More Than Just A Sofa

IslandLife Sofa Sdn Bhd

IslandLife Sofa Sdn Bhd (Islandlife) is a specialist designer, manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of contemporary and elegant furniture options for homes and offices from their factory in Nusajaya of Johor, southern state of Malaysia. With over 10 years’ experience in the furniture manufacturing industry, the company prides itself on its superior products in quality and craftsmanship, innovation and custom solutions as well as comfort and style. Located in Nusajaya, IslandLife is supported by a wide distribution network which covers the localities of Johor Bahru, Kluang, Muar and Kuala Lumpur in Pennisula Malaysia as well as the areas of Sabah and Sarawak in East Malaysia.

A Sofa is More Than a Piece of Furniture

Striving to succeed in their pursuit of success through dedication and professionalism, IslandLife seeks actively to meet customer expectations and needs through its ready-made selections and custom-made designs. The man behind the design, Mr Chan Chee Yong, respectfully known as Master Yong, understands the nitty gritty of sofas and chairs.

According to Master Yong, a chair or a sofa is not merely a piece of furniture. A sofa is a haven for your body to relax and recharge. His passion is to engineer and design furniture with proper body ergonomics in mind that delivers utmost comfort and relaxation.

Angles, Angles, Angles

Master Yong elaborated on this with passion as he explained the design principle behind a sofa. To the Master who has more than 20 years’ experience in furniture design, his emphasis is on the dimensions and angles of a sofa for maximum seating comfort taking into consideration factors such as the seat depth, the width, the back and the armrest for relaxed seating. With this in mind, the sofa is designed or custom made depending on the intended user's size and shape, in accordance with individual preferences.

Ridicule is the Best Test of Truth

Highly regarded for his techniques and skills, Master Yong is passionate about his work and design which has influences from his shoe-making family background. What shoe making and furniture designing have in common is that both involve such skills as precision, detailed knowledge and great insight which reflects in his sofa designs.

Master Yong shared that there were times when his designs were received with resistance and even mockery. However, Master Yong who believes and has confidence in himself was not afraid of being the object of ridicule. Ultimately, he has survived and thrived, gaining support and recognition of his clients as he consistently delivering results that proved his abilities as a designer.

Standing Out from the Rest

Utilising his knowledge, experience and creativity, Master Yong designs with passion and ensures that his design stands out from the rest. He believes that each design is unique to the individual who creates it. “So design with taste and develop your own style so that your work is original and authentic, ” Master Yong reaffirmed with conviction as he reflected on his earlier experiences as a furniture designer. 

A Sense of Mount Difficulty

Wine lovers in Johor Bahru were delighted by the rare and cherished occasion when they met face-to-face with Matt Dicey, winemaker from Mount Difficulty Wines who flew all the way from Central Otago, New Zealand, the southernmost wine-growing region in the world. In conjunction with his visit, JJ Wines and Tapas had hosted several wine tasting events showcasing signature wines of Mount Difficult including three master classes conducted by the winemaker himself.

The Winemaker   

Matt Dicey, who was born into a family of viticulturists in South Africa, moved to New Zealand when he was five. His relationship with wine can be traced back to one of the family skiing holidays down Central Otago when his father fell in love with the land, subsequently bought his own plot and started planting his first vineyard in Bannockburn in the Cromwell Basin of Central Otago. 

With three generations of grape growing background, it is probably no surprise that Matt found a passion for wine and after obtaining his Masters degree in Chemistry he went on to pursue a Masters degree in Oeneology and Viticulture. Matt developed his skills and experience in the wine industry by working in both domestic and international vintages including four years wine journey overseas touring through the wine-making regions of California, South Africa, France and Italy. He joined Mount Difficulty in 1999 and has since been making great wines in a region rich with wild beauty and wonder.

