Uncorked: Vladimir Kojic

Hailing from the northern Serbian city of Novi Sad, Vladimir Kojic, a quick-witted, straight-talking sommelier, is responsible for overseeing the sprawling wine list of Bangkok restaurant Gaggan, Thailand’s foremost fine dining venue. The 33-year-old was among one of the first expat sommeliers landed in Thailand after working on the Queen Mary 2. Having passed the advanced level at the Court of Master Sommeliers four years ago, Kojic is now studying for the Master Sommelier exam. He speaks to dbHK about his greatest vice, his ideal party guest Leonardo DiCaprio and why he would compare himself to a bottle of Gravner’s Ribolla Gialla.

What vintage are you? 

I was born in 1983. God sent me just a year after the legendary 1982 to tell people that nothing from Bordeaux can be legendary.

What bottle sparked your love of wine?

I remembered we were doing a wine dinner with three different vintages of Petrus. But before Petrus, we served Domaine Bonneau Du Martray Corton-Charlemagne. We were blown away by the Corton and nobody was talking about Petrus.

What would you be as a wine?

Gravner’s Ribolla Gialla as he said wines don’t leave cellar before seven years of ageing. Same as kids, they don’t go to school before seven years old.

Where are you happiest?

When I walk through the restaurant and see a bottle of wine on each table. I am equally happy with nice chocolates from Amsterdam.

What’s your greatest vice?

Bangkok’s nightlife.

Best advice you ever got?

When I started working in the wine industry, my brother told me to look at other guys and study how they work and what they do, but don’t copy them, take only the best from them.

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

Serragghia Zibibbo, a highly orgasmic wine.

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

The best part is trying so many different wines, travelling and meeting people from the industry. The worst is that it has become too much about business.

What’s on your wine bucket list?

To do a vertical tasting of Giacomo Conterno Barolo Cascina Francia and Monfortino.

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Leonardo DiCaprio. He would bring girls and I would arrange wines.

Personal satisfaction (Parker points – out of 100)

If it’s Parker points, then it has to be 100 points.

Which wine would you like served at your funeral? 

I’m still 33. I hope I will have my own wine by that time. If my death would come very soon, my father is making some wines with some dangerous fermentation methods.