Stories & Insights / Member Stories
Bringing Bordeaux closer, without losing its story
Entrepreneur Circle Member Story · 21 Oct 2026
01 With fine wine, where it comes from — and how it gets to you — matters.
At Entrepreneur Circle, we believe every business has a person, a story and a purpose behind it.
Bordeaux Direct connects wine lovers in Singapore and Southeast Asia directly with wines from Bordeaux.
At the heart of its approach is provenance. Wines are sourced ex-château or from Bordeaux bond and kept within temperature-controlled storage before making their journey to Singapore.
From classified growths to lesser-known châteaux, the aim is not simply to provide bottles, but to preserve the journey behind what eventually reaches the glass.
Marine Fontana
Founder, Owner & CEO · Bordeaux Direct Pte Ltd
The person behind the business
Marine Fontana’s journey into the wine business began with a background in agricultural engineering. During internships early in her career, she had the opportunity to work in vineyards, although her professional path initially took her into consulting at EY in Paris.
In 2020, Marine and her partner, Romik, acquired Château Canon Chaigneau, a family-run vineyard in Lalande-de-Pomerol, Bordeaux.
With Marine’s agricultural background and Romik’s experience in the wine merchant industry, they brought complementary perspectives to the estate. What began as an entrepreneurial adventure soon developed into a shared passion for preserving the vineyard’s heritage while making Bordeaux wines feel more modern and approachable.
Bringing Bordeaux to Singapore
In 2024, Marine relocated to Singapore with her partner and their two children. Seeing an opportunity to introduce their family vineyard’s wines to a new audience in Asia, she founded Bordeaux Direct.
For Marine, the business is about more than selling wine. She enjoys meeting people, sharing the story behind the vineyard and introducing customers to bottles they might not otherwise discover.
Her work also brings plenty of variety. One day might involve discussing winemaking with the team in France; another could mean organising a tasting in Singapore or meeting potential business partners.
Making Wine More Approachable
Marine believes that wine should bring people together rather than make them feel intimidated.
She particularly enjoys helping people discover Bordeaux without feeling they need specialist knowledge to appreciate a good bottle.
“I strongly believe that great wine should be enjoyed, not intimidated by.”
— Marine Fontana, Founder, Owner & CEO, Bordeaux Direct
For Marine, wine is ultimately about sharing, discovery and the connections created around a bottle.
The business
About Bordeaux Direct
Bordeaux Direct brings Bordeaux wines to Singapore with a strong emphasis on provenance and careful handling.
The business also has a personal connection to Bordeaux. Marine and her partner, Romik, own Château Canon Chaigneau, a family-run vineyard in Lalande-de-Pomerol, bringing together their experience in agriculture, wine and entrepreneurship.
Its wines are offered in original packaging and sourced directly ex-château or from temperature-controlled Bordeaux warehousing, preserving their provenance before they reach customers.
Orders travel from Bordeaux directly to the company’s temperature-controlled warehouse in Singapore, from where they can be delivered across Southeast Asia.
Customers may also choose to leave their wines in Bordeaux or Singapore storage for future delivery or resale.
The range extends from Grands Crus Classés to smaller châteaux, giving customers different ways to explore Bordeaux.
For those unsure where to begin, Bordeaux Direct also offers an Insider model designed around regular wine discovery, accompanied by tasting notes and additional wine content.
02 Château Canon Chaigneau in Bordeaux, where Marine’s journey as a vineyard owner connects with her work bringing Bordeaux wines to Singapore.
From Bordeaux to Singapore
For Bordeaux Direct, bringing wine into Singapore is not simply about moving bottles from one place to another.
The business places emphasis on where the wine has been, how it has been stored and giving customers different ways to discover, receive or hold their wines.
01
Bordeaux Wine Selection
A range spanning Grands Crus Classés to smaller Bordeaux châteaux, sourced with provenance and condition in mind.
02
Ex-Bordeaux to Singapore
Orders travel from the property or Bordeaux bond to temperature-controlled storage in Singapore before onward delivery.
03
Wine Storage
Customers can choose to leave wines in Bordeaux or Singapore storage for future delivery or resale.
04
Bordeaux Direct Insider
Regular selections of 6, 12, 24 or more bottles, available monthly or bi-monthly, accompanied by tasting notes and additional content designed to deepen the discovery of the wines.
The journey from Bordeaux to the glass is part of what gives every bottle its story.
Different ways to discover Bordeaux
Bordeaux Direct serves both seasoned wine enthusiasts and those beginning to explore Bordeaux, with an emphasis on provenance, discovery and careful storage.
01
Wine Enthusiasts & Collectors
Customers looking for Bordeaux wines with clear provenance, with options to receive or store their purchases.
02
Wine Explorers
Those who may not know where to begin and prefer a curated way to discover different Bordeaux wines through the Insider programme.
For someone discovering or collecting Bordeaux, the question is not only which bottle to choose.
It is also knowing where that bottle has been before it reaches you.
The EC connection
Who should I introduce this member to?
Through Entrepreneur Circle, Marine welcomes connections with businesses and individuals who appreciate good wine, hospitality and authentic products. She is open to collaborations, partnerships and opportunities to introduce more people to Bordeaux wines.
Restaurants, Hotels & Private Clubs
Hospitality businesses looking for quality Bordeaux wines with an authentic vineyard story behind them.
Corporate Clients
Companies interested in wine gifting, private tastings or wine experiences for their teams and clients.
Event Organisers & Wine Partners
Organisers and businesses exploring wine partnerships for events and special occasions.
Entrepreneurs & Wine Enthusiasts
Fellow entrepreneurs interested in collaborations or exchanging ideas, as well as wine lovers curious to discover Bordeaux.
Continue the conversation
Every bottle has a journey, and provenance is part of its story.
Bordeaux Direct’s approach begins long before a bottle reaches Singapore — with where it comes from, how it has been stored and how its journey is managed.
For EC members, a conversation with Marine can be an opportunity to discover more about Bordeaux, provenance and the stories that travel with the wine.
Company
Bordeaux Direct Pte Ltd
Member
Marine Fontana
Title
Founder, Owner & CEO
Website
Member Stories / Entrepreneur Circle
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