What's In My Portfolio: Yeo Xi Yang

WHAT'S IN MY PORTFOLIOWhat's In My Portfolio: Yeo Xi Yang
by Portfolio Magazine                            
02 Dec 2024
                        
Yeo Xi Yang is the Founder of Convivial champagne bar.                        
                                            

“I started Convivial, a dedicated Champagne bar, because I’ve always wanted my own F&B establishment since I was in school. However, I only developed a love for Champagne when I started working in Les Amis back in 2012.

In a fine dining establishment, I had the fortune of dealing with fine wine on a regular basis. Champagne captivated me with how complex yet unimposing it can be. The decision to open a wine bar that focuses on Champagne was in 2022, and it was a matter of opportunity meets seasonality. During Covid, there was a surprising spike in global demand for Champagne, and that gave me confidence that it was time. I also believe that it is important to have a first-mover advantage, so I took the leap.

The challenges have been plenty, but manageable. To mention, I have overcome the mental hurdle of having zero guests on a few operating nights of service, and I learned how to keep my chin up. As the director of the company, it is so important to keep the spirits of the team up, and it has to stem from me. It is so easy to be deflated and negative about it, and I quickly realized that and switched my attitude. I am also learning from fellow F&B establishments – how they run their business and the fine touches that make them stand out.

As Convivial celebrates its first anniversary, I would like people who visit for the first time to know that Champagne is an accessible and friendly beverage. You’ve heard of the stigmas before – that it is usually for the upper class, or it causes bad hangovers, or it’s just an aperitif before drinking the serious wines. I believe what we do in Convivial changes things up positively. As a wine professional for over a decade, my opinion is that Champagne is the most technical and sophisticated wine to make. Other than sparkling wine, which other wine goes through two fermentations? It is surely more than an aperitif!

Our goal at Convivial is to deliver authentic, heartfelt hospitality and the vessel for us to do so is Champagne. If our guests feel and appreciate that, then I worry less about ‘competition’. Besides, Singapore’s wine industry is so inclusive and supportive of one another, we mutually agree that we never see ourselves as competitors!”

PEOPLE

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