The Winery 

Situated in Banncokburn, Central Otago, Mount Difficulty Wines is renowned for the Pinor Noir it produces. The range of wines features its entry-level (drinking young) Roaring Meg, the Flagship Bannockburn Pinot Noir and its Single Vineyard Premium Pinot Noir series. There are also the Growers Series which showcase best quality wines from different sub-regions outside the home base of Banncokburn. Other varietals include Chardonnay, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Gris are also grown here.  

The Terroir

Matt sees Bannockburn, with its dramatic landscapes and extreme climatic conditions, as a special  area for growing grapes. Because of its pseudo-continental climate, the area has notable daily and seasonal temperature fluctuations. The nature of its diverse and complex soil compositions has coaxed the best out the Pinot Noir grape, a notoriously fussy grape to grow and work with. All these essential elements have contributed to the production of its excellent Pinot Noir with distinctive profile. In fact, Bannockburn is one of the few places in the world outside Burgundy where the fastidious Pinot Noir varietal has found home. 

The Wines

Matt presented his wines with pride and the let the wines speak for themselves at one of the wine tastings in The Brew Orchestra, a cafe in Johor Bahru. Johor. The fruit-driven, easy drinking Roaring Meg was a good ice breaker after which one was greeted by the Pinot Gris with its familiar stone fruit flavour of peach, nectarine and pear, a touch of mineral on the palate and a spicy end note. 

Then came the flagship Bannockburn Pinot Noir, rich with a wealth of dark stone fruits and spices, a tannin adding to its intensity and style. The participants also had the pleasure of sampling Mount Difficulty’s top range gold label Long Gully Pinot Noir, a wine of delightful complexity and depth. Its powerful tannin was complemented by dark fruits that dominated the palate along with hints of cloves and violets.  

Great wine is a conversation and ...
Mount Difficulty strives to create wines worth listening to 

回家

离开太久了，应该回家了吗？或许应该回来看看的，整顿一下心情，继续前行吧。说好的坚持呢？虽然前面的路很艰巨，很漫长，很遥远 。。。

ROBERT FROST



Someone posted "two roads diverged in a wood" on his wall and i found myself thinking of Robert Frost. Still can't get over the fact that his poems, along with those of Shakespeare and Kipling's, have been eliminated from the Form 5 literature syllabus. ...



pic by ~Khold01

Fire and Ice

Some say the world will end in Fire,
Some say in Ice.

From what I’ve tasted of desire,
I hold with those who favor Fire.

But if I had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate
To say that for destruction, Ice.

Is also great,
And would Suffice



pic by ~Smdbz-girl

Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening

Whose woods these are I think I know.
His house is in the village, though;
He will not see me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow.
My little horse must think it queer
To stop without a farmhouse near
Between the woods and frozen lake
The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake
To ask if there's some mistake.
The only other sound's the sweep
Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.


pic by ~txsappho

My November Guest

My Sorrow, when she's here with me,
Thinks these dark days of autumn rain
Are beautiful as days can be;
She loves the bare, the withered tree;
She walks the sodden pasture lane.
Her pleasure will not let me stay.
She talks and I am fain to list:
She's glad the birds are gone away,
She's glad her simple worsted grey
Is silver now with clinging mist.

The desolate, deserted trees,
The faded earth, the heavy sky,
The beauties she so truly sees,
She thinks I have no eye for these,
And vexes me for reason why.

Not yesterday I learned to know
The love of bare November days
Before the coming of the snow,
But it were vain to tell her so,
And they are better for her praise.



pic by ~1nightrider

The Road Not Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

JJ Retails JJ Wine & Tapas

JJ Wine & Tapas
The wine is the main course and everything else is just garnish …

Since our last publication, the expansion and refurbishment of JJ Retails wine bar has been completed.  The new extension of the company building, JJ Wines & Tapas, consists of a stylish dining bar for more seating and three comfortably furnished private rooms for socials.

