When fashion and wine clink
MANILA, Philippines — Great pairings happen when the elements echo one another. While perfection is elusive, even arguably subjective, whether it’s wine, food, fashion or love, this formula definitely scratches the surface. Yet when Happy Andrada and Tanguy Gras found each other at Sofitel’s tree-lighting ceremony in 2016, it was instinctive — they were perfect for each other. The artistic fashion designer and then F&B manager of the hotel, respectively, clicked; they married in 2017, and in 2019, opened H&T Wine Gallery.
“The beautiful color of a glass of wine called robe also means dress in French,” Happy points out. “There is no doubt that wine and fashion is somehow linked.”
Vino and fashion are two of life’s greatest pleasures, so it makes sense that both joys pair well. LVMH — lest we forget the other half of the mega-conglomerate abbreviation is Moët Hennessy — Chanel, Bulgari, Ferragamo, Cartier, Diesel and Guess have wineries or their own label.
Meanwhile, H&T Wine Gallery focuses on improving one’s overall experience with the right selection and combination; they also carry other spirits, mixers and a deli. Online only for now, Happy handles the look and feel of the brand while Tanguy samples from different wineries or is in the kitchen, whipping up elaborate flavorful bites — which Happy is, well, happy to sample.
“We take time to look for gems that we have not tried before and we also plan the dish to pair with it,” says Tanguy. Theo & Philo chocolates are one surprising recommendation. The couple’s latest experiment? Caviar sushi!
Perfect pairings
Now that gatherings — small and distanced — are easing back for the upcoming holidays, and in instances when we can’t make our actual presence felt, we make up for it with presents. Shared meals are even more meaningful.
Tanguy has a simple approach when selecting a bottle: “As Christmas is a celebration, we definitely enjoy it with a bottle of sparkling wine, which could be Champagne or Cava.” Confused what to pair with them? H&T has a curated set called Indulgent Christmas, featuring Champagne, caviar and all the finer things, and a Tasteful Christmas set featuring Cava for the gourmet in your life.
“But we definitely are more red wine people, so we usually get a fine bottle of wine for Christmas. Last year, we had Haut Faugères Saint-Emilion Grand Cru. We usually spend about P1,500 for a great bottle of red, which can sound expensive but for a celebration like Christmas we believe it is reasonable. We can really find amazing wines for special celebrations without having to break the bank. It is definitely great with Christmas ham and lechon,” Tanguy says. “For fruit cake, we recommend going for sparkling wine or a sweet dessert wine.”
Still confused? Pair by country with the Joyeux Noel, their French hamper, highlighted by a Malbec; or Feliz Navidad, a Spanish hamper featuring Tempranillo; pair by food with Cheese The Season which highlights three cheeses and a wine pairing; or pair based on your wine with the H&T selection hamper with either a Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, or a non-alcoholic option, all wrapped in Happy’s festive packaging. Cheers!
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Shop H&T Wine Gallery at www.htwinegallery.com or follow H&T Wine Gallery on Facebook for more information.
