Enjoying Wonderful World: Wine

Showing posts with label Wine. Show all posts

August 26, 2018

Free sampling of Premium Wines and Spirits at The Tasting Corner

For a limited time only, you can sample some of the most iconic premium wines and spirits in the world at the Tasting Corner in selected SM Markets.

This innovative new concept is the first of its kind, and a rare experiential opportunity for those who are curious about premium brands to sample these drinks in their “perfect serve”.

Knowing the perfect serve

The perfect serve is the way in which wines and spirits manufacturers recommend that their drinks be served. Most perfect serves are surprisingly not common knowledge, and quite often they are not how everybody drinks it.

For instance, most Cognac aficionados would never think to mix Hennessy VS with ginger ale and a slice of lime, but that is exactly the way in which Hennessy recommends that Hennessy VS be enjoyed.

Everyone knows the proper lick, shoot, and suck routine for drinking room temperature Tequila, but Jose Cuervo actually recommends Tequila chilled to a precise temperature, and taken straight up.

Hardcore Scotch Whisky drinkers usually prefer their Scotch neat or on the rocks, Johnnie Walker actually recommends mixing Johnnie Walker black with ginger ale or cola. And while wine connoisseurs everywhere will usually insist on room temperature serving for most if not all wine, Carlo Rossi and Los Cardos actually recommend that their wines be chilled.

The best thing is there is no need to try to imagine what that is like, these and other perfect serves are in store at the Tasting Corner, to sample for free.

It’s all about knowing the “good stuff”

Contrary to the all too prevalent mindset in the Philippines, knowing how to drink is not a skill that is based on a person’s alcohol tolerance levels. The real skill doesn’t lie in the ability to drink huge amounts of alcohol, but in knowing the difference between an ordinary drink and “the good stuff.”

This is an idea that millennial drinkers really seem to already be embracing. The one of a kind experiential event that is the Tasting Corner will help broaden their appreciation for the good stuff all the more.

Addressing the media and VIPs at the launch of the Tasting Corner, Mr. Antonio Villasenor,CEO of Blue Mountain, the exclusive distributor of wines and spirits in all SM Markets explained: “The main objective of the Tasting Corner is to give our valued customers a new shopping experience at SM Markets’ Wine & Liquor Section.

We are giving them a unique opportunity to know top wine, liquor, and beer brands with the help of our Brand Ambassadors who will not just share their expertise but let them taste the liquor themselves; so they may compare and pick which brand suits them the most”.

Freebies and free samples at the Tasting Corner

The Tasting Corner is a Pop-up store that will appear in selected SM Supermarkets and Hypermarkets between August 16, and November 8.

Free samples of brands such as Johnnie Walker, Hennessy, Jose Cuervo, Fundador or Carlo Rossi, and Los Cardos will be available throughout the Tasting Corner’s limited run.

The Tasting Corner will also offer exclusive discounts/price offs, and lucky Tasting Corner customers can also walk away with premium branded giveaways such as overnight bags, flasks,glasses, pens, and many others. Johnnie Walker fans will love the SM 60th anniversary commemorative bottles.

The complete schedule of the Tasting Corner is as follows:

August 15 to 30 in SM Hypermarket Mall of Asial;
August 17 to 30 in SM Supermarket The Podium, and SM Hypermarket North EDSA The Block; August 31 to September 13 in SM Supermarket Megamall B and SM Supermarket Makati. September 14 to 27 in SM Supermarket Aura and SM Hypermarket Pasig;
September 28 to October 11 in SM Supermarket Cebu; SM Supermarket Fairview, and SM Supermarket San Lazaro;
October 12 to 24 in SM Supermarket Southmall and SM Hypermarket Clark;
October 26 to November 8 in SM Supermarket Lanang Davao, and SM Supermarket Baguio.

May 20, 2018

Mother’s Day Treat from Shopwise

Recently, a fun-filled cooking and wine-tasting- educational advance Mother’s Day treat to customers, and mommy bloggers hosted by Shopwise held at Alabang Branch, Festival Mall.

