Planet Grapes opened their second branch in the Queen City of the South last Oct 2. Strategically located in Ayala Center Cebu, Planet Grapes aims to take the next generation of wine drinkers in Cebu to a new level and help them evolve into wine lovers.
Staying true to their tagline, “wine without drama”, Planet Grapes ensures guests that the notion of properly drinking wine is obsolete. They even serve Filipino street food to pair with your wine tastings. They also have an Enomatic Machine, a wine dispenser that can serve a sip, half or full glasses of wines by simply using the Planet Grapes card which you can reload. I thought this is a brilliant machine because you can get to try different types of wines without buying a full bottle.
Planet Grapes introduces wines to guests through wine tasting and wine pairing events. They make wine fun by turning it into an experience that everyone can enjoy. I attended my first Wine Pairing event during Planet Grapes Cebu’s media launch. I’m really a newbie when it comes to wine drinking but I really enjoyed the experience.
The wine pairing activity started with a White Plate set. The set consists of Thai-Spiced Crab Cakes, Quail Eggs, Squid Balls, Chicken Isaw, Fried Oyster Mushrooms and Danggit paired with Nuevo Mundo Sauvignon Blanc 2011, L’escargot Chardonnay 2011 and Joel Gott Riesling 2011. The Chardonnay really goes well with the Thai-Spiced Crab Cakes and who would have thought that a Chicken Isaw will taste great with a Reisling?
We then moved on to the Red Plate set. It consists of BBQ Pork Spare Ribs, Rib-eye Steak, BBQ Garlic Chicken Wings, Penne Putanesca, Salted Egg Rice and Beef Tapa paired with Ventura Pinot Noir 2011, Cartlidge & Brown Merlot 2009 and Nuevo Mundo Cabernet Sauvignon 2011. According to my research, Pinot Noir is one of the most versatile wine to pair with food. No wonder it really goes well with most of the dishes served on the Red Plate Set. My favorite is the Rib-eye steak.
We ended the wine pairing activity with a Sweet Plate set. Three flavors of Creme Brulee and Bite-sized Turon paired with Crane Lake Gewurztraminer 2011. The desserts were amazing specially when paired with Gewurztraminer.
“Unlike the Western society, we don’t have wine at meal times. But wine can add so much pleasure!” Planet Grapes Owner Romy Sia said. “Fortunately, Filipinos love to eat so we believe the best way to get them to try and like wine is to serve them their favorite food. Food that is both familiar and good but which they never imagines to have with wine.”
I really enjoyed my first wine pairing activity and I’m looking forward for more.
Visit Planet Grapes at the Rooftop Garden of Ayala Center Cebu. They’re open from 10AM-12MN daily.
