Trends in the Philippine drinking scene come in waves. First, it was whisky, and now gin is the ‘in’ spirit of the moment. One thing that has been constant throughout is Filipinos’ love of wine. Don Melchor, Chile’s quintessential Cabernet Sauvignon, recently brought of its finest vintages to Manila. This vintage line from Concha Y Toro has received international recognition …

The Grand Hyatt Hotel on 8th Avenue and corner of 35th street both literally and figuratively stands apart from the rest of the malls and hotels in Bonifacio Global City. Literally, because the hotel rose in the still relatively quiet part of the growing commercial business district, a few blocks away from its neighbors. Figuratively, well, because it’s starting to …

Shopwise is so versatile. It brings new definition to the term One Stop Shop. Categories range from household appliances and clothing to basic necessities, and your writer could wax poetic about the foreign products aisle—let’s just say it was the first time I’d seen Milka chocolates this side of Hong Kong. That versatility trickles down from its merchandise management to …

Toast To Trade is a wine and spirits tasting event hosted annually by Wine Warehouse, the largest distributor of wine in the Philippines. This year’s tasting event did not disappoint. There was a lot of ground to cover and a considerable number or wines. A wine and spirit list was presented to guests upon entry along with wine glasses for …

South Africa is definitely not on everyone’s radar when it comes to fine wine because of its very niche and exclusive production and exportation channels that only distribute in few foreign places. Luckily for us, some of South Africa’s best wines are already here in the Philippines. South African wine supplier Diverse Flavours recently held a private gathering for spirit …

Location: Sage Bespoke Grill is at the Makati Shangri-La, Manila, Ayala Avenue corner Makati Avenue, Makati Contact number: (02) 814-2580 Operating hours: Monday to Friday (7 a.m. to 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.), Saturday  (11.30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.), Sunday (11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., 6 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.) Price …

Marketplace by Rustan’s presented a taste of the best wines from the world’s finest vineyards at the three-day The World of Wine wine fair from September 29 to October 1 at the Shangri-La Plaza Grand Atrium. The event featured 100 types of wine selections from premium wine-growing regions around the globe. Winemakers from Australia, France, Spain, and Argentina brought their …

There is a healthy wine market in the Philippines. As trends in spirits ebb and flow, Filipinos’ love of wine remains constant. However, Filipino food is not the first cuisine that comes to mind when one thinks of wine and food pairings. Most of the time, the drink of choice when eating local food is beer, soda, or bottomless iced …

Imagine this: you’re out in the wilderness, surrounded by wild animals, with unstable cell phone service and friends with below-average sense of direction. That’s the perfect example of adventure and the best way to conjure trouble. But admit it, we love getting ourselves into a bit of adventure. And what better way is there to spend time with friends than …

Patrick Tabhan emerges as Champion of the 1st Philippine Sommelier Competition To some of us, “wine” and its corresponding trimmings are reserved for celebrations, or occasions when we want to show off. To some of us, it’s the expensive treat “we deserve!” Still, to some, it’s a hobby, a passion, a cellar in the basement of our everyday lives. However, …