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Club 16 in Samira by Chele Gonzalez

<p><a href="https://www.anyaresorts.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Anya Resort Tagaytay</a> welcomed guests to an intimate and slow evening of Lebanese wine, thoughtful cuisine, and engaging conversation through <em>Club 16: A Lebanese Wine Pairing Dinner </em>at Samira by Chele Gonzalez.<em></em><br/><br/>Limited to just 16 guests, the dinner was designed to feel more like friends gathering around the table, rather than a formal wine pairing event. In partnership with <a href="https://pwxchange.com.ph/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Premium Wine Exchange</a>, the experience showcased wines from <a href="https://chateaumusar.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Château Musar</a><em></em>, one of Lebanon’s most celebrated wineries, paired with a multi-course menu created by the Samira team.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:387px;display:block" width="387"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716561732Chateau Musar Wines.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="387" style="width:387px;display:block;height:auto"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Château Musar Blanc 2018, Château Musar Jeune Rouge 2021, Château Musar Rouge 2018|Photo courtesy of Premium Wine Exchange</em></span></span></span>For the guests, it was also an opportunity to discover a wine region that remains relatively unfamiliar to most Filipino diners. Produced in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, Château Musar wines are known for their distinctive character and their ability to age gracefully over time.</div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/food-travel/2026/6/15/playful-evolution-at-digamo-2324" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: &#x27;Playful Evolution&#x27; at Digamo</a></div><p>Executive Chef Chris Leaning shared, &quot;Normally what I do when we have a wine pairing is, I pair the wine with the food from the country. This time I wanted to showcase that you don&#x27;t have to pair the wine with the food from the country. You can pair wine with any type of food. However on the final dessert, I took inspiration from Baklava. We made a dessert with Pistachio Baklava but with cheesecake flavored with rose water and ice cream with orange blossom. So it&#x27;s a very Lebanese style cheesecake but still with a Western touch.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:514px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781753307714Chef Chris.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Executive Chef Chris Leaning</em></span></span></span></div><p>The evening began with a selection of canapés that immediately set the tone for the meal ahead. Smoked Salmon and Asparagus Pintxos were served alongside Brioche and Beef Tartare with Egg Yolk Emulsion and Ikura, offering guests their first taste of the flavors to come.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:530px;display:block" width="530"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781753358254Mikel &amp; Ricardo.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="530" style="width:530px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Anya Resort&#x27;s General Manager Mikel Arriet and F&amp;B Manager Ricardo Lopez</em></span></span></span>The first course featured a Basque-style tuna salad with confit tuna, slow-roasted bell peppers, and pickled shallots paired with Château Musar Blanc 2018.</div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:591px;display:block" width="591"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716126328First Course.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="591" style="width:591px;display:block;height:auto"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Confit Tuna and Roasted Bell Pepper Salad | Château Musar Blanc 2018 </em></span></span></span>Presenting the pairing, Premium Wine Exchange&#x27;s Executive Wine Sommelier Jezreel Reate explained, &quot;The wine elevates this Basque-style tuna salad with remarkable elegance. Its refreshing acidity lifts the richness of the confit tuna, while layers of mature citrus, wild herbs, and subtle nutty complexity echo the sweetness and vegetal notes of the slow-roasted bell peppers. The wine&#x27;s freshness beautifully balances the bright tang of pickled shallots, creating a refined and harmonious pairing where every element enhances the next.&quot;<br/><br/>Next came duck with porcini and truffle risotto, paired with Château Musar Jeune Rouge 2021.</div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:593px;display:block" width="593"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716226829Course 2.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="593" style="width:593px;display:block;height:auto"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Duck with Porcini and Truffle Risotto | Château Musar Jeune Rouge 2021 </em></span></span></span>Reate pointed out how the wine complemented the dish: &quot;The wine&#x27;s bright red fruit character, gentle spice, and freshness provide a lively contrast to the richness of the duck and the creamy texture of the risotto. Its juicy tannins are delicate enough not to overwhelm the dish, while its earthy undertones naturally complement the savory depth of porcini mushrooms and the aromatic character of truffle.