Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Swiss wine may not be as famous as wines from neighboring countries in Europe, but Switzerland has been making wine for over two thousand years and produces over 1.1 million hectolitres of wine per year. And because it is near countries like France, Germany, Italy and Austria, it shares the same techniques and variety of grapes in its vineyards. Popular choices are bottles of Swiss Pinot Noir and white wines made from Chasselas. Where’s there wine, there should be cheese. And Switzerland is known as a cheese country with over 450 types of cheese. Cheesemaking has been a tradition in Switzerland and half of the milk that the country produces is made into cheese. From soft cheeses, Emmentaler AOP and Le Gruyère AOP hard cheeses to its popular Raclette, the options would make any cheese fanatic salivate. The first of August marks Swiss National Day, but you don’t have to fly all the way to Europe to experience the best of Swiss food and wine. Marco Polo Ortigas Manila will be celebrating with a week-long offering of Swiss traditions from August 19 to 28, 2016. Selections of fine Swiss wine and cheeses will be available at the all-day dining restaurant, Cucina. And to add to the festive spreads you may also enjoy your pairing at the chocolate buffet featuring the finest sweet pralines. If you’d like to learn how to make your own Swiss dishes, the hotel will be flying in Executive Chef Rolf Jaeggi from Marco Polo Hong Kong to hold a cooking class during the celebration. Also check out how the pralines are created at Café Pronto where a chocolatier will be creating sweets in front of guests. Executive Chef Rolf Jaeggi from Marco Polo Hong Kong For more information contact (632) 720 7777, email manila@marcopolohotels.com. or visit MarcoPoloOrtigasManila on Facebook or follow @MarcoPoloManila on Twitter or Instagram.