The newly refurbished JJ Wine & Tapas with its modern baroque aesthetic deco portrays an elegant yet sophisticated ambience which is enhanced by a tint of European flair. The bar has a kitchen and serves bistro tapas style dishes created by Chef Revelino who has gained his culinary experience in Australia. The dishes have been designed to complement the wine selection while also cater to customers who prefer to have food with their wine.

The private rooms are comfortably furnished with sofas and equipped with modern furnishing. Two of the rooms accommodate up to five people with the other big size room provides for up to ten.  These quiet and cozy spaces are designed for privacy with a warm, pleasant and homely atmosphere in which wine-loving consumers can relax while sipping their wine.

In the corner of the bar stands the WineEmotion Otto, an automated advanced wine dispensing system -- the one and only such automated wine dispenser that can be found among wine bars in the whole of Malaysia to date. Utilizing two temperature-controlled chambers and engineered to handle the rigorous commercial setting, its flexible customisation options allow for the placement of eight wines within the machine and the programming of desired serving portions to suit the requirements of the owner’s operation.  This dispenser is also a preservation system in that once opened, each bottle of wine can be preserved for at least 30 days without the concern for aromatic cross-contamination or the risk of spoilage.

With the installation of the wine dispenser, JJ guests can now sample the wine by the glass before buying them thus expanding their range of wine, especially premium wine, tasting experience. The customer who visits alone can also enjoy an enhanced selection of premium wines without having to commit to a 750ml bottle.

Despite its new opening, many exciting wine happenings have taken place and more events are lining up to quench the wine thirst of novices and experts alike. In mid January, the intermediate level wine appreciation class featuring wines from Germany, the ancestral home of Riesling, kick started wine enthusiasts’ exploration of German wines and left the participants with a new, insightful appreciation for Riesling.

The same month saw yet another exclusive and special event in which wine lovers were not only given the rare opportunity to participate in the master level wine appreciation class conducted by Mr Stefano Gandolini, the dedicated wine entrepreneur-cum-winemaker from Chile, but also enjoyed a wine dinner with the master himself sampling some of the highly commended and limited production wines from the Gandolini , Ventolera  and Von Siebenthal vineyards of South America.

The Man behind the Wine
Ryan Cheng
... A lucky man who picked up the sommelier badge from the street and turned into one overnight …

JJ’s operational team is directed by none other than Ryan Cheng, the Consultant and Chief Sommelier while the wine bar is led by Jessica Chong, Training and Operations Manager. In this issue, we shall meet the man behind the wine and the lady behind the bar will be featured in the publications that followed.

Graduated from The Swiss Hotel Management School with a Higher Diploma in Hospitality Studies, Ryan’s wine journey began when he undertook managerial positions with leading wine merchants in Singapore invigorating his palate with wines of both famous names and lesser-known growth. His expertise in wine sourcing and connections with wineries were established as he took on the purchasing and sales responsibilities in the wine retailing sector.

During each stage of his career, Ryan’s knowledge of wine grew along with his passion but it was not until his employment as Sales Manager at Bistro Amigo in Singapore that he learned of the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Certification programme. Encouraged by the Master Sommelier, Mr Darius Allyn whom he met through wine events they co-organised, Ryan decided to pursue the Master Sommelier accreditation and earned the Certified Sommelier title in 2010.

Following his accreditation, Ryan began consulting for The Singapore Institution of Management (SIM) and later, co-founded Gastrolution (M) Sdn Bhd which provides F&B consultation and wine education services to inculcate wine culture through knowledge and education. In 2014, he joined JJ Retails as Consultant and Chief Sommelier with the responsibility of sourcing and importing quality wines along with providing training and leadership to the wine department.

