The best of California wines

One of Napa Valley’s legendary wineries, Spottswoode Estate Vineyard and Winery, is reputed to have some of the best wines in the world.

Recently, the winery’s president and CEO Beth Novak Milliken, together with Premium Wine Exchange, the official and authorized distributor of Spottswoode, hosted a food-and-wine pairing dinner at M Dining in Makati City. It featured eight wines from Spottswoode paired with a five-course menu specially prepared by M Dining executive chef Tom Bascon. Also at the dinner was Spottswoode export director Ray Kaufman.

Milliken’s parents, Mary and Jack Novak, acquired Spottswoode in 1972 and since then, they’ve been growing wine grapes on their estate. But it was only in 1982, exactly 100 years after the estate’s founding, that they started making their own wines. Milliken, on the other hand, only started working at the winery in 1987.

I was lucky to be seated beside Beth Novak Milliken during the dinner. The amiable winemaker explained how the wines were made, and how most of their wines are rated very highly among wine aficionados.

(From left) Cherry Leguira, Spottswoode export director Rey Kaufman, Jopet Reyes, Beth Novak Milliken, Christine Alfaro and Aisha Hussain.

Aside from its famously outstanding Cabernet Sauvignons, Spottswoode, which received its California Certified Organic Farmers certificate in 1992, also produces Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah and Albarino.

The dinner started with the 2017 Sauvignon Blanc paired with Gougeres. Next was the 2016 Sauvignon Blanc paired with crab cake with egg and hollandaise. The third course of tagliatelle with shiitake mushrooms and prosciutto was savored with a side-by-side pairing of the Spottswoode Lyndenhurst Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 and 2015. This was followed by another side-by-side pairing of the Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 and 2009 with braised short ribs, port jus and marble potatoes. The last course of cheese, grapes, quince and baguette toasts was paired with Spottswoode Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 and 2015.

It was amazing to savor some of the best Californian wines. More than that, it was an experience drinking right beside the winemaker herself.

 (Spottswoode is exclusively distributed by Premium Wine Exchange. Visit pwxchange.com.ph.)

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Excellent wine-pairing dinner

Taittinger director Nicolas Delion with Raffles Makati communications director Monique Toda and F&B director Matthieu Busschaert.

I enjoy wine-pairing dinners because there’s always a bounty of good food and impeccably good wine. Just like at the special one-night-only Taittinger champagne-pairing dinner prepared by chef Herve Clair held at Raffles Makati’s French restaurant Mireio recently. 

Taittinger director Nicolas Delion flew in for the event where French Ambassador Nicolas Galey was a special guest.

  Nicolas Delion, French Ambassador Nicolas Galey and Taittinger’s Mary Ann Lavanza.

The dinner started with crab and cucumber cannelloni with apples, celery and a fresh herb salad paired with Taittinger Brut Millesime 2012. This was followed by duck breast paired with a Taittinger Prestige Rose. And finally, a strawberry, rhubarb and almond biscuit, vanilla cream and cottage cheese ice cream was served with Taittinger Brut Reserve, non-vintage.

Mireio was packed for the dinner that had an excellent pairing of French cuisine and one of the best French champagnes.

 (For future dinner events, visit mireioatraffles.com.)

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Adornata’s charm

(From left) Chesca Rosejos, Gaio Gonzalez, Chynna Gonzalez, Behbet Valconcha and Rachel Pena.

Jewelry designer Chynna Gonzalez started the jewelry brand Adornata in 2016.

“The big idea behind Adornata is to be a bridge between fashion and fine jewelry. Pieces are more fun and fashion forward, but rendered in solid gold. They’re beautiful but also practical because you can wear them every day,” Gonzalez explained.

Recently, the brand launched its new collection titled “Redentore,” which is inspired by the Festa del Redentore — the fireworks festival in Venice.

(From left) Cristina Malabanan, Crisa Rodriguez, Jon Rodriguez, Luisa Malabanan, Flor Malabanan, Luningning Estanislao, Chynna Gonzalez and Puri Echiverri.

“Being a millennial, first-generation fine jewelry designer, I understand the needs of the new woman and the value for style and luxury,” she said.  *

(For more information, visit www.adornata.jewelry or call 0917-5152570.)

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(Follow me on Instagram @pepperteehankee.)