Come to Sofitel Wine Days: Life is Magnifique!

I've been able to sit down and enjoy wine a few days ago at Sofitel Manila. It's a 5 star hotel and going here has always been a magnifique time for me, my friends and family. Sofitel's buffet destination Spiral has been the unprecedented number 1 dining destination and has been proven in various review sites internationally. Today, I'm sharing with you some scenes of the "Private Wine and Cheese Pairing" class I participated in last week. It involved a lot of introduction to wine, champagne, and what food or cheese products were needed to be paired with it. It started with the ceremonial champagne bottle opening using a saber, much like Napoleon would be doing it in his time. Check this video out!

Sofitel around the world is celebrating "Sofitel Wine Days" to pay homage to the harvest season. People from the wine regions in France are now taking time to celebrate their good year and with that happening, people in the Philippines should never be far behind. It's also Sofitel's 50th Anniversary so if that isn't enough reason to celebrate, I don't know what will.

Spiral was dreamy as usual and I sat down on one of their private rooms to wait for the others to come. I tried some of their D Light drinks through test tube sample servings, I loved the Berry mix and the peach flavored one.

This was the part where we started off getting a saber and the champagne bottles opened. Pretty neat right? Nikita Conwi of RX93.1 had fun doing this. Did you know Champagne only comes from the town in France? If it's not from France, it's just what they call Sparkling Wine :) This fact is part of the things I learned that evening.

To pair off with the really great wines like Jaboulet Aine, Castillero del Diablo (part of the many new world and old world wines) you should have this freshly seared Foie Gras in every dinner experience in Spiral.

The favorite that evening was the Woodbridge. The rosy wines are quite sweet and fresh, a favorite in the summer. Since we have summer all year long in the Philippines, we can have this all the time! Now that's good news. This is also their best seller, apart from the regular ones they have on the menu. Another discovery is the local Dragon Fruit wine which is very nice, it's on the menu so I suggest you try that out too.

Spiral's Cheese Room has never been equaled because of the variety that they have inside. They have Wine and Cheese pairing sessions so if you dig that instead of just wine, you can have that class instead. They have regional wine evenings that would give you in depth understanding of your favorite wine varieties and see how it came to be in the places they are from. They have a "From Grapes to Wine Expo" happening from October 26-31, 2014 with degustation from 5:30PM to 6PM. You can get 25% off on Hugel & Fils wines if you dine in Sofitel's Spiral and La Veranda. The "Private Wine and Cheese Class" happens at the Spiral L'epicerie (Cheese Room) from October 27-31, 2014 at 4:30PM to 5:30PM. They'll whisk you off to a journey in Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Rhone Valley, Languedoc-Rousillon on those days and only costs Php 1500.00 per person. 

You can also opt for the Spiral Wine Cellar experience all October as Sofitel's sommeliers pick monthly and yearly packages tailored to your taste and budget. There's also "Jazz and Wine: An Austrian and French Affair on the 29th of October at 7PM. They'll be flying in Austria's Michaela Rabitsch and Robert Pawlik. I think the Austrian ambassador will be there as well so if you're up to a day of culture, this would be perfect. You'll see a concert, drink wine, Cheese and canapes prepared especially for the occasion. On the 30th, Le Bar will be hosting the Wine and Cheese Buffet with experts coming from different regions. They will also have a Burgundy Wine Dinner on the 31st, at 7PM featuring a 5 course French terroir dinner made by artisans in Sofitel Manila. They will be featuring wines from Champagne Henriot, Chablis Willam Fevre and Burgundy Bouchard Pere et Fils. It's time you treat yourself, your friends and family to something special. Make that Sofitel Manila moment by calling 8326988 or email h6308-fb12@sofitel.com because Life is Magnifique!

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Sofitel Manila's Wine Appreciation Class

Pouring a glass of wine or champagne feels so right. Celebrating special moments with friends and family, that's just bliss! A few nights ago, we went to Sofitel Manila's Spiral and got a special Wine Appreciation Class by their Somellier's. I've been educated quite a bit from cooking, dining and tasting events; but this one really schooled me. They also delved on wine pairing and taught us a thing or two about regions where these rich, liquid wonders come from.. and how we all can enjoy it!

