Uncorked: Bhatia Dheeraj

Bhatia Dheeraj is the chief sommelier at the three Michelin-starred Robuchon au Dôme at the Grand Lisboa, Macau and looks after a 16,500 label wine list. Previously, Dheeraj was chief sommelier at the Peninsula in Hong Kong and his career has taken him to Singapore, South Africa, India and Dubai where he cut his teeth as apprentice sommelier at the Burj Al Arab. In 2011 he was named Best Sommelier at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore and other accolades include placing First and Second Runner-up in the Hong Kong Ruinart Sommelier Challenge in 2014 and 2015. Dheeraj chats to dbHK about inviting the Queen to dinner and the best advice he ever had from his father.

What vintage are you?

I am 1982 vintage – coincidentally a great year for some regions of France, Italy and vintage Ports that made history in the world of wines.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

It was the bottle of Champagne that my father used to give me each New Year’s Eve for a party. Though I was too young to discern what wine it was and where it was from, the taste lingered with me which I’ve never forgotten.

I’m lucky that so far in my wine journey there have been so many great moments and every day there is a wine that motivates me….but a Peter Lehman Shiraz from the early days of my wine career was my first beautiful kiss of wine.

What would you be as a wine?

Without doubt, a Riesling. It has a delicious, refreshing and tingling taste that remains with you for a long time and more importantly, you have a choice of different levels of sweetness that makes it marvellous at all times.

Where are you happiest?

I’m happiest in a wine cellar surrounded by umpteen barrels and bottles of vintage wines from all years. Vineyards nourish my soul and it would be blissful if I could be there with my entire family at some point…

What’s your greatest vice?

Being short-tempered, impatient and a stickler for details are perhaps my greatest vices…

Best advice you ever had?

Always try and be happy whatever the circumstances – the best advice given to me by my father.

Most overused word?

No ways, really and seriously!

Your cellar’s underwater, which bottle would you dive in and save?

This is a very difficult question! I would probably build a cellar a cellar so strong that no water could ever come in…Amen, hahaha…. (I am a bad swimmer…)

What’s the best and worst thing about the wine business?

The wine business worldwide is extremely competitive and it can be very difficult to strategise one’s action plan…however the best part is that there is immense knowledge and awareness out there that makes wine as a subject more approachable to everyone.

The worst aspects that I personally wish could be fixed over here are issues like high mark-ups, counterfeits and most importantly, wine storage and serving temperatures!

What’s on your wine bucket list?

This list is long and has no loyalty….for now it’s a 1978 Richebourg by Henri Jayer, any vintage of Hermitage by Jean-Louis Chave, Cuvée Cathelin, Jura Vin Jaune, Château Chalon, Domaine Jean Bourdy, The Douro Boys from Portugal, 2004 Chris Ringland Shiraz, more indigenous grapes of Italy and lots of Madeira and sherries.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

All my friends whom I grew up with in my food and  beverage journey. I would also like to invite Queen Elizabeth II, Barack Obama, James Cameron and Tom Cruise because to me these people have a good taste of wine alongside their individual personalities. Additionally, it would also be a rare privilege to have all the top sommeliers in the world present!

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

Well currently it’s at 95….but let’s re-taste it soon…

Which wine would you like served at your funeral?

Vintage Port (preferably 1982) with dark chocolates – a sweet ending…