2nd Wine Blogging Media Night "Prelude to the 17th Grand Wine"

PWM Director
Ronald Lim Joseph

PWM Off-Trade Head
Ms. Dawn Rosary Ignacio

For the second time around, lifestyle bloggers were invited to another Wine Blogging Media Night "Prelude to the 17th Grand Wine" at the Wine Museum Hotel & Resto where we were to listen to presentations of wine industry players.  

Upon arrival, we were welcomed by Mr. Ronald "Ronnie" Lim Joseph (Director) and Ms. Dawn Rosary Ignacio (Off-Trade Head), both of Philippine Wine Merchants (PWM), one of the biggest wine importers and distributors in the country and organizer of the 17^th Grand Wine Experience  to be held on November 24, 2017, Friday, 5 PM at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel, Newport City. 

Check out "1st Wine Blogging Wednesday Media Night: Prelude to the 17th Grand Wine"

An array of wines, spirits, tequilas and whiskeys

Ms. Tricia Apostol 
of Fly Ace Corp.

Mr. Ariel Broncano
of GNIC

Ms. Trisha Apostol, Product Manager of Fly Ace Corporation, one of the country's leading food and beverage consumer goods companies, was the first presenter. Fly Ace exclusively distributes wine brands such as Franzia, Casillero del Diablo and Concha Y Toro. 

According to Ms. Apostol, Casillero del Diablo, a widely recognized premium brand of Chilean wine which means the “devil's cellar,” was so named because winery  founder Don Melchor de Concha y Toro, spread the myth that the devil lived in the cellar to prevent theft.

A recent campaign of Casillero del Diablo was a Filipino food pairing project with highly acclaimed celebrity chef-host Sharwin Tee, the first-ever winner of Lifestyle Network’s reality cooking show “Clash of the Toque-en Ones” and host of “Curiosity got Chef,” as its newest ambassador. 

To introduce this Chilean legend to the casual Filipino wine drinker, Sharwin spiced up the wine and food pairing by cooking hearty Filipino dishes (Arroz a la Cubana, Pulled Pork Adobo Nachos, Grilled Chicken with Guava Glaze and Spicy Mussel and Clam Brisket), one of his specialties, with Casillero del Diablo itself.  Four of Casillero del Diablo’s wide selection of wine varietals were presented. 

Four Casillero del Diablo wines

·         The Casillero del Diablo Reserva Carmenere 2016, a smooth, deep, dark purple and delicate wine with intense color, has smooth, round tannins, and attractive aromas of black currant, chocolate and hints of coffee and toasty oak. 
·         The Casillero del Diablo Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, a dark, ruby red with aromas of cherries, black currant and dark plum, is very concentrated, rich in flavor, perfectly balanced and boasts a satisfying and lingering finish. 
·         The Casillero del Diablo Merlot 2016, a  smooth, medium-bodied wine that perfectly combines plum and red berry flavors with smoky, cedar wood aromas, is ideal to match with pasta, risotto and lightly spiced red meat dishes.  
·         The Casillero del Diablo Devil’s Brut, a sparkling wine with a gorgeous pale yellow color, is bright, very delicate and with small bubbles. It is deal with appetizers and starters made with fish and/or shellfish and pairs perfectly with Japanese foods, especially sushi.

The next presenter was Mr. Ariel Broncano, Senior Marketing Officer of Global Noble International Corp. (GNIC), a wholesaler and importer of a wide range of liquor products including whiskey, tequila, wine, and brandy/cognac. Mr. Boncano introduced us to Teeling Irish Whiskey, Windspiel, Licinia and Casa Noble Tequila.

Whiskeys and tequilas of Global Noble International Corp.