&quot;</div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:475px;display:block" width="475"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716773710Jezreel.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="475" style="width:475px;display:block;height:630.97px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Jezreel Reate, Executive Wine Sommelier of Premium Wine Exchange</em></span></span></span>For the main course, guests were served grilled US Angus beef tenderloin with roasted confit potatoes, burnt eggplant purée, arugula, poached shallots, and beef jus alongside Château Musar Rouge 2018.</div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:446px;display:block" width="446"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716318890Main Course.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="446" style="width:446px;display:block;height:auto"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Grilled U.S. Angus Beef Tenderloin |  Château Musar Rouge 2018 </em></span></span></span></div><p>According to Reate,&quot;The wine’s captivating layers of dark fruit, warm spice, cedar, and earthy complexity mirror the depth and character of the dish, while refined tannins frame the succulent beef with elegance and precision. The elegant profile harmonizes beautifully with the roasted confit potatoes, smoky eggplant purée, and rich beef jus, creating a pairing of remarkable depth and sophistication.&quot;</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:398px;display:block" width="398"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781716450851Dessert.jpg" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="398" style="width:398px"/><span class="fr-inner"><em>Pistachio Baklava &amp; Rose Water Cheesecake | Champagne Moet Chandon Brut Imperial NV</em></span></span></span>Dessert featured Pistachio Baklava and Rose Water Cheesecake accompanied by orange blossom ice cream and a glass of Moët &amp; Chandon Brut Impérial. What a fitting finale!</div><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/lifestyle/food-travel/2026/6/18/century-old-japanese-coffee-tradition-finds-home-in-manila-0156" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">YOU MAY ALSO LIKE: Century-old Japanese coffee tradition finds home in Manila</a></div><div><strong>Featured Wines</strong></div><div><strong>Château Musar Blanc 2018</strong><br id="isPasted"/><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:299px;display:block" width="299"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781717573474Chateau Musar White 2018.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="299" style="width:299px"/><span class="fr-inner">Image Caption</span></span></span></div><p>From high-altitude Obaideh and Merwah vines, two ancient Lebanese white grape varieties likely among the oldest cultivated in the world, this wine opens with lemon zest, ripe pear, and oregano, with hints of toasted hazelnut and honey. It is full-bodied, with a rich, creamy texture balanced by lively acidity. The lightly saline finish is satisfyingly long and citrus tinged.  </p><div><strong>Château Musar Jeune Rouge 2021</strong><br/><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781717627413Musar Jeune Red 2021.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:290px"/><strong></strong></div><p>Unoaked Cinsault, Syrah, and Cabernet Sauvignon from younger Bekaa vines. Strawberry, sour cherry, and black pepper lead, with earthy, savory undertones underneath. Medium-bodied, juicy and approachable, with soft tannins and bright, clean acidity the Jeune Red finishes with a pleasant, spiced cherry warmth.</p><div><strong>Château Musar Rouge 2018</strong></div><div><strong><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781717706694Chateau Musar Red 2018.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:324px"/></strong><br/>The flagship blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Carignan, and Cinsault from low-yielding vines at 1,000 meters, Musar Red has aromas of dried cherry, pomegranate, and cedar, giving way to dried herbs, tobacco leaf, and a hint of dark chocolate. Full-bodied, with supple tannins, robust concentration, and a lively backbone of acidity that carries through a smoky and lingering finish.</div><div><em>To know more about Samira by Chele Gonzalez&#x27;s upcoming wine pairing events, visit <a href="//anyaresorts.com">anyaresorts.com</a> or @samirabychelegonzalez on social media.</em></div>

<p>Anya Resort Tagaytay invited guests to slow down and savor an evening of Lebanese wine, thoughtfully crafted dishes, and engaging conversations at Samira by Chele Gonzalez.</p>

Anya Resort Tagaytay invited guests to slow down and savor an evening of Lebanese wine, thoughtfully crafted dishes, and engaging conversations at Samira by Chele Gonzalez.

Anya Resort's Club 16: An intimate Lebanese wine pairing dinner in Samira by Chele Gonzalez

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Anya Resort's Club 16: An intimate Lebanese wine pairing dinner in Samira by Chele Gonzalez

Mawi Fojas De Ocampo

Published June 18, 2026 01:57 AM PHT

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Updated June 18, 2026 11:30 AM PHT

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Anya Resort Tagaytay

Samira by Chele Gonzalez

Chateau Musar

Lebanese Wine

Premium Wine Exchange

Tagaytay

Wine Pairing

Club 16

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