Knowledge in Wine is a considered a craft and it truly says a lot about your social status. Admittedly, I can’t consider myself as someone who knows the anatomy of wine, let alone be an expert in it. The closest thing I came to knowing the best wines was while watching Shonda Rhimes’ “Scandal” following Olivia Pope’s love for great expensive wines.
Yes, cheap wines are sold even in a convenience store but in reality, you can’t claim you know wines unless you get to experience the annual Grand Wine Experience in the Philippines.
Grand Wine Experience started with the turn of the century, now on its 15th year, it promises to bring you the greatest wine experience of your life. The event has
transformed 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.
Yes, cheap wines are sold even in a convenience store but in reality, you can’t claim you know wines unless you get to experience the annual Grand Wine Experience in the Philippines.
Grand Wine Experience started with the turn of the century, now on its 15th year, it promises to bring you the greatest wine experience of your life. The event has
transformed 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: Ralph, Robert, Ronnie and Raymond, the Grand Wine Experience is widely regarded as the most spectacular, most lavish and most anticipated wine event of any kind in Southeast Asia.
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.
This year’s theme carries the word ‘Vintage’ , it brings more gravitas not just because it is hitting the 15th milestone year of the event, but also because the company behind the event is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Grander than Grand venue
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.
This year’s theme carries the word ‘Vintage’ , it brings more gravitas not just because it is hitting the 15th milestone year of the event, but also because the company behind the event is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
Grander than Grand venue
This year’s event also marks the move to a significantly more spacious venue, one that can cater to double the capacity of the previous Marriott grand ballroom as it moves to the new Grand Ballroom of Marriott Manila.
The New Grand Ballroom, Marriott offers main ballroom which occupies 3,000 square meter can accommodate 4,000 guests for cocktails and 2,500 on a banquet set-up. Undoubtedly not an easy feat for the group but they sees it as a challenge worth taking.
They believe the time is ripe enough to open the show to an exponentially larger audience as they delicately hand-picked a greater number of wines and spirits to choose from compared to the already staggering line-ups from year’s past.
Press Preview
The New Grand Ballroom, Marriott offers main ballroom which occupies 3,000 square meter can accommodate 4,000 guests for cocktails and 2,500 on a banquet set-up. Undoubtedly not an easy feat for the group but they sees it as a challenge worth taking.
They believe the time is ripe enough to open the show to an exponentially larger audience as they delicately hand-picked a greater number of wines and spirits to choose from compared to the already staggering line-ups from year’s past.
Press Preview
I was lucky enough to be invited to the press briefing and sample some snippets of what they have to offer.
Scanning through the day’s menu made me salivate and wonder how much more overwhelming the actual event has to offer.
We started off with Lobster Gazpacho in basil oil paired with Janz Premium NV Cuvee.
Scanning through the day’s menu made me salivate and wonder how much more overwhelming the actual event has to offer.
We started off with Lobster Gazpacho in basil oil paired with Janz Premium NV Cuvee.
A sip of hot soup with Porcini Mushrooms Morels Bouchard Pere & Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay La Vignee
Before the cream soup was poured
For the Main Entrée they served Grilled Rib Eye with potato fondant, wild mushroom jus, organic vegetables paired with Montes Alpha Malbee
Taken using my Samsung Note5, Review on my blog soon
And capped off the sumptuous meal with Espresso Parfait in mascarpone cream paired with Gran Feudo Moscatel
Overflowing Food and Booze
The event will feature over 500 wines and spirits from the planet’s outstanding wineries and distilleries and will be complemented with sumptuous cuisine prepared by the talented Chefs of the Marriot Hotel headed by Chef Meik Brammer.
Wine enthusiast will be able to delight themselves to the brim with the excellent pairing of food and wine. This affair will also feature several hard liquors and International beers to complete your booze craving
The event will feature over 500 wines and spirits from the planet’s outstanding wineries and distilleries and will be complemented with sumptuous cuisine prepared by the talented Chefs of the Marriot Hotel headed by Chef Meik Brammer.
Wine enthusiast will be able to delight themselves to the brim with the excellent pairing of food and wine. This affair will also feature several hard liquors and International beers to complete your booze craving
The show is laboriously cultivated 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.
To prepare you for the event, Here's a tutorial from Robert Ian Joseph.( video courtesy of #Launchverbatim).
To prepare you for the event, Here's a tutorial from Robert Ian Joseph.( video courtesy of #Launchverbatim).
The 15th Grand Wine Experience – Vintage 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.
Don’t miss out on this and head over to your nearest Ralph’s Wine store before tickets rans out.
Don’t miss out on this and head over to your nearest Ralph’s Wine store before tickets rans out.
This event is Presented by: Philippine Wine Merchants and Ralphs Wines and Spirits. Co-presented by: Rustans Supermarket, Starbucks Coffee, Store Specialist Inc., Marriott Hotel Manila, Resorts World Manila, Future Trade International, Diageo Philippines, Moet-Hennessy Philippines, Premier Wine and Spirits, Barcino Corporation, Fly Ace Corporation, Bel Mondo Italia, Corp., Emperador Distillers, Aviver International, Best World Beverage Brands, Golden Wines, Grand Cru and Booze On-Line.
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