An afternoon of fine California Wines

Wine tasting is always a fascinating experience for me – it’s full of new flavors and new discoveries. I learn from my fellow tasters as well as make new friends - those who share the same interest in wine. I was at The Venue a few days ago to sample a variety of wines from the Beringer Vineyards of Napa Valley, California.

In line with the month-long MADE IN USA celebration at Iloilo Supermart, Happy Living Philippines Corporation, a leading distributor of quality wines in the Philippines conducted a two-day wine tasting session at Days Hotel Iloilo and at The Venue.

So how would one newbie start a wine tasting session? Well, I just go with the flow … actually it’s my second wine tasting session (the first one was an array of French wines from the Sommelier Selection). I always start with the whites so the White Moscato was the obvious choice and with a whole lot of “cocktail bites” on the table I took the liberty of choosing what caught my eyes first.

I got the “Cheesy con carne” bruschetta, Angus beef in nachos and creamy seared tuna on fish crackers. It was sweet and fruity and even Beringer’s California Collection Pinot Grigio has a refreshing bite of juicy white peach and citrus.

Then it was on to the Beringer Red Wine selection as I got my glass of Syrah. Though not a sweet as my previous glass but for a red wine it was still in “my” category of sweet. The lettuce cups with sisig and some slices of grapes brought out more of its taste.

With a more intense taste was the Cabernet Sauvignon but the fruitiness was still evident in every sip. Alcohol content was obviously stronger so swirling the glass slightly reduced it plus it was a match with the variety of cheeses and the assorted vegetable sticks in spiced dressing. I don’t know if the last one really paired off but I like the combination of both their intense flavors.

Finally, a glass of Red Moscato. Compared with the white variant, it was stronger yet lighter than the red wine line up. As I have already tasted almost all the cocktail bites before the (second batch of) supply came, I just paired it with my faves (sisig, tuna on fish crackers, etc) and the pineapple and bell pepper on sticks.

Thanks to Arvi Sumayo Sicad, Marketing Manager of Great Foods Concepts which run The Avenue Complex, my taste buds were again opened to the lure of the finer things of gastronomy. Another satisfying gastronomic experience but not limited to the palate but also with my own personal learnings about wine and wine-pairing. It was indeed an afternoon of fine California wines and more …

Happy Living Philippines Corporation was established in 1996 by a family of wine lovers to bring quality California wine to the growing Philippine Wine market. Happy Living ships via refrigerated vans and maintains the quality and consistency of its wines by storing them in temperature controlled facilities. Read more ...

The Beringer Vineyards in California is the oldest continuously operating winery in the wine region of Napa Valley. Established in 1876, it is the only winemaker in the world to have been awarded Wine Spectator’s “Wine of the Year” award for both a Chardonnay and Cabernet. Read more.

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