A taste of Spain

Nothing soothes me like a glass of fine wine. Thus, it was my pleasure to host the ATR Torres Wines’ yearly wine appreciation event entitled Diez Diez, Torres Diez! at the Kachina Lounge of the Century Park Hotel.

The prestigious celebration was attended by over 300 wine lovers and connoisseurs from Manila’s social elite, business and entertainment circles like Arnel Ignacio, Pilita Corrales and Louie and Mellie Ablaza. Century Park Hotel GM Paul Gill and the ATR Torres-Philippines team, led by its president Arthur Reyes welcomed the guests, while your columnist hosted the event.

The Kachina Lounge of the premier hotel was transformed into a virtual Spain as a wooden arch filled with real grapevines decorated the entrance. Inside were authentic wooden wine barrels, pictures of Torres villas from all over the world, Spanish décor, and dim lighting, giving the lounge a cozy, country feel.

The guests sampled the Torres wines to their hearts’ content. Wines served included whites such as Vina Esmeralda and Vina Sol; reds such as Vina Brava, Coronas, Sangre de Toro, Gran Coronas, Atrium and Mas La Plana; Chilean wines such as Cordilleras and Manso de Velasco; dessert wines such as Moscatel Oro and Aqua d’Or; and brandy such as Torres Diez, Torres Viente and Jaime Primero. Sumptuous paella, crispy calamares and a variety of mouthwatering canapés and appetizers were served to satiate the guests. To complete the wine experience, delectable cheese slices were also served to complement the fine wines, after the ceremonial cheese-cutting by ATR Torres Wines president Arthur Reyes, marketing manager Roy Empalmado, sales manager Gene Cortez and finance director Bert de Luna.

To come up with a genuine Spanish atmosphere, the occasion also featured skillful Flamenco dancer Astrud Crisologo; Spanish acoustic guitarists Gabby Ramos, Miguel Nanawa and Richard Sanchez; Latin percussionist Jean Paul Zialcita; D.J. Sancho Villaseñor; adept pantomime artist Raffy Tejada; and videos showing Spanish bull fights and famous Pamplona Bull Run. The big attraction of the night was the grape-stomping demonstration, done to demonstrate how wine was made before wine-making machines were invented. Bodyshots models Maricar Balagtas and Diana Espedido, dressed in Spanish costumes by fashion designer Ivan de la Cruz, danced on top of the grapes while the jovial audience cheered them on. After a few minutes of grape-stomping, the models made way for the guests who also wanted to try the wine-making activity.

See you at next year’s Torres Torres Diez!

Happy couple Jules and Babbit Goudsmit could hardly contain their excitement for the arrival of their daughter Joelle, so they organized a homecoming party in her honor. The charming and captivating Joelle, who has her dad’s eyes and her mom’s smile, just arrived from Smith College in Massachusetts.

Jules and Babbit invited their friends and relatives in a night filled with cheerful celebration. Guests had their fill of the specially-prepared food and select wines. Among the guests were suave British Ambassador Paul Dimond and his ivory beauty wife, Caroline; Sri Lankan Ambassador Ariya Rekawa and his wife Elsie; Ambassador of Bangladesh Munir Uz Zaman and his wife Nilufar; fair Madames Jo-Lynne Sutherland of Canada, Gul Tanghe of Belgium and Agnes de Kok of the European Union. Of course, the VIP of the evening was the lovely Joelle, who shone like the star that she is.

Welcome home!

That Lucky Chap!

Even the country’s top business leaders and society icons were only too eager to come to Tower Club’s annual get-together recently. Why? Well, it’s because generosity was the theme that night and amazing prizes were in store for those lucky attendees. But before everything else, there was Tower’s own brand of entertainment with talented comedienne Mitch Valdez regaling the distinguished guests with her amazing voice.

The much-awaited raffle was the real highlight of the evening, even though few cared to admit it. Select wines, golf accessories, handphones, expensive watches, trips and more were given away like candy! It definitely must be Jose Cuisia Jr.‘s year this 2004, because he was the lucky winner in the grand raffle. He won both the business class tickets to Bangkok and a trip to Europe! He must be sleeping with Lady Luck!

Congratulations to Tower and to all who attended the event!