Wine pairing for noche buena? Planet Grapes offers these tips

MANILA -- While the Philippines has been known to be a predominantly beer-drinking country, there has been a steady increase in shops and bars catering to the wine-drinking crowd.

Just where does one start on the wine drinking journey?

“When you’re a beginning to drink wine, you tend to stay away from strong and dry wines. It just means that your palate is not ready for it,” explained Charlene Medina, brand manager for Planet Grapes, which is known for pairing wines with Filipino comfort food.

One way of enjoying wine is to pair them with food.

Lechon will definitely be appearing on several Christmas feasts this season. Medina recommends the Hugel set which Planet Grapes pairs with rich entrees.

It is one of several wine sets prepared by Planet Grapes and featuring its exclusive labels for wine aficionados.

“We always pair this with oily food. The acidity cuts through the oiliness so it pairs well,” Medina of the Hugel set.

For meat lovers, the Bad Boy set contains a Planet Grapes favorite. Wine drinkers come to the restaurant for this wine with strong red chocolate notes that go really well with steaks and red meat.

Follow this up with a trio of wines from New Zealand. Planet Grapes' Sweet Set is ideal to pair with desserts. Often poured in smaller quantities, these wines are a nice counterpoint to all the cake and Christmas treats this season.

Popping the corks off sparkling wines is a nice way to usher in the new year. The Sparkling Set includes a Prosecco, a sparkling Moscato, and a Cuvee Rosé, ideal for media noche.

STARTER SETS

Meanwhile, for those who are just starting to drink wine, Medina recommends light and fruity wines.

The most affordable of the sets is the Cardinalices duo of a rosé and a red from Côtes Du Rhône, France. Surprisingly inexpensive for an Old World wine, these are fruity in profile making them recommended as entry-level wines.

The Gentilice set of a Voignier and a Ventoux is also recommended for the wine’s bright profile.

Paco Garcia wines from Spain are a recent addition to the Planet Grapes wine list. These are popular with new wine drinkers as they are easy to drink wines.

“They’re friendly and fruity, and they’re really for beginners,” noted Medina.

When you’re ready to explore a little more, the Sand Point set from California includes a bottle of the five basic grape varietals: chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, cabernet sauvignon, and pinot noir. This is a great way to sample different profiles to eventually figure out what your wine preferences will be.

These wine sets are available at Planet Grapes for the Christmas season. Planet Grapes branches are located at the Shangri-La Plaza mall, and at Shangri-La at the Fort.