Margarita

Leprechaun

·        The Casa Noble Tequila Anejo, an exquisite, limited production tequila beautifully contained in an artisan purple glass decanter, matured in French white oak barrels for two years and extra aged to perfection, exhibits a deep golden tone, has an exceptional bouquet and body, and ranks among the finest distilled spirits in the world.  
·         The Casa Noble Tequila Blanco, a “crystal,” unaged blanco tequila, is a pure agave spirit, packed full of peppery flavor, distilled and then bottled without any contact with wood.
·         The Casa Noble Tequila Reposado, an exquisite, smooth, sensuous and full bodied 100% Agave tequila produced at La Cofradia in Jalisco, Mexico, is matured in French white oak barrels for 364 days. This tequila is contained in a beautiful hand blown cobalt blue bottle, adorned with an exquisite pewter engraved label and top. This we sampled with the Casa Noble Margarita cocktail that was served to us.

·         The Teeling Whiskey Single Malt Irish Whiskey, a rich and spicy whiskey aged for up to 23 years, are matured in a range of wine casks: sherry, port, Madeira, white Burgundy and Cabernet Sauvignon. 
·         The Teeling Whiskey Single Grain, released in 2013, was matured full term in Californian Cabernet Sauvignon wine barrels, resulting in a spicy and fruity whiskey. 
·        The Teeling Whiskey Small Batch, a delicious small-batch blend with a very high malt content is, interestingly enough,  also been matured in rum casks for added spice. This whiskey was the centerpiece of  the very refreshing leprechaun, a classic and sophisticated American cocktail which was served to us.

According to Mr. Broncano, on October 2013, GNIC, seeing the growing trend of online selling in the Philippines, launched www.Gurkka.com, an online deal site for wines and spirits product line plus wines accessories (e.g. wine glasses, cork screw, etc.) and other luxury items (e.g. apparels, restaurant vouchers, gadgets, hotel accommodations, etc.) It is the first wine and spirit deal site in the Philippines where members get freebie packages and discounts with purchases, earn points and redeem rewards.   Other wines were also on display during the press conference:

An array of Stolichnaya vodkas

STOLICHNAYA
·         The classic Stolicnaya Gold is a great, double-distilled and incredibly smooth Russian vodka made from wheat and rye that is fantastically smooth yet delightfully characterful and complex. In 2008, it was awarded a Gold medal at The Vodka Masters.

·        The Stolichnaya Salted Karamel, the world's first salted caramel-flavored vodka, offers the perfect balance of sweet and savory. With a creamy-silky textured mouth-feel, it has a finish that is rich and warm, with lingering caramelized sugar and English toffee notes, balanced with a light saltiness that draws out the caramel for a taste that is completely delicious.

·         The Stolichnaya Gluten Free Vodka, distilled from corn and buckwheat, is completely gluten-free but still maintains the flavor that has made Stolichnaya famous.

·         The Stolichnaya Minibar Pack includes Stolichnaya's Classic Vodka, Stoli Vanil, Stoli Ohranj, Stoli Razberi and Stolichnaya Blueberi. 

Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva 2009, Dalmau Reserva 2012 and Rioja Reserva 2011

MARQUES DE MURRIETA

·         The Marques de Murrieta Rioja Reserva 2011, an energetic tempranillo from Rioja, Spain, has an intense bright cherry red color and boasts ripe red fruit attributes accompanied by a subtle and creamy oak and lots of spices.
·         The Marques de Murrieta Gran Reserva 2009 has a dark, intense red brick color with a mature aroma of mellow red and dark fruits with hint of spicy oak.
·         The Dalmau Reserva 2012,  a premium, limited-production Spanish red wine  aged 18 nonths in French oak barrels from Allier and another 12 months in the cellar prior to its release, is made from a blend of 70% Tempranillo, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon and 15% Graciano.

Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2011, Valpolicella Classico 2014, and Soave

ALLEGRINI

·         The Allegrini Soave, a classic, a soft and graceful Veronese white wine from the Garganega grape, is bright straw yellow in color, of average intensity with green reflections.  It impresses with its fresh and inviting aromatic expression.
·         The Allegrini Valpolicella Calssico 2014, a very nice, full flavored, medium bodied and ruby-red colored Valpolicella, has a fruity taste, with cherries and some sour cherries packed together with just a hint of plum. 
·         The Allegrini Amarone della Valpolicella Classico 2011, a rich, red amarone wine from the traditional classico viticultural zone of Valpolicella in Veneto, north-eastern Italy, is one of Veneto's most famous and prestigious wines. 

