Denise McCann is a global winepreneur having travelled to over 30 countries in as many years. Currently living in Tokyo after a 4-year stint in Singapore, purveying the culture, sights, sounds and tastes (and tipples) of the internationally inspired orient with her husband, Patrick.
They describe themselves as wine connoisseurs, restaurant gourmands, art lovers and gallivanters. They own and manage a luxury holiday retreat in wine country In Victoria, Australia called TS Valley Villa Luxury Retreat.
Denise seeks out local luxe dining experiences with each culinary experience documented in her exquisite journalistic voice, although this Australian couple are more than inquisitive to get out from the high street and experience hawker dishes, and any concoction of street food available across South East Asia and beyond. In Denise's words, "It’s all about people, place and produce."
The first time we decided to venture in to Mark Matsuoka Grill Tokyo, we had to wait for a table: twenty minutes we were told. We never queue at restaurants, but, for some reason, this night, with a cool breeze and the lights along the river and a rare “risky” night out after being released from lockdown, we agreed to wait.
After thirty minutes, the staff came out to apologise: obviously the party inside were enjoying themselves too much - a good sign - but it shouldn’t be too much longer, we’re told. "Please, accept a drink, on the house, whilst you wait!" We did.
Something calming about drinking highballs on the street watching pedestrians and cars slowly creep by with the sound of the river babbling nearby. The wait ended up being almost an hour, but we were looked after really well and rewarded for our patience. Bizarrely, we loved it.
Excellent Japanese meat with wine from Argentina? Bam! It was great. A Malbec from one of our favourite wineries: Terrazas de los Andes and five kinds of meat with nine types of salt presented in a timber box. I wants one of those boxes.
Until 9pm this little restaurant “spills” onto the pavement across from the Meguro River. The inside wall has a wonderful mural of the neighborhood with a preening, red lipstick-wearing, full-of-attitude cow, lying in the middle surrounded by signs for wine, beer, sake and cheese.
On the TV screens they play old movies with no sound. Every time we’ve been back since, there have been boisterous and interesting parties. It’s a fun place in a quiet neighbourhood and they quickly remembered us. It has fast become our little local!
ABOUT FOUNDER WOW WOMEN OF WINE
Denise’s passion is wine and hospitality! She has over 25 years of corporate hospitality experience. She is a qualified WSET UK Sommelier, wine educator, events management specialist, bespoke luxury wine tour operator, international wine tourism specialist, writer and public speaker.
Denise is passionate about the wine industry and has travelled extensively to wine regions around the world to hone her craft and share her skills and experience. She has run her own wine events company Women Of Wine since 2007.
Since embarking on the expat life back in 2016, Denise has thoroughly enjoyed the consumer side of discovering, experiencing and writing about the food and wine scenes in Asia.
INFORMATION
a. 上目黒1-16-12 鈴房ビル1F Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan 153-0051
