One of Phnom Penh’s most knowledgeable wine experts is Remie Fujiwara, of Vintage Wines Cellars, at #404 D Monivong between Streets 360 and 392.

Today, tomorrow and Sunday, she’ll be at Elyxir on Street 466 every evening from 5pm to 10pm as part of an “Italian Week” promotion.

Fujiwara visited Germany in March to attend an event called ProWein, where she purchased some Portuguese Douro wine, red and white.

“They are four or five generation winemaking families,” she said.

She also bought some Spanish red wines including Rioja and Ribera del Duero.

“What I think is exquisite are bold, flavorful wines without too many peculiarities.”

Fujiwara says for the Cambodian palate, the Spanish and Portuguese wines work well because they are more like Bordeaux, but without the possible idiosyncracies.

Just two weeks ago, Fujiwara returned from an event called Vin Expo in Hong Kong, which was a very different experience than the event in Germany.

“Vin Expo is not so much about the wine producers as it is a shopping opportunity,” she said.

“They bring together wine makers so you can do one-stop shopping.”

As for her wine philosophy, Fujiwara says she’s not running around trying to beat competitors.

“I love wine and I want to introduce good wines to people at a good price-quality ratio. The rest of the crowd are wholesalers here to make money. We’re here but our intentions are different.

She recommends Italian white wines like Marcarni which cost from $12 to $30 and up, as well as Castello di Neive, from $21.50 to $52 and up. Both are from the Piedmont region of Italy, one of Fujiwara’s favorite wine producing regions of the world.

“They have some really good grape varieties that I like.”

Fujiwara invites people who love wine to join her at Elyxir tonight, tomorrow and Sunday, and for any assistance to call her Vintage Wine Cellars at 023 987 998.

“If you want to speak Khmer partner Soheap will assist, and if you wan to speak English or French, I can help.”