Piramimma Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Petit Verdot

PIRRAMIMMA

·         The Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2013, a dark, fully saturated and full bodied red wine with a fairly long finish, has scents of eucalyptus, black cherry and dill ripe dark cherry with plum, cassis, smoke, vanilla and toasted oak. 
·         The Petit Verdot McLaren Vale 2013 is a red-wine whose small, thick-skinned berries are valued for their depth of color.
·         The Shiraz McLaren Vale 2013, a hearty red wine, has a deep purple color and a thick, luscious choc berry palate with oak sweetness.

Montes Alpha

MONTES ALPHA

·         The Montes Alpha Purple Angel, an intense, concentrated, dense, powerful Carmenere red from Montes with ripe tannins, violets, nutmeg and cloves, is the third most expensive wine made from Carmenere in Colchagua Valley.
·         The Montes Alpha Special Cuvee Cabernet Sauvignon, also known as Black Label, has a deep ruby color.  It is the third most expensive wine made from Cabernet Sauvignon in Central Valley, Chile.
·         The Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon, a full bodied, generous and ripe vintage Cabernet with a generous amount of cocoa, mocha and plums and lots of new oak and toasty flavors. 
·         The Montes Alpha Merlot, among the higher priced and one of the most popular wines (90% Merlot, 10% Carmenere) from Colchagua Valley, has a handsome ruby-red color with grapes sourced from Apalta and Marchigue.
·         The Montes Alpha Syrah, a dark-skinned red wine, is one of the top 10 Apalta wines.  The 2003 vintage was awarded Silver from the Indy International Wine Competition while the 2007 vintage was awarded Bronze from the Decanter World Wine Awards.

Arzuaga Tinto 2011 and Crianza 2013

BODEGAS ARZUAGA NAVARRO

·         The Arzuaga Ribera del Duero 2011, a tempranillo from Ribera del Duero, Spain, has a blend of 95% Tinto Fino, 3% Merlot and 2% Albillo. Clean and bright, ruby red and shades of purple. Great aromatic intensity, complex and elegant, with notes of compote of red fruits of the forest, well assembled with the tertiary aromas of a clean and subtle barrel, leaving in retronasal hints of smoked and roasted. Enveloping and structured, with great unctuousness marked by its sweet tannin. Sensations silky and prolonged aftertaste. 
·        The Arzuaga Crianza 2013, a single varietal tempranillo made from grapes coming from several plots scattered over the Ribera del Duero region, Spain, is aged 14 months in half French and half American oak barrels.

A toast to the 17th Grand Wine Experience's success

For advance registration, call telephone numbers (02) 853-9894, (02) 851-0172 and (02) 831-7951, e-mail sales@pwm.com.ph or online at www.grandwineexperience.com.

Philippine Wine Merchants: 2253 Aurora Blvd., Pasay City 1300, Metro Manila.Tel: (02) 853-7423.  Email: sales@ralphswines.com.ph. Website: www.grandwineexperience.com.

The Wine Museum Hotel & Resto: 2253 Aurora Blvd. (formerly Tramo Rd.), Tramo, Pasay City, Metro Manila.  Tel: (632) 239-4278.  Fax: (632) 853-5894. E-mail: hotelvino@yahoo.com. Website: www.thewinemuseum.org. 
Global Noble International Corp.:  2/F, Ilo Bldg., 195 Gregorio Araneta Ave., 1100, Quezon City, Metro Manila. Tel: (632)714-0299 and (632) 716-3328.  Fax: (+632) 714-2485. E-mail: globalnobleintlcorp@gmail.com.  
Fly Ace Corp.: 7/F, Fly Ace Corporate Center, 13 Coral Way, Central Business Park, Pasay City, Metro Manila. Tel: (632) 807-9999. Fax:: (632) 807-9999 local 737 & 842. E-mail: info@flyacecorp.com. Website: www.flyacecorp.com.