Pio Cesare wines at Finestra

MANILA, Philippines - Wines from the Piedmont region of Italy are touted to be among the world’s best. Pio Cesare is one winery in the region that has undisputedly maintained its reputation.

Established in 1881, the  Pio Cesare brand is seen in top restaurants and wine shops, which is quite an achievement given that the winery only does an average of 42,000 to 45,000 cases of standard nine liters or just around 500,000 bottles annually. The winery is family-owned for five generations now. Its head, Pio Boffa, was recently in Manila.

Pio revealed 75 percent of their total winery production goes to export, and Pio himself travels more than half the year to personally be the brand ambassador of his own winery. Over 95 percent of Pio Cesare wines are from their own vineyards, and the rest from long-term contracts with reliable growers in the region. Pio Cesare owns over 65 hectares of prime vineyards including some of the best estates in Barolo and Barbaresco. 

Pio was in Manila to be the gracious host of his Pio Cesare Wine Dinner held at the Finestra in Solaire Resort and Casino. Three featured wines — Piodilei Chardonnay, the Fides Barbera d’Alba and the Ornato Barolo — are each made with no more than 10,000 bottles per vintage.

We started with Sea Scallop with Roasted Eggplant served with Pio Cesare Piodilei Chardonnay 2010, Piedmont Limited Edition. Fennel arancini and limoncello cream followed with Late Season Harvest. Porcini Mushroom with Risotto was paired with Pio Cesare Barbera d‘Alba, D.O.C. 2010, Piedmont and Pio Cesare Fides Barbera d‘Alba 2010, Piedmont Limited Edition. 

Grilled lamb chops with artichokes  and potatoes were in the menu but since I avoid lamb and most things cute, the chef prepared osso buco for me paired with Pio Cesare Barolo, D.O.C.G. 2009, Piedmont Pio Cesare Ornato Barolo 2008, Piedmont Limited Edition. I must say, the osso buco at Finestra is one of the best I have tasted in my life.

Vanilla panna cotta, coffee and homemade chocolate biscotti ended our night on a sweet note.

(Pio Cesare wines are exclusively distributed in the Philippines by Golden Wines Inc. For more information about Pio Cesare wines, call 638-5025 to 27.)