Introduction: Craft Beyond Boundaries
In the UBS House of Craft series, the line between objects and experiences often blurs, and this conversation between a sommelier and an artist was no exception. The fall session brought together sommelier Jhonel Faelnar and artist TanTan Wang for an evening focused on how taste, time, and technique shape contemporary craft. The goal wasn’t merely to talk about watches or wine in isolation, but to explore how deliberate practice, sensibility, and curiosity knit these disciplines into a larger tapestry of craftsmanship.
Harmonizing Timepieces and Tasting Notes
Watches and wine may seem like unlikely bedfellows, yet both are products of patient refinement and disciplined perception. Jhonel Faelnar, whose tasting philosophy centers on letting terroir and technique reveal themselves, spoke about the discipline behind a great glass as analogous to selecting a reliable timepiece. “Craft is about listening closely,” he remarked, “whether you’re listening to the subtle swing of a tourbillon or the whisper of a bouquet.” The dialogue with TanTan Wang drew parallels between the accuracy required in horology and the precision required in winemaking and wine pairing. The evening underscored how both crafts reward attention to nuance—seasonality, texture, and the story each object tells through its design or vintage.
TanTan Wang: Craft as Narrative and Form
TanTan Wang’s practice centers on the intersection of material culture and storytelling. During the session, Wang spoke about how form guides perception and how perception, in turn, informs form. In the world of craft, the visual language of a watch or the aroma of a wine bottle communicates before the first word is spoken. The conversation highlighted a shared belief: craft thrives when makers and appreciators engage in dialogue, challenging each other to see beyond the obvious. Wang emphasized that craft is not a static achievement but a living practice, evolving with new tools, techniques, and inspirations gathered from diverse disciplines.
Listening as a Craft Skill
A recurring theme was listening—an act that enriches both tasting and viewing. Faelnar described his approach to wine as a patient listening exercise: noting acidity, tannin, and finish, then letting those sensations guide the next course, the next pairing, or even the next purchase. Wang added that listening to materials—stone, wood, glass, fabric—yields a more intimate understanding of how a finished object will feel in daily life. Together, they suggested that the best craft emerges when sensory attention is trained and sustained over time.
Pairing Principles: Time, Place, and Sensory Alignment
The evening distilled several practical ideas for enthusiasts who seek to bring craft into everyday life. First, allow time to transform perception. A bottle won’t reveal itself instantly, just as a watch doesn’t show its full character in a single glance. Second, embrace terroir and material origin as a guiding principle. Whether selecting a bottle or a timepiece, understanding origin deepens appreciation and connects the observer with broader histories. Finally, seek a thoughtful alignment of senses: the color and texture of a wine with the finish and silhouette of a watch—each element enhancing the overall experience rather than competing with it.
What Craft Feels Like Today
The UBS House of Craft itinerary is a reminder that craft is not a niche hobby but a vibrant ecosystem where makers, collectors, and critics converge. The conversation with Jhonel Faelnar and TanTan Wang affirmed that contemporary craft is fueled by curiosity, cross-pollination, and a shared reverence for the slow, deliberate act of making. Watches become more than instruments of time; they become a canvas for taste and memory. Wine transcends mere refreshment; it becomes a medium through which stories are tasted, remembered, and relished across generations.
Closing Thoughts
As the evening drew to a close, the participants left with a renewed sense that craft is a journey of seeing, listening, and tasting more deeply. In a world of rapid consumption, UBS House of Craft offers a counterpoint: a space where the slow, thoughtful act of making is celebrated, and where conversations about watches and wine illuminate what it means to craft a life worth sipping and keeping.
