Toast to Trade – DrinkManila

Glasses clinked away at a very well represented event hosted by the Wine Warehouse, the largest distributor of wine in the Philippines. Brand representatives, wine aficionados, and spectators alike basked in the free-flowing beverages from different regions of the world. Old World and New World wine, Champagne, Scottish and Japanese whiskey, Australian beers, various spirits, and distinct brands of coffee, tea and even water were delectable treats for sophisticated palates.

Among rows of wide selections of brands to choose from were well-trained students from Enderun to help with the wine pouring. Amidst the many options, it was easy to spot the crowd favorites where people gathered around, either really eager to have a taste or just drawn to and intrigued by the charisma of the brand manager. One crowd favorite was Undurraga from Chile, which claimed to have the most accolades and scored over 90 in Wine Spectator’s 100 point scale. They carry two lines: TH (Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Cabernet Sauvignon) which is for the wine geeks and is best for food pairing, and the U line, which is considered the more friendly wine that ranks high on value for money. Another one that stood out as emblematic is Villa Maria Lighter Sauvignon Blanc, which had well-balanced, light flavors of fresh herbs and aromatic fruity zest.

Also proving to have a true cult following even beyond the realm of the event is Stags’ Leap “Artemis” from Napa Valley California.

A personal favorite is Siete Grados from Spain. As its name states, the sophistication of this wine comes in seven different grades, infusing its well-balanced, perky aroma vibrantly to the palate. Unfortunately, though, this brand will take a little while longer to reach our market. It will most likely take around two months before Siete Grados is available in the Philippines, and the order waitlist is already long. For all orders, Wine Warehouse has put in place a well-organized process that helps make this event an ideal venue for bringing together and matching brand representatives to their genuine audience. Indeed there is just so much to toast to in this successful trade and showcase event, Toast to Trade 2017 at the Manila Peninsula.