If there is anything that we should take heed since the turn of twenty first century, it’s that stereotyping should have been abolished along with capital punishment, whaling and wearing printed t-shirts with ironic slogans.
A merchant of fine, rare and collectable wine would have once held the hackneyed mold of a stuffy, rotund man with big bushy eyebrows, in a bow tie and tweed jacket (not the good kind), whose age almost equaled that of the bottle he was talking about.
Today this just isn’t the case. Today a wine merchant may just as easily be a contemporary, stylishly attired individual who looks as good as the wines taste.
So without further ceremony, fuss or ado I’d like to introduce to you, the impeccably dressed Mr. Jason Ginsberg and the always effortlessly chic Ms. Mandy Chan, the husband and wife partnership behind Ginsberg & Chan wine merchants Asia.
I stopped by their beautiful workspace earlier this week to discuss style, working together and of course wine.
Q: I can imagine myself in certain situations, wearing certain things, drinking a particular drink. For example, a Mojito in a Cuban bar, wearing tailored shorts, Chambray shirt, or drinking Pimms at a garden party wearing a linen blazer and chinos. Could you give me some examples of situations you see yourself in and what your choice drink to accompany them would be?
- Jason -
3 piece suit, large formal dining room with linens, heaps of silverware and stemware and a Magnum of 1995 Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande. Perhaps served with a nice roast.
Jeans, linen shirt untucked of course and sneakers. Having a picnic while cycling through the Route des Grands Vins in Burgundy. Drinking a nice cote des nuits village, accompanied by a baguet, a thick slab of Comte cheese and a killer saussicon.
Some swim trunks and sunglasses is all I’d need to go along with a nice bottle of Chablis or Sancerre while sitting on the deck of a sailboat cruising the Med.
- Mandy -
Slim tailored dress, cocktail hat and knock out shoes with a bottle of Chateau La Mission Haut Brion 1961 somewhere that looks like Balthezar’s in New York.
Outdoors on a long table surrounded by great friends for an early dinner while the kids play in the fields. Wearing a loose fitting t-shirt, tights, and boots with a bottle of Montrachet.
Q: You are husband and wife, what’s it like work with each other?
- Jason -
Surprisingly a lot of fun. We love our work and the things we do. These experiences are best shared with the person you love, so what more could I ask for!
- Mandy -
Its noisy, chaotic and full of laughs. Sure, there’s the occasional exchange of curt words but more often there’s an appreciation that neither of us could do what we’re doing without each other. I never would have imagined it 5 years ago and now I can’t imagine it any other way.
Q: What do always make time for?
- Jason -
Our kids. Hands down the most important thing in our world. We leave work by 5 to play and eat dinner with the kids everyday unless entertaining clients or people we work with. We limit that to a couple nights a week max. We often get back to work once the kids are off to bed.
- Mandy -
We’re maximizing our time with them because soon enough they won’t want to hang out with us.
Q: They say “wine gets better with age”. Like wine some clothing/jewelry also improves with age. Do you have anything in your wardrobe that has stood the test of time?
- Mandy -
I have jewelry given to me by my mom that means more and more to me, as I get older. Like my first special ring with real gold and a small emerald that I was given when I was around 13. My parents-in-law have also given me some custom jewellery that have sentimental value. The diamond in my wedding ring was a diamond that Jay’s grandmother gave to his mom and she passed that on to me.
Q: What inspires you?
- Jason -
When I read about entrepreneurs who have built up successful small family businesses. Also my Dad. He was in ladies fashion back in the 50′s-70′s in Canada and built up a great family business with 3 stores and an established wholesale business across Eastern Canada. A lot of the clothes he brought in from Europe were trend setting at the time. He was one of the first people to introduce the bikini in Canada!
- Mandy -
Change inspires me.
Q: Do you have a signature drink?
- Jason -
I love a Negroni at the end of the day. Start with good ice. Then add 1 part gin, half of sweet vermouth and half of Campari. Finish with a good orange twist.
Q: You work for yourself, and therefore don’t need to abide by any work dress codes. How do you approach getting ready in the morning?
- Jason -
Comfort first. I usually start with jeans and then pull out a dress shirt, decide on shoes and find matching belt. My uniform.
Q: What item of clothing do you put on that makes you feel instantly feminine/masculine?
- Jason -
A blazer.
- Mandy -
A nicely tailored dress.
Q: Favourite drinking spot?
- Jason -
I always have a good time at Yard Bird and 001. Still waiting for a great cozy wine bar to open up that rivals something in Paris, London or NYC.
Q: Favourite restaurant?
- Jason -
That’s a hard one. I have so many different places depending on the food style. I think when you ask someone who loves to eat everything; it’s an impossible question to answer. Variety is my favourite.
- Mandy -
Current favourites are Ding Tai Fung for soup dumplings, Sushi Shin for sashimi and Yardbird for great food and atmosphere.
Q: Whose style do you admire?
- Mandy -
My mother in law’s style. She’s classic, practical and appropriately stylish. And Chloe Sevigny.
For more information about Ginsberg and Chan please go to http://winemerchantsasia.com
Blog by Anthony Hill