A symphony of food and wine at Planet Grapes

MANILA, Philippines - Planet Grapes serves wines from around the world, and offers delectable food items -- from cheese to longganisa -- to go with it. In fact, one can pair wines from its Enomatic machine with street food and hand-crafted desserts to experience how food can affect the wine’s flavor.

The sample cheese platter includes blue cheese, goat cheese, Manchego, camembert, and a mix of nuts and dried fruit. While the meat platter contains jamon Serrano, garlic salami, chorizo and fresh olives.

Here are some of the wines that go well with cheese or cold cuts:

The 2011 Torrontes is dry, tropical, has great acid and has aromas of apricot. It goes well with creamy goat cheese to bring out some lemon zest.

The 2011 Sauvignon Blanc has honey on the nose and nectar on the finish. Enjoy it with sweet almonds to level out the acidity and highlight the lychee flavors, or with silky Manchego cheese to bring out its smooth, smoky sweetness.

The 2010 Chardonnay is crisp, sharp and refreshing. Blue cheese highlights the sugar, while the herbed goat cheese highlights subtle honeydew notes.

The 2011 Angeline Pinot Noir has a hint of raspberry and a mineral finish. Olives bring out the sweetness in the wine, and garlic salami brings out the spice.

Planet Grapes is at the ground floor, Bldg. 3 Tuscany Private Estates, McKinley Hill, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.