largely between $100 and $300, is designed to encourage customers to explore beyond familiar labels such as Bordeaux and Burgundy.

The stockist comprises labels from French wine houses such as Domaine du Collier, Domaine Henri Gouges, Domaine Jean-Marc Vincent, Domaine de la Romanée Conti and Domaine Charles Joguet. One of the highlights of the walk-in cellar is its collection of Clos Rougeard’s Le Bourg wines, that includes vintages from 2001 to 2019. 

Some labels that are exclusive to Bacchic include champagnes from Rémy Lequeux Mercier, which Laurent discovered at his wedding. Wine collectors should also look out for a jeroboam of Château Mouton Rothschild 2000 that fetches an eye-popping five-figure sum.

 While Bacchic carries prestigious names, it also highlights lesser-known producers at approachable prices. For example, wines from Racemes, which focuses on low-intervention wines, are priced at around $60. 

Currently, about 85 percent of the wines are French, reflecting the expertise of the founders, though the goal is to broaden the portfolio to regions such as South Africa and China.

Besides its wine selection, Bacchic has invested heavily in the design of its space. Moving away from the typical bottle-shop aesthetic, the boutique is styled to resemble a high-end fashion store, shares Raymond Lim, founder of Restaurant Lifestyle Asia, who is Bacchic’s consultant.

With the cashier tucked away, and tasting rooms available for customers to sit with an in-house sommelier, the emphasis is on sparking conversation on wines rather than having mere transactions.

“We want to create something Singapore doesn’t already have,” Laurent says. “It’s about more than selling bottles. It’s about opening horizons, sharing good value, and creating a space where wine lovers at every level can discover something new.”