Last May 12, 2018 was an afternoon of fun-filled as Shopwise showcased activities much to the mother’s delight, like Cooking Lessons, Wine 101 and Wine Show.

Cooking Lesson

The first activity was the cooking lesson by Chef Jee Mingoa, a seasoned Chef of Alchemy Bar and Bistro. He is expert in French Western and Mediterranean cuisine. He shared to us dishes using wines - Pan-Fried Fish Fillet with Caper Tomato and Creamy Beef Paprikash.

Creamy Beef Paprikash

Pan-Fried Fish Fillet with Caper Tomato

Procedure:

Season the fish fillet with salt and pepper.
Dredge fish on both sides and shake off excess.
Heat oil in pan over medium heat.
Place the fish in the pan and cook until lightly browned on both sides.
Plate the fish on hot dinner plate.
Place the pan over moderate heat.
Add butter.
Add onions, garlic and capers. Saute until soft.
Add wine and reduce.
Add the cherry on top of the fish and serve with lemon wedge.

Pan-Fried Fish Fillet with Caper Tomato

Wine Show

Joseph Apostol, Philippines Wine Flairing president spiced up the gathering with his wine flairing talent tossing around as much as 4 bottles to some tunes and fast beats.

Joseph presents some wine recipes including ‘Blossoming Mom‘ with ‘The Family Trentham‘ wine and Mamita el Mojito using Cranswick Lakefield, Citrus Sunshine and more.

Blossoming Mom with The Family Trentham

Wine Lesson 101

The Wine Lesson 101 with Mr. Mattia Mauri, hailing from Italy and a wine expert that started learning about wine right after school in Europe this year to further develop his skills and knowledge. His specialty are Italian and Australian win and he represents a certain number of Australian wines being sold at Shopwise among which the top selling Beach Hut, Chain of Fire and Lakefield brands.

Wine 101 presentation by Mattia Mauri featuring wines from Australia – specifically the Beach Hut, Chain of Fire, and Lakefield brands.

It was an awesome cooking and wine tasting afternoon from Shopwise, thanks and Happy Mother's Day to all!

December 19, 2016

Add Extra Cheer to Your Holiday Toast with Franzia

The most wonderful time of the year is finally just around the corner, and what is a better way to celebrate the festive season than to open a box of Franzia for every gathering. With the classy packaging of the three liter wine, a box of Franzia would already be more than perfect to share with friends in a small sized office, with your Christmas party barkada or a family reunion during Noche Buena.

Made from the finest grapes in California USA and known as the world’s best-selling wine, Franzia’s innovative Smart Tap technology amps up its freshness and quality that make the wine fresh and delicious up to its last glass.

Much more, Franzia is also a classy hamper centerpiece to give to all the important people on your Christmas gift list. Franzia also offers a bottle of wine in 750ml, aside from the Franzia box, which is equivalent to three liter bottle of wine, that could serve more than twenty-five wine glasses.

Whether you choose California Red or Chillable Red, Franzia Wines provide value and pleasure out of these two selections.

Take a cue from these recommendations on what best Franzia wine to take to your holiday shindigs:

Best wine for the meat connoisseurs.

Smooth, easy and wonderfully balanced, Franzia California Red Wine possesses ripe and juicy blackberry and cherry flavors that ends with a crisp, clean finish. A delicious pair to rich and flavorful beef, pork, and pasta dishes, it also surprisingly blends well with sweet-spicy sauces.

Best wine for a laid-back dinner.

Sexy but not stuffy and punctuated with a sweet cherry flavor, Chillable Red Wine is best enjoyed on dreariest days and also perfect for a cool cocktail. Pairing it with any salad, seafood or dessert will show more of its high flavor and strong finish. From big to simple events, it’s a wine that’s perfect for a relaxing night or chilling with friends.

Ideal for special occasions and as a heartwarming surprise to your loved ones this holiday season, Franzia wines are a standout from the food-gift crowd.

April 15, 2015

World-renowned mixologist wows Manila at Cocktail Festival with Matthias Giroud

Experience a Buddha-Bar Manila evening like no other when Matthias Giroud, Chief Bar Manager of Buddha-Bar Worldwide flies in for a one-night only cocktails feast called Cocktail Festival with Matthias Giroud on April 17, 2015.