Ryan’s  well-established connections with wine wholesalers and wine makers alike has enabled him to source wines from a wealth of importers and origins, from premium wines to high quality everyday wine with competitive prices. For instance, his recent importation showcases a range of French wines from the Rhône valley region by Domaine du Pegau’s Châteauneuf-du-Pape and Chateau Pegau’s Cotes du Rhone which comprises the sheer perfection (with a score of 100!) Cuvée Da Capo Rouge top-end pick as well as the Gigondas Laurence Feraud, a high quality wine affordable to ordinary consumers and, in between, there are the Domaine du Pegau’s Cuvee Laurence and Cuvee Reservee selections that cater to the more experienced wine drinkers.

Besides wine scouring, Ryan (and Jessica) also conducts wine appreciation classes and workshops for the public. If you can interested in wine and wine tasting, you can check out the Facebook pages of “JJ Retails” and “Gastrolution Wine & Coffee Specialist” for more information and upcoming activities.

High Quality … Affordable Wines

Vouch Johor V13 Exclusive Edition Feb and Mar 2015

复活节平行綫

我在山顶看万里苍茫

你在山下追前程似锦

我让尘事搁浅蛰伏冬眠

你奔人间开拓鸿图霸业

你一步步渐爬渐高

我一步步渐离渐远

世俗中你有你的轨迹

穹苍中我有我的命运

倦鸟投林回到熟悉的旧巢

天明各自飞向自己的天空

我一步步走出回忆

你一步步走出曾经

复活节没有兔子彩蛋

真实存在的是两条綫 

两条即使再靠拢再再贴近

也捕抓不到交点的平行綫  

你一步步迈向阳关

我一步步彳亍平壤 

JJ -- not just wine but the joy of wine

JJ Retails, or JJ, as it is affectionately known to its regulars, offers more than its name suggests. In addition to serving as a retailer of beers, wines, spirits and liqueurs, JJ also operates a wine bar and provides wine education and consultancy services for both the industry and the customers.

Established in 2014, JJ in Taman Pelangi, Johor Bahru is one of two establishments of the same entrepreneur with the other wholesale office situated in Taman Nusa Bestari, Skudai. JJ specialises in all types of alcoholic beverages with a focus on fine wines, some of which it has exclusive distribution rights for in Malaysia. The company’s current initiative is to introduce more wines to the local market with a goal to bring in more alcoholic beverages such as ciders and whisky in the near future.

JJ’s buying power and special relationships with producers, importers, and wholesalers offer the company access to a world-class selection of fine wines and to source direct from the country of origin a large range of not only exclusive, but also limited edition wines.

The existing JJ Wine Bar is comfortably set up for an enjoyable wine experience albeit its space constraint. There are friendly and knowledgeable wine bar staff in attendance to serve and give advice on the wine selection should the customer requires it.  At the moment of writing, JJ’s wine bar is undergoing sizeable renovation and expansion which will add much dynamic capacity to enhance the ambience and customer experience.

One of the crown jewels of the company is The Rémy Martin Louis XIII Rare Cask, the ultimate symbol of extravagant sophistication and luxury. Other premium brands feature wines from the top 5 Bordeaux Premier Cru in France and other world class vineyards including Opus One winery in America.

Another unique feature of JJ is that its expert team comprising two in-house sommeliers who are wine stewards or wine waiters professionally trained in all aspects of wine services including wine and food pairing. Ryan Cheng and Jessica Chong, Certified Sommeliers accredited by the Court of Master Sommeliers, are among the fewer than 20 Certified Sommeliers in Malaysia and the around six practicing sommeliers in Johor itself.

Ryan joined JJ Suppliers Sdn Bhd as Consultant and Chief Sommelier responsible for the sourcing and importing of quality wines, training and leading the wine department of the company while Jessica, the Training and Operations Manager, is in charge of JJ Retails and its wine bar, along with its relating training and development systems.

Both Ryan and Jessica share a passion for wine and are aspired to introduce, inculcate and promote the culture of wine in the country. With the trend of increasing wine consumption amongst local consumers, more wine events, wine ratings, wine reviews and wine tasting notes sharing will assist consumers to make wiser and more informed choices in their wine purchase.

Vouch Johor January 2015 v.12