Cheers to the 19th Grand Wine Experience! (Pasay City)

The 19th Grand Wine Experience at the Marriott Grand Ballroom

The Philippine Wine Merchants (PWM) have done it again with their very successful 19th edition of the Grand Wine Experience, the country’s most prestigious annual wine event (ranked as one of Asia’s most important wine spectacles), held last November 15 at the Grand Ballroom of the Marriott Hotel (its 9th consecutive year as host), Resorts World Manila.  This year’s theme is Generations, highlighting the story of wine as a legacy since heritage in winemaking plays across generations in vineyards and the families that cultivate them.

An array of wine and spirit stalls

A huge cauldron of meatballs

A giant plate of paella

As early as 5 PM, while everyone waited for the grand ballroom event venue to open its doors, early attendees avoiding the usual insane pay-day weekend traffic mayhem were already at the red carpeted halls leading to the main ballroom, having a chill time with white wine. Just like in past GWEs, the ballroom was set up with stalls, with different wines and spirits, stationed on the perimeter of the ballroom, with different buffets scattered across the center. 

Live entertainment 

At the center of everything was a big stage where the 20-piece AMP Big Band with Mel Villena played live music.  To complete the mood, veteran club DJ Boyet Sison was also spinning records. There were also small stages where winemakers will have their interviews.

By 6 PM, the ballroom soon filled with dignitaries, top executives, celebrities, wine connoisseurs and wine lovers, most in business or cocktail attire. They were amazed by the spectacular wine choices and buffet spreads and excited to taste the more than 700 renowned wines, beers, sakes (rice beer), whiskeys and other spirits from over 100 wineries, breweries, and distilleries from 20 countries.  

Chivas booth

On hand to welcome them and officially start the event were the Joseph brothers of PWM - Ronald Lim Joseph (Director of Finance), Raymond Lim Joseph (Director of Sales and Marketing), Robert Lim Joseph (Chairman) and Ralph Lim Joseph (President).

Favorite brands such as Hennessy and Chivas were there. Hennessy featured the Sauvignon Blancs from New Zealand and Malbec from Terrazas de los Andes from Argentina. 

Tapping into the milk tea craze that’s sweeping the country, Hennessy featured its three-star Cognac, Hennessy VS, in a cocktail which it called Hennessy Milktea. Chivas, on the other hand, featured, for the first time, its “full range,” coming up with exciting cocktails that show how “flexible” their brands are.

The "party-like" ambiance

Aside from wines, there were also liquors from popular Filipino brands (Don Papa Rum, etc.), beers from Corona and Stella Artois, whiskies from Dalmore, and a lot more. Also featured was the largest premium sake selection in the Philippines, with 14 legendary sake from breweries (Dassai, Tatenokawa, Gekkeikan, etc.) from 11 prefectures of Japan.  

A whole yellowfin tuna

Some wines from Greece (Domaine Sigalas, Kir-Yianni, Xinomavro, Assyrtiko, etc.), the Golan Heights from Israel (Cabernet Sauvignon, etc.), among others, also made their Philippine debut. 

Aside from unlimited tastings, guests also had the chance to meet winemakers, sake brewers, beer brewers, and owners.  Within everyone's easy reach were sumptuous culinary treats, courtesy of the chefs and crew of Marriott Hotel Manila, led by Executive Chef Meik Brammer, who kept replenishing their glorious assortment of food, from the shrimps to the cheeses, sausages, breads, whole slabs of fresh fish, roasted ducks, etc..  

A taste of China - Peking duck

The amazing buffet spread of tasty dishes lavishly displayed all over the grand ballroom (which was already probably too much to consume all in one night) included impressive displays of a massive plate of paella served on one side and a humongous cauldron of meatballs on the other. For sweets, there’s chocolates and fresh strawberries, right in front of the stage at the center of the venue, to pair with their drinks.

Freixenet booth

In spite of the large contingent of oenophiles attending the event, everything seemed to be unlimited in this outrageously fun night, with food and wines served from 5:30 PM till past midnight. 

Truly, this evening, with its casual, almost “party-like” ambience, can best be summarized as “Eat, Drink and Be Merry.” Though wine was the focal point of the conversations, camaraderie and hedonism, the GWE also offered guests the opportunity to see old friends, catch up with wine industry people and also meet and see new faces.

Toasting to the present and the future.....

The Grand Wine Experience, resembling a humongous wine dinner or wine party, combined everything in one huge epicurean festival - an overflowing array of food from various cuisines, live entertainment and different wines, liquors and spirits from different regions. This year’s wine drinking odyssey, a GWE that I’m sure people won’t soon forget, truly surpassed its previous editions.

L-R: the author, Mr. Pete Dacuycuy (publicist), Ms.  Patria Aurora "Dawnie" Roa (former DOT Region 7 Director), Fr. Boyd R. Sulpico (Colegio de San Juan de Letran chaplain) and Mr. Ricky Paul Tio (president and general manager of Cebu Tours & Holiday Travel, Inc.)

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