Story & photos by Jacqueline Salvador-Marvida
HISTORY revealed that wine is a symbol of power, luxury and wealth. The more aged the wine is, the better taste and aroma it becomes. This is what the 16th Grand Wine Experience at the Marriott Grand Ballroom was all about. Welcoming around 2,000 guests, including businessmen, celebrities, suppliers and wine enthusiasts, the Grand Wine Experience makes it the biggest and grandest wine celebration in the country.
The event featured over 500 wines, different spirits, beers and champagnes—as well as overflowing food and other beverages inside the venue. The guests were able to taste and experience the luxury of drinking wines from different parts of the world, such as Latin America, including Chile and Argentina, as well as wines from the United States, Australia, New Zealand, Russia, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Italy and France. The guests were able to take samples from different selections of sparkling wine, rose wine, dessert wine, white wine and red wine.
Other alcoholic drinks were present, such as well famous spirits and branded beers as well as cognac, whiskey tequila, vodka and gin. This celebration paved way to welcome the launch of their first Grand Wine Magazine that offers a very informative and substantial, trendy and worth-reading articles about wines, etiquettes, etc. Before the grand celebration, the Joseph Brothers conducted a one-day seminar and training. They provided lectures and knowledge regarding wines and spirits together with some speakers from the suppliers. And the man behind this was, Ralph Lim Joseph, president and CEO of Ralph Wine and Spirits. Ralph is equipped with knowledge worth of wit and sophistication. He upholds his moving spirit in the industry with a glass of wine in his hands. Despite the fact that the Philippines is not a wine-producing country yet, Ralph believes that the country can still produce a remarkable and exciting event. With his brothers backing him up, the grand wine experience is always a tremendous success. According to one of the Joseph brothers and chairman, Robert Lim, next year’s Grand Wine Experience will even be a bigger and bolder celebration. “Next year will be a three-day event,” he said. With the magazine launch, they will also promote wines and spirits to coffee shops, business centers and other institutions.
With the support of Meeting Incentives Conventions Events and Exhibition, Department of Trade and Industry and Department of Tourism and suppliers, a three-day event next year is not impossible. It is the brotherhood that is very vital since they put everything together. “Unity, passion and loving what you do is the key to success,” Operations Director Ronnie Lim Joseph said.
Image credits: Jacqueline Salvador-Marvida