Wine Enthusiasts

Summer is not just about heat and chilling down when it comes to wine selection.  It has a lot to do also with the kind of cuisine that exploits the ingredients that come into season between February and June each year.  Serving now in all fine-dining restaurants in the Philippines are lobsters, oysters, Barracuda and Mackerel.  Some of these call for a crisp dry racy white wine, so top of the list from Yats Wine Cellars for a summer wine is this 2000 Chablis from Lamblin et Fils.

Great contender for the top spot especially for those who have a soft spot for the bubblies, is this crowd-pleaser, a Rose Sec from the Loire Valley.  Creamy, soft, easy to go down and absolutely delightful to drink alone or for a variety of summer food, including not only seafood but also white meat and cold cuts with salads.

White wine and sparkling do not satisfy wine lovers for the whole summer.  Red wines have to come into the equation also.  Lucky for Manila and Clark wine enthusiasts, the fabulous — perfect even — 2005 vintage is slowly coming into drinkable state.  Recommended for enjoyment this summer in Philippines is this 2005 red wine from Cotes de Castillon, a Bordeaux Right Bank region neighboring St. Emilion and Pomerol.  The Chateau Hyot is a rich, mellow and well-balanced red wine that will give pleasure for the next 10 to 15 years, possibly more.  Red meat, outdoor grilling and even a nice summer evening  wine with dinner.

Taking the afternoon off to read a book under the shades of an Acacia tree in Clark Philippines, next to a lake perhaps?  Sauvignon Blanc is unbeatable when it comes to this kind of settings.  This Sauvignon Blanc from Yats Wine Cellars came from Argentina which is giving New Zealand a run for its money.   Argentina as we all know, is famous for its Malbec but this is not a one-trick-pony.  Sauvignon Blanc grown in high altitude vineyards near the ocean seems to possess the same appeal.  With this in the cellar, we bring pork and veal into the summer menu.

Then finally but certainly not least, is the quintessential addition to the summer wine list — a Pinot Noir, what else.  The Cono Sur Pinot Noir weighs in as the best value for money of all the wines screened for this summer at Yats Wine Cellars.  This is a versatile wine that brings not only light gamey red meat into the picture but also fish like salmon or fish with tomato-based sauce.

Yats Wine Cellars started off in Clark Freeport, Pampanga, an easy 90-minute drive along the North Expressway from Metro Manila.  Category one wines can be found in the cellars of the fine-dining YATS Restaurant and Wine Lounge situated inside Clark’s Mimosa Leisure Estate, just before the Casino.  Yats operates the Clark Wine Center — an independent two-storey building located on the main road of Clark Freeport.

 Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila.  Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening.  Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.  This makes YATS Wine Tasting events the most cost-effective venue to explore new options and expand our knowledge of wine through first-hand encounters.

Wine Seminars have been conducted in the past and may be offered from time to time.  These seminars deal with intermediate to advanced subject matters that are aimed at providing useful and practical knowledge for the wine enthusiasts.  Topics are focused and treatment, in depth.  Most seminars include a guided tasting session after the lecture.

Wine-paired dinners are organized either at Y A T S Restaurant in Clark or in collaboration with other restaurants and organizers.    Private wine dinners can also be organized for groups of 14 or more.  Even Asian cuisines can be a part of a Yats Wine-paired dinner.

Originally published here.

YATS WINE CELLARS has been serving Asia’s wine enthusiasts and connoisseurs since 1985.  Today its cellars in Philippines’ Clark Freeport stock over 2700 labels of wines from all major wine regions and the biggest spectrum of vintages imaginable spanning over 100 years.  Wines were purchased in opportune situations allowing us to offer superb values to our customers and wine collectors.

Yats Wine Cellars

3003C East Tower, Philippines Stock Exchange Center (Tektite)

Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Metro Manila, Philippines

(632) 637-5019 ask for Rea or Chay

(045) 599-5600 0922-870-5178  ask for Ana Fe or Bastiaan

Wine@Yats-International.com

http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

 wines also served at Yats Restaurant http://www.YatsRestaurant.com and

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