The metro’s most sophisticated restaurant-bar-lounge promises the ultimate cocktails night with the visiting mixologist concocting an array of great cocktails and demonstrating the techniques he has acquired and honed through the years.

Guests get to taste Matthias’ special cocktails and new mixes for Php1,000. Discounts will be given to students and teachers who wish to watch a master mixologist at work, creating magical concoctions that inspire awe.

Constantly experimenting to up the ante in the art of mixing drinks, Matthias Giroud never fails to leave audiences amazed with his unparalleled cocktail creations. By nature, mixologists resemble artists, skilled not only in creating blends of flavors that complement each other perfectly but masters of performance and presentation as well.

Hailing from the French Antilles, four distinct islands that offer white-sand beaches, Gallic glamour, and gastronomy, Matthias grew up travelling the world with his parents. In essence, he was reared to become an explorer and adventurer.

At 18, the young Matthias landed his first bar job at the legendary “Bar Fly Paris” and it also marked his long-standing stint under George V Entertainment. Armed with a prodigious gift, a winning personality and work ethics, Matthias rose to become the chief bar manager for all the venues run by the group including the emblematic “Buddha Bar,” “Barrio Latino” and “Barlotti” in no time at all.

Soon he was conquering the world, designing, conceptualizing, training and putting in place the bar operation for all subsequent openings of the George V Entertainment group around the world. His remarkable journey has seen him traverse the continent, from Monaco to new York and from Mexico to Sao Paolo, through the Middle East right to the yet-to-be-discovered corners of exotic Asia.

It is but fitting that Manila is the next stop. Buddha-Bar Manila guests are bound to marvel at this French wizard of Buddha Bar’s signature mixed drinks.

Buddha-Bar Manila is located at Picar Place, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati City.

For reservations, call +632 8566859/ +632 8566719 and 0998-983-2918. You may also reach them at info@buddhabarmanila.com or like and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @BuddhaBarMNL

November 17, 2014

Tradition A L’Innovation at Soiree Beaujolais 2014

Banners and heralders proclaim the much awaited news: LE BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU EST ARRIVE! One of the romantic, nocturnal, and frivolous rituals in the wine world begins.

Soiree Beaujolais 2014 will be held at the elegant Tent City of the Manila Hotel on 20 November 2014 with the theme Tradition A L’Innovation [Tradition and Innovation].

Members of the Board of Directors of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Jean Caillard, Steven Rouche, Cyril Rocke, Bernard Flour and Martin Ruby.

At one minute past midnight every third Thursday of November, more than a million cases of Beaujolais Nouveau begin their journey from little villages and towns especially in the Beaujolais region of Morgon, Brouilly, Macon Villages, and Cinsault Rose’ through a sleeping France, and eventually to Paris for immediate shipment to all parts of the world.

For the past 23 years, Le Club, or the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines, celebrates SOIREE BEAUJOLAIS to welcome the harvest and arrival of this young wine, and share with its friends in our country, the year's flavor and aroma.

Soiree Beaujolais 2014 will be held at the elegant Tent City of the Manila Hotel, to accommodate more than 1,500 elite and elegant guests from the diplomatic, corporate, and social circles. Likewise, it is a happy reunion of all French nationals based in the Philippines.

Annually, the Soiree Beaujolais adopts a highly visual theme for its events: from icons of France, the Moulin Rouge, the Loire castles, the streets of Paris. This year, the theme is TRADITION A L'INNOVATION: Tradition and Innovation.

Because France has always been a leading innovator in the areas of technology such as the fabrication of spacecraft, airplanes, automobiles, underwater equipment, smart and intelligent information technology; as well as the arts: cinema, fashion, footwear, jewelry, and more.

To be interpreted by leading Philippine stylist and Event Director Mari Hilario of Creative Files, Inc. the entire Tent City will show the dynamic movement from turn of century Paris in the 20s, to post modern France in the 21st Century by way of murals, visual collages, lighting, music, and the interpretative renderings in dance and other theatrical art forms.

