Beaujolais est Arrivé en Cebu!

For  centuries  the  French  have  had  an  unquenchable  thirst that the wine supply  could never satisfy.    They would always eagerly await  the  new grape harvests  and  the  new wines that  followed.    When  the  shortages  were  extreme,  anger  could result  in serious consequences and  rumor  has it that the storming of the Bastille  may have been one of these events!

Over  the last  50  years, the marketing forces, economic circumstances and government influences have been  so favorable that the  French anticipation, excitement and enthusiasm  for the new wines had crossed the borders of  Europe,  spanned the Atlantic to North  and South America  and more recently invaded  Asia.   What started as a local French phenomenon  has  captured the world.    “Le Beaujolais Nouveau est Arrivé.”

Thanks to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, Cebu City has joined the ranks of avid wine loving cities around the world with its biggest ever  celebration of the Beaujolais Nouveau  2007.    The festivities included   a ceremonial uncorking of the first bottle by Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia , the French Ambassador to the Philippines, Gerard Chesnel, Le Club president Bernard Flour  and dynamic GM Hans Hauri. A parade of waiters then distributed the Beaujolais to all guests while the Governor and Ambassador  proposed a toast to good wine,  good health and  friendly international relations .  The guests filled the beautifully decorated  main ballroom which was converted into lush flowering  gardens with white picket fences and larger than life photos of French castles that were used as backdrops courtesy of  Daniel Carpentier of PDP Digital  Inc.    The fantastic ambience was equally matched with an impressive layout of carvings, cold cuts, cheeses and  tasty delicacies.

The hosts for the evening were none other than Johnny Litton and Cory Quirino who masterfully  steered the evening’s activities to perfection.   The program  progressed smoothly and quickly without a hitch throughout  the night.

After a few moments to savor the delicious cocktails and discuss the characteristics of  the  Beaujolais 2007  the guests were entertained    with  lively, colorful Cancan numbers by   the San Diego Dancers.  Following a  brief interlude to appreciate the food and wine, Vernie Varga  took center stage with some French songs and sultry numbers which put the crowd in the party mood.      An evening of perfection –authentic  European ambience,  beautiful, charming  people, flowing wine and delicious appetizers.

The French community of Cebu was highly visible along with out of town visitors from Manila  and  foreign shores, as well.    An honored guest that evening was  Monsieur Yves-Dominque Ferraud the proud owner of the vineyard and producer of the Beaujolais wines that were served.  Also present from Manila were Henri Ortiz, Administrator of the French Chamber of Commerce, and Bernard Flour, President of Le Club,  who delivered an entertaining duet in French, “La Vie en Rose,”  with Vernie Varga.

With the formalities over and the revelry reaching maximum level, it was time to party and dance to the lively music of the “Renaissance Band”.   The dance floor was filled to capacity as the band delivered the most popular ballroom  pieces from boogie, chacha , swing to foxtrot  and tango or were they  new dance steps yet to be identified? Then the raffling off of the grand prize: a trip to Paris, courtesy of Qatar Airways – which was won by The Freeman’s Lifestyle Executive Editor Marlinda Angbetic Tan. Congratulations!

The Marco Polo Plaza Hotel together with Le Club  has brought the “Beaujolais Nouveau Day” celebration to new heights and put Cebu City on the map of the Beaujolais cities of the world.  It has set a standard and established a precedent which has all the qualities of a long lasting tradition for the  Marco Polo and Cebu City to match and uphold. 

Congratulations to Hans Hauri and the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel team for a truly enjoyable celebration.