First things first, we had to take note of our own experience so they handed us over a pamphlet containing all the names of the wine we're about to taste. Seeing the terminologies indicated on the bottles was already making me a little dizzy. My French language class didn't come into effect here but I was in the right path understanding Burgundy, it's Merlot and the region of Bordeaux.

Then we had a short briefing on how the sections were divided inside Spiral


 

Damien Marchenay, a Frenchman leads Sofitel's Wine experts (who are also French) as F&B Director of Sofitel Manila's Spiral

Burgundy and Bordeaux are regions in France. If the term is used on bottles, it basically means that the wine produced is from that region. This goes the same with Alsace, Champagne, Jura, Languedoc-Roussillon, Loire Valley, Lorraine, Madiran, Provence, Rhône and Savoie. There are also some sub regions and smaller ones inside these areas but I'll bore you if I include that. It goes the same with other wine producing countries.

We didn't start off with Western wine though.

They showed us one of the more popular brands of Sake (rice wine) from Japan. The Japanese Chef went out and explained to us that they have special ones made by small Sake masters in their region. They have special rice grains that grows in the same place which they get this from. There are families that have done this for ages and he's proud of its heritage. He also showed us some photos from his hometown and said you can still see the artisans do it even in these modern times. It was really good. He mentions this particular Sake should be served cold. Otherwise, they have sake bottles that are usually dipped in street food containers that regularly sells it on his neighborhood. Rustic, but very nice and smooth.

Then we proceeded to another section of Spiral's ateliers. This is on the Western Section.

Bouchard Pere & Fils is a Pinot Noir from Burgundy dated 2011. It's red and fruity, can be paired with red meat or even pizzas if you dare.

Dourthe No.1 AOC Rouge from Bordeaux, France dated 2011. Deeper red, very intense and a bit bitter. It's smells good and it can be paired with cheese room favorites and cold cuts. Mmm....

Then off to the Asian Ateliers we went!

Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc, this one's from New Zealand and dated 2012. It's got really nice colors, pale yellow that's got a hint of pale green. It's a bit floral, sweet smelling and has got a touch of fruitiness on the aftertaste. Complex, yes, but I still like it.

AIX Rose from Coteaux D'Aix En Provence France. It has pink hues or a tint of salmon color. Intense, smelled like sweet flowers. It's got a bit of acidity but our somellier says this comes from his region. He admits that he doesn't drink everyday but if its a special occasion,  they usually drink this with tons of ice in a large glass. Then they chill around and do what normal people do. Oh by the way, our great Somellier that evening is Tanguy (pronounced Tawnjee) who is a Restaurant Manager in Sofitel. Pretty darn nice chap!

AIX is also available in huge bottles. It's perfect for parties or large dinners. You can also choose from among 150 variants of wines in their cellars. It's already chilled and they're just waiting for you to grab it.

Madfish is a Shiraz from Australia dated 2009. This one is my favorite among the more stronger wines in the bunch. It's rich and dark. A bit oaky and a tad bitter. I like that more on wines. It can be paired with some Asian dishes of the more spicy-savory flavors. Still perfect for red meats.

Then we had something for Desserts.

This one is the most mouthful to pronounce. It's got German origins. This is the Alsace Gewürztraminer dated 2011. Intensely spicy on its notes. If you're having chocolates, nuts or just about anything sweet, this is a pretty good pair for that. Contrary to what I was trying to see before, wines are supposed to be paired opposite of what it actually tastes like. If you have something intensely flavored, get something more subtle for a wine. Then if you have something not that complex, get some sweeter wine and you'll be fine.

On the last part, we were all surprised that there are actually local Philippine made wines on their list. Refmad Dragonfruit Wine, Adam's Bugnay Wine and Dielles Melomel Fruit Brand Wine. Most Filipinos LOVE the Refmad Dragonfruit Wine. I on the other hand love the Dielles Melomel because it had Guyabano in it. It's exotic and really good in my humble opinion. I'd highly recommend that or the Shiraz if you are after something more intense.

As they say, nobody can really tell which one is the best because everybody else has their own standards. It's truly debatable and depends on the person holding up the wine glass. I made that statement up LOL. Anyway, there is some kind of truth to that right? You be the judge. Go on and have dinner or lunch at Sofitel Manila's Spiral. The Wine Appreciation Classes are available on Sunday brunches so make sure you ask and be scheduled on those days.

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