The 15th Grand Wine Experience

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.

Amid the confusing sea of bottles in one store that I found myself lost to way back when I was in Milan, I didn't see myself reveling in it's worth.  Not even after 10 years, when I would let those dark green bottles  accumulate dusts in the pantry and give a disdainful look those that have gifted me with wines. And the taste was yuck!  It would hurt every single part of my taste buds and the burning sensation that goes right through the esophagus was traumatic. 

Fast-forward to this day, my wines still pile up, bottle upon bottles, on some dark corners of our kitchen cabinet, though they are all awaiting to be tippled, while the different wine glasses above it, which my parents brought home from their European travels are to be filled with those wines and get clinked.

Soon enough, I found myself seated daintily at one of Marriott Hotel's dining place together with other wine enthusiasts and media people being poured different wines one after the other, as if it was orchestrated, and I'm all smiles.  But it's not all that, good wines were partnered with good food, so I told myself, "I guess there really is heaven on earth."

But this is just a curtain -raiser, the real wine heaven will be opened up for everyone who share the love for wine, gourmet food and good company.  The Grand Wine Experience will definitely be an ambrosial scene, worth going to.

Since its inception at the turn of the century, the Grand Wine Experience has seen itself transform 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, the Grand Wine Experience is widely regarded as the most spectacular, most lavish and most anticipated wine event of any kind in Southeast Asia.

Carrying the banner word ‘vintage’ as this year's theme, it has with it more gravitas not only because the event is hitting its 15th milestone year, but more so because they are celebrating the 40^th anniversary of the company behind it.

It was Inglenook that paved the ground of inspiration in building  the market for wines here in the country.  Inglenook is a winery in Napa Valley owned and managed by Francis Ford Coppola, a film-maker and five-time Academy Award winner.

Add to that, this year marks the move to a significantly more spacious venue, one that can cater to double the capacity of the previous Marriott grand ballroom,.  According to the organizers and to the catering department, it will not be an easy undertaking, but a challenge worth taking on nonetheless.  

To their belief, the time is ripe enough to open the show to an exponentially larger audience. As they have delicately hand-picked a greater number of wines and spirits to choose from compared to the already staggering line-ups from year’s past, laboriously cultivated the show 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. 

This year’s edition of The Grand Wine Experience 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, it simply comes down to this --- you are going to have the best time of your life.

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.