Mr. Cyril Rocke

The Chamber President, Mr. Cyril Rocke, will welcome all the guests; the Keynote Message will be delivered by His Excellency, Gilles Garachon, the Ambassador of France to the Philippines, and the Chamber Board of Directors headed by Soiree Beaujolais Committee Chairperson and Past President Bernard Flour who will lead in the uncorking of the new bottles, and declaring the arrival and formal tasting of Beaujolais Nouveau.

The soiree will also serve as the perfect platform in the delivery of the past-Haiyan efforts of the French business community (Lafarge Cement Services Philippines, Schneider Electric, L’Oreal, Total, Sanofi, DataOne, Pacific Hemisphere, Asiatype, AGS Fourwinds are some of the French corporations involved) after exactly a year since the devastating calamity. Spearheaded by the French Chamber of Commerce under its CSR arm called the France-Philippines United Action (FPUA), a task force ensuring that efforts are sustained, well organized, and have the most impact, it is both humbling and elating to announce that the chamber led by the FPUA’s Leadership Committee has taken its promise and commitment to direct projects in various domains mainly in reconstruction of homes, medical clinics, and livelihood programs for the victims. Currently, 43 over 74 homes were built in Site 1 and Site 2 is under construction.

Ms. World First Runner-up Gwendolyn Ruais

French-Filipina beauty and Ms. World First Runner-up Gwendolyn Ruais hosts the lovely evening and elegant performances through the decades will be performed by a cacophony of dancers and musicians thematically dressed up for the evening.

Non-stop decades of dancing will then ensue with the Exzel Band.

All the wine, cheese, and delicatessen are being especially flown in from France, while the Manila Hotel will lay out a gastronomical delight including exotic hors d'oeuvres, charcuterie, fresh oysters, a myriad of salad concoctions, the hot French and continental cuisine, the pastries and fabulous desserts which the hotel is patronized for.

Major Sponsor EDI Peugeot will showcase its signature cars, and Marithe’ + Francois Girbaud will punctuate the evening with a dazzling denim show by the Philippine All Star performers.

Major Partners of the event are: Banco De Oro Unibank, Inc., Lafarge Cement Services Philippines Inc., Total (Philippines) Corporation, Pacific Hemisphere Development Corporation, and Thales Australia Limited Philippine Branch Office.

Participating Partners are DataOne Asia Philippines Inc., Jones Lang Lasalle, JT International (Philippines) Inc., Oberthur Technologies, Powertech Asia Pacific, Inc., Schneider Electric, SDV Philippines, Inc., Sycip Gorres Velayo & Co., Le Cellier French Wine Selection, Qatar Airways, M Lhuillier Jewellers, AGS Four Winds International Movers, Jewelmer Joaillerie, Asian Eye Institute, El Nido Resorts, Coffral Access and Shoring, TraveLife Magazine and TraveLife TV, Dragonpay, The Manila Hotel, and Perennial Partner -- The Embassy of France in the Philippines.

For those who would like to join in celebrating the arrival of Beaujolais Nouveau, and participate in this nocturnal, cultural, and gastronomic experience, going to Soiree Beaujolais 2014 is a must.

For limited tickets to the event, please call the French Chamber at 4917708 or purchase them online at www.ccifrance-philippines.org.

October 28, 2014

The Perfect Match at The Perfect Pint!

Something new is brewing at The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Fine Food.

(IG Photo : msmyrnz - http://instagram.com/p/uqYOR8sJdO/?modal=true)

The country's first-ever craft beer and food pairing showdown, presented by The Perfect Pint, where Craft Beer + Fine Food.

The Perfect Pint launches this food pairing showdown called 'The PERFECT MATCH.'

The Perfect Match invited known chefs, brew masters and food editors/writers of leading magazines, who are game, to submit the recipe they've created that they recommend as a perfect pair for a specific craft beer.

I enjoyed a night ( not the Halloween Night ) as I am one of the invited bloggers to join fun and exciting food adventure - knowing that the brewmasters make sure that their food entries will pair well and bring out the best taste of their brews and their brews will bring out the best flavors of their food!