Further, she was "awed by the famous Chateau du Pape, the Pope’s residence in medieval times, its ruins dominating the hills of Avignon." Being head of Anthony’s Wines and Spirits in Manila, Tita inevitably noted: "Here, old vines grow on quatenary terraces reflecting different pastel colors of flat pebbles which absorb heat by day and feed this back to the vines at night. The vines are so stressed and punished by the absence of soil that the roots have to dig deeper to obtain nutrients. This condition creates less fruit but more sugar, thereby giving more depth and character to the wine."
Tita recounted still further, "I immersed myself in the beauty and romance of this country where focus is on food and great wines, my own favorite wine being La Bernardine Chateau du Pape 1990."
Having been deeply impressed by her Rhone experience, Tita duplicated it recently in a wine degustation dinner dubbed "The Magical Wines of Rhone Valley", the wines coming from the famed house of M. Chapoutier. Present were Fred Fricke, Alexander Raisbeck, Ignacio Jimenez, Reiner and Margrit Ghoor, Rudolf and Elizabeth Lietz–Chaine des Rotisseur local chapter members–Shangri-La GM Alain Borgers, Joe Ledesma and, of course, Anthony Trillo.
Guests admired Le Cordon Bleu Chef de Cuisine Bernie Olivarez who started his superb cuisine with "Pissaladiere pastry" and Cotes du Rhone Blanc/Belleruche ’96; roasted garlic soup with Crozes Hermitage Blanc ’96; Lapu-lapu (the entree) with Chateuneuf du Pape Blanc ’94; roasted rack of lamb (the main course) with Tita’s favorite wine from the Rhone Valley, Chateauneuf du Pape Rouge ’96. The cheeses, walnuts and grapes were served with Banyuls ’96; the dessert of Chocolate Mille-Feuille with Muscat de Beaume de Venice ’97.
The venue was La Cave, a private wine cellar inside Beluga Bistro and Pravda Wine Bar. Believe it or not, its perfect 16 centrigrade temperature matched that of the underground cellars of France!
After that enlightening session, expect more tea drinkers.