Yats is it!

The invite was for 6 p.m. "Too early for dinner," quipped Mary Ann. "Maybe it will just be for cocktails," I said.

So we had a little merienda before leaving home as we expected to be served some wine, at least. After all, the venue, Vincafé Alfresco Dining at the Clearwater Country Club, is known for its selection of fine wines.

On our way to the café to meet its CEO, Denny Wang, we expected the usual in such meetings as befits the position of the person being interviewed – formal, rigid, dyed–in–the–wool conservative. Boy, were we in for a big surprise!

A young lady led us to the roof deck of a two–storey structure, set in the middle of a secluded field, surrounded with century–old acacia trees. As we reached the grass–covered deck, measuring barely 5 x 10 meters, one is transported to a never–never land.

It is dimly lit with strategically positioned paper lanterns. As the sun kissed the evening horizon godbye, the gentle, cool breeze was full of that fresh unadulterated scent that only those fortunate enough to live outside the concrete jungle know, while the quiet rustling of leaves from the acacia tree overhead added the final touch to a most romantic scene. My ever–romantic wife gasped in awe. (I knew from that moment that I should play my role to the hilt lest I be in trouble.)

To our surprise, Denny Wang, our host, shattered our pre–conceived idea of what a CEO should be. He was dressed casually, was warm and friendly, and made us feel relaxed from the moment we first made our introductions. It was like meeting an old friend, discovering that we had so many common interests. Conversation flowed freely, more so when he served us a chilled bottle of 1999 Cotes Du Rhone.

Some 45 minutes later, Denny excused himself for another appointment. He told us to stay on and enjoy the rest of the evening by ourselves. He left us in the care of the lady who had ushered us in earlier. She remained downstairs but was just a ring away via the intercom. As if on cue, she ascended the roof deck to serve us another bottle of Cotes du Rhone, a platter of assorted cheeses and cold cuts, a fine cigar in a silver casing, and a copy of their menu and wine list in case we wanted anything else. Of course, we simply succumbed to the romantic mood and fell in love again. Who wouldn’t in such a surrounding? With only the distant cries of cicadas among us, we gazed at the stars and could not believe we were in Clark, just 30 minutes away from our house. It seemed to be a galaxy away. Had it been that Mary Ann knew Mr. Wang beforehand, I would have suspected a conspiracy. Either way, I was a very willing victim. It was indeed an evening to remember. A warm host, good food and fine wine. What more could one ask for?

Though it serves only fine wines and appetizers, Vincafé is not your regular wine and coffee shop. Together with the fine dining restaurant, Yats International Wine Club, in Mimosa, their main objective is not just to sell wine but to be a proponent of a wine lifestyle. Yats Wine Club and Vincafé provide an elegant setting for its members and guests, with matching gourmet food, ambience and impeccable service under the baton of Swiss chef Chris Locher.

Wang said wine drinking is something as natural and as old as history itself. It is a lifestyle to be enjoyed, like an enchanted evening with wine and good music, just like a bubble bath and champagne. Today’s yuppies are to wine what the previous generation is to beer.

The fundamental principle behind alcohol drinking is that it is always taken in company, as it raises the spirits, loosens the tongue, and animates conversation. Yats can provide a romantic setting for two, a table for a congenial group of friends, or a quiet room for a business meeting. But always, the wine takes center stage.

Asked why his group of investors set up in Clark, Wang replied that its main market is still the people from Manila. Since there was no place within the metropolis vast enough for Clearwater Country Club’s grand plans, they chose Clark.

Traveling is part of the experience, too, even if it is just more than an hour away from Balintawak. After all, he said, people want to have a change of scene when they think of relaxing and unwinding. Besides the security it offers, Clark has a natural romantic setting with its clean air, verdant surroundings and century–old acacia trees.

He also promotes the practice of giving birth–year vintage wine, which has been popular in the US and Europe for more than a decade now. A birth–year wine is simply a wine whose vintage year is the same as the year of birth of the lucky recipient. As roses suggest romance, wrist watches anniversaries or recognition, a gift of a birth–year wine conveys intimate respect and affection.

So, how much would this cost? Anywhere from P10,000 to P100,000, depending on the quality of a particular vintage and class of wine one selects.

Some tips to consider when selecting a birth—year vintage wine for a gift, according to Denny Wang:

• The challenge is to select wine from a region in which the birth year happened to be reasonably a good vintage. A wrong selection will result in buying a wine that will give no pleasure at all.

• Never order a bottle of rare vintage wine on faith. Take the trouble to go down the wine shop and check it out. While you are there, get a little information about the wine, something to include in the gift card.

• If you hand–carry such a gift to a dinner, insist that your host saves it for a future occasion. For older bottles, the journey would have almost certainly disturbed the sediment making the wine murky and taste out of form. A few months of cellaring would correct it nicely.

Here’s a list of recommended types of wines to give for each birth year for those born in the Fifties:

1950 – Red Grand Cru Burgundy; Vintage Port; Red Bordeaux;

1951 – Red Bordeaux; Great Burgundy; Great Rioja;

1952 – Champagne; Hermitage; Top Red Bordeaux;

1953 – Red Bordeaux;

1954 – Vintage Port; La Tache and Romanee Conti; Top Red Bordeaux;

1955 – Vintage Port; Red Bordeaux;

1956 – Napa Valley Top Cabernet Sauvignon; Top Red Bordeaux;

1957 – Red Bordeaux;

1958 – Vintage Port; Napa Valley Top Cabernet Sauvignon; Red Bordeaux;

1959 – Champagne; Red Burgundy and Bordeaux; Sauternes;

Here is a list of the more reputable wine dealers in Manila and Clark: Bacchus, Ralphs’, Anthony’s, Yats International Wine Club, Vintage Wines (RCBC), and Australasia.