Turning a passion into business

CEBU, Philippines - One fine day, two gentlemen, Joseph Gandionco of Julie’s Bakeshop and Joe Meneses of Titania Wine Cellar, who share a common passion for wine, met and decided to establish a place where fellow wine lovers can open a nice bottle of wine at an affordable price. And so, the wine bar called Just Wine along Maria Luisa Road, Banilad, was born.

Three months earlier, I knew that Titania Wine Cellar was opening a place in this location because your favorite columnist sometimes drops by at the branch of Titania behind the Harolds Hotel in pursuit of a particular wine, Carabas Rouge Baron Philippe de Rothschild, 2007, Languedoc (France) from the wine selection of Baron Rothschild. I developed a taste of this brew at the Dinner Degustation sponsored by Titania at the Acqua, Shangri-La’s Mactan Resort & Spa in the summer of 2012. Inside this shop, Janice Ceniza (09215548951) is most able to assist any customer, whether you are an apprentice or a master in the culture of wine. To be honest, I am not an easy customer to deal with because the wines in my bucket list are no longer within reach of my limited financial capacity and I am always in the search for suitable substitutes.

Back in 2007, I had the opportunity to meet Wine Master Tita Meneses Trillo herself at the Kendal-Jackson dinner held at the Aqua. I do remember the Collage Semillon Chardonnay paired with Truffle Pasta (made from laganelle al tartufo) on 2004 Grana Padano, Rocket leaves, Roma Tomato, wild mushrooms and Truffle cream — one of the greatest pastas I ever had. My brain cells are easily awakened by memories of really good food or good wine!

This summer of 2013, made hotter by the blistering political campaign, I received an invitation from my friend, Anna Marie Conejero to chill out at the opening of Just Wine. After all that flood of political TV advertisements and the sprouting of campaign materials on the street walls, a drink of a cool refreshing white wine, served chilled at 40 degrees Fahrenheit is a welcome respite.

An ardent believer that you should never drink on an empty stomach, I started to look for some appetizers and began to taste the Beef Kofta on Mini Pita with Humus, Fish Cake, Potato Pancakes with BBQ Pulled Pork and the Assorted Ham on Puff Pastry. It was served by faces and food labels that looked familiar and I immediately knew it came from Creative Cuisine.

I checked wines on the racks and those served for the opening of the wine bar (all wines come the Titania Wine Cellar) and immediately I saw two wines served during the recent 20th anniversary of the Chaine des Rotisseurs, the Piccini Chianti Riserva 2009, Tuscany, Italy and the Beelgara Estate Range Late Harvest Riesling 2011, S.E. Australia.

Seated with Joanna Cuenco, I was in complete agreement with her statement that “wines are best when lingered over and shared”. Better still, you are invited by a friend with deep pockets to sip of a glass of wine and that wine is, excuse me, in your bucket list. Then that is the best feeling of them all! [email protected] (FREEMAN)