Tuesday, October 13, 2015

The 15th Grand Wine Experience

A wine’s vintage speaks of
more than just the year of harvest. It is, in essence, the headline of an
article, the name of a painting, the title of a novel; one that alludes to a
period of romance between the sun, rain, wind, earth and man; and tells the
story of how a confluence of such disparate elements can, under just the right
conditions, yield poetry in a bottle.

Amid the confusing sea of bottles in one store that I found myself lost to way back when I was in Milan, I didn't see myself reveling in it's worth. Not even after 10 years, when I would let those dark green bottles accumulate dusts in the pantry and give a disdainful look those that have gifted me with wines. And the taste was yuck! It would hurt every single part of my taste buds and the burning sensation that goes right through the esophagus was traumatic.

Fast-forward to this day, my wines still pile up, bottle upon bottles, on some dark corners of our kitchen cabinet, though they are all awaiting to be tippled, while the different wine glasses above it, which my parents brought home from their European travels are to be filled with those wines and get clinked.

Soon enough, I found myself seated daintily at one of Marriott Hotel's dining place together with other wine enthusiasts and media people being poured different wines one after the other, as if it was orchestrated, and I'm all smiles. But it's not all that, good wines were partnered with good food, so I told myself, "I guess there really is heaven on earth."

But this is just a curtain -raiser, the real wine heaven will be opened up for everyone who share the love for wine, gourmet food and good company. The Grand Wine Experience will definitely be an ambrosial scene, worth going to.

Since its inception at the
turn of the century, the Grand Wine Experience has seen itself transform from a
humble gathering of wine enthusiasts into a monumental Mecca to which bon
vivants, celebrities, dignitaries, top executives and members of high society
make their annual pilgrimage. Founded by the four Joseph brothers of Philippine
Wine Merchants, the Grand Wine Experience is widely regarded as the most
spectacular, most lavish and most anticipated wine event of any kind in
Southeast Asia.

Carrying the
banner word ‘vintage’ as this year's theme, it has with it more gravitas not only because the event is hitting its 15th
milestone year, but more so because they are celebrating the 40th
anniversary of the company behind it.

It was Inglenook that paved the ground of inspiration in building the market for wines here in the country. Inglenook is a winery in Napa Valley owned and managed by Francis Ford Coppola, a film-maker and five-time Academy Award winner.

Add to that, this year marks the move to a
significantly more spacious venue, one that can cater to double the capacity of
the previous Marriott grand ballroom,. According to the organizers and to the catering department, it will not be an easy undertaking, but a challenge worth
taking on nonetheless.

To their belief, the time is ripe
enough to open the show to an exponentially larger audience. As they have delicately
hand-picked a greater number of wines and spirits to choose from compared to
the already staggering line-ups from year’s past, laboriously cultivated
the show by pruning the inefficiencies and non-essentials, making improvements
in every facet of the guest experience, from the buffet selection, to the
quality of the entertainment; ultimately giving more value for money.

This year’s edition of The
Grand Wine Experience promises not only to up all the antes, but shatter and
surpass all expectations. On November 13, 2015 at the new Grand Ballroom of the
Marriott Hotel, it simply comes down to this --- you are going to have the best
time of your life.

About Me

A foodie, a mom to four. a wife, a baker, a business owner and a friend to many!
Method to my madness:
1. Frequent visits to places I love.
2. Fill up my home with lovely memories were eating is the medium.
3. Write my mind out!
For collabs, inquiries and reviews you may email me at gastronomybyjoy@yahoo.com or send me an SMS at 632 9176318186