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VINOS DE ARZUAGA in Manila

It doesn’t matter if you’re a wine connoisseur or simply an enthusiast – everyone loves a good ol’ story behind a good bottle of wine. And for all it’s modern-day appeal, (Julia Roberts admittedly craves for it, J. Lo poured it at her wedding, and football royalty Real Madrid has made it their official wine), I like that the Arzuaga label finds its time-honored heritage in Spanish vineyards along the legendary Duero River in Castile. There is where a man named Don Florentino Arzuaga, in a countryside setting where his rustic winery -complete with a weather vane and bell tower in the middle of purple fields - began producing one of the most highly acclaimed wines in the region, and the world.

At Makati Shangri-La's Red last week (Feb 5), I was privileged to wine and dine with premier winemaker Ignazio Arzuaga when he came to Manila to bring with him a collection of award-winning blends from Bodegas Arzuaga.

Arzuaga Crianza, Pago Florentino, Fan D’Oro, Reserva Especial and La Planta Tempranillo.

“Warm in the day and cool at night,” Ignacio talks about how Ribera del Duero’s very ideal location and altitude lends itself to the perfect grape.

A sumptuous five course menu by Chef Thomas Linke of Red complemented the wines. Here, a cocoa dusted foie gras with pomegranate and vanilla syrup with pata negra crisps starts off the dinner paired with Fan D'Oro and the La Planta.

Star Anise pork belly, chorizo tamales with thyme and oregano immediately follows, served with the Pago Florentino Red Cencibel.

There was an olive oil poached wild salmon fillet with blackberry reduction, warm sambuca jelly and shellfish veloute. Literally one of the softest, creamiest and "melt-in-your-mouth-est" salmons I've ever tasted. Too bad I couldn't take a better photo.

On the other side of this photo, where you can't see, I was devouring a bone marrow crusted organic beef tenderloin and mashed potatoes and couldn't be bothered because it was soo good.