Passion and Collaboration—Singlefile’s Partner Profile Series: Wine Aspect, Thailand
At Singlefile, we wish to shine a light on some of the people that help us on our journey of sharing our wines and Great Southern story with discerning wine lovers in Australia and beyond. These partners are an important part of our broader Singlefile family, and we wish to recognise their valuable contributions through this Partner Profile series.
Our first Partner Profile introduces you to Bew Naweera, a passionate importer, distributor and retailer, who expertly manages a curated selection of Singlefile’s wines within the rapidly growing Thai market.
Meet Rapheephan "Bew" Naweera of Wine Aspect, Thailand
A second-generation businesswoman, Rapheephan "Bew" Naweera is a passionate wine lover with an entrepreneurial spirit, these two traits converging in the founding of Wine Aspect in Thailand in 2023. A new wine import and distribution company, Wine Aspect aims to promote wine appreciation in Thailand by introducing high-quality wines into the market. In a country historically dominated by spirits, Bew’s dedication to fine wines, a passion she developed while studying in Australia, has seen her carve a niche for herself in Thailand’s rapidly expanding hospitality industry.
Under Bew’s leadership, Wine Aspect has immediately become synonymous with quality and sophistication. The company collaborates with quality wineries across the world to bring exceptional vintages to the Thai market. Bew has built strong relationships with high end restaurants and hotels as a distributor, as well as connecting directly with Thai consumers through opening her own flagship store and wine bar on busy Thong Lor Street in Bangkok. By prioritising both wine education and appreciation, she has positioned Wine Aspect not just as a distributor, but also as a retailer championing wine culture.
Her efforts have not gone unnoticed. In November 2024, Bew was honoured with the ‘On & Off Trade Channel’ Women in Wine & Spirits award (WINWSA), a testament to her impact and leadership in the industry. This accolade recognises her contributions to promoting excellence and innovation in the wine and spirits sector, with the WINWSA recipients lauded for reaching new industry benchmarks and setting the stage for an era of growth.
Singlefile’s collaboration with Wine Aspect goes back to its beginnings, when Bew was meeting producers and tasting wines in preparation to launch Wine Aspect’s portfolio. “Our connection was serendipitous—and somewhat last minute!” We recently spoke with Bew to learn more about her history with Australia, with Singlefile, and how the collaboration with Wine Aspect came about.
What significance does Australia hold for your career in wine, and memorable wine experiences?
“Australia has had a profound influence in my life, sparking my passion for wine while living here for four years studying at RMIT in Melbourne,” Bew recalls. “The first bottle of wine I bought in Melbourne was a moscato costing less than $5.00 from a store near Chinatown! At the time, I remember thinking it was a nice wine and very easy to drink.”
While that memory has stayed with her, Bew’s tastes have expanded since then; sampling fine wines from esteemed global producers, and achieving her WSET Level 2 and 3 certifications.
How does Singlefile fit into Wine Aspect’s fine wine portfolio in Thailand within a competitive Australian sector?
“I tasted between 20-30 wineries and over 200 wines from Australia, and only chose Singlefile. It is quite unbelievable how the market has responded. Singlefile is our best selling wine across our international portfolio. People love the Great Southern Riesling, Family Reserve Chardonnay, Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Single Vineyard Fumé Blanc, and ‘The Philip Adrian’. This is a very good example of a brand striving for quality across their business — consumers notice it, and they cannot select only one ‘favourite’ wine.”
Patrick recalls he first met you at Vinexpo, an international trade event in Singapore. Tell us a little more about how you connected.
“I did not have enough time to research well, but the name of Singlefile came up right before I was having a late meeting one morning,” Bew explains. “I sent an email to ask for a meeting with Patrick (Corbett) only 45 minutes prior while I was in a taxi. I did not expect a reply, but surprisingly, Patrick emailed back and accepted a last minute meeting with me!”
Which is your favourite of the Singlefile wines distributed by Wine Aspect? Why?
When asked about her favourite Singlefile wine, Bew shared with us that she has a special preference for our flagship Cabernet Sauvignon, ‘The Philip Adrian’.
“It is the wine that made me decide to add Singlefile to the Wine Aspect portfolio,” she said. “The wine is 100% cabernet sauvignon from Frankland River. This is a great Australian wine which immediately shows its character, with blackcurrant, milk chocolate, eucalyptus, and blueberry on the nose. The palate is dry, round, and balanced, with perfect intensity of flavors, silky tannin and a long finish. Clearly, the winemaker and team know exactly what they are doing in this wine!”
What are your plans for Wine Aspect from here?
“I created Wine Aspect with the mission to change and develop the wine market and wine culture in Thailand. So far, I believe we have started to make some noise! My goal is to make Wine Aspect recognised as one of the top premium wine importers in Thailand, with a portfolio deserving of serious consideration from the country’s top hotels and Michelin Starred restaurants. It’s ‘excellence’ in all dimensions that we are aiming to achieve.”
At Singlefile, our chosen motto Semper Superne Nitens—“the pursuit of excellence”—echoes Bew’s mission statement. We are delighted to have partnered with Wine Aspect to bring a taste of the Great Southern to an increasingly sophisticated Thai wine market. It is exciting to work closely with Bew, who is deserving of her recognition within the industry in Thailand. She has successfully cultivated a platform that showcases her expertise and passion, making Wine Aspect a trusted name.