Small Malay began by accident — the best kind of one.

In 2021, before a long-awaited trip to the British Virgin Islands, a group of friends found themselves unexpectedly grounded — seven days of quarantine, nowhere to be but together. What could’ve been boredom quickly became something better: long afternoons of cooking, music spilling through open windows, and late nights trading stories over whatever bottles were left.

Among them was Selva — born in Malaysia, fluent in wine, and somehow able to turn a quiet dinner into an impromptu Sommelier 101 class.

By Day Two, they ran out of wine. (A tragedy, really.) When the concierge called to restock the villa’s supply, he asked if the group needed a sommelier. Without missing a beat, Jeff — resident dad-joke connoisseur — said,

“No need for a sommelier — we’ve got our Small Malay.”

The joke landed, the wine arrived, and the name stuck — a lighthearted moment that somehow captured everything about that week: laughter, curiosity, and finding joy in whatever (and whoever) you have around the table.

What started as a joke became a story, and that story became a reminder — that good things don’t need perfect planning; they just need people who show up, share, and savor.

Today, Small Malay carries that same spark — bringing together small wineries and local chefs to create evenings that feel less like events and more like memories.
Because the best moments aren’t staged — they’re poured, passed, and savored.