As more Filipinos continue to view wine as an aspirational beverage, more Filipinos are equally willing to spend for it than any other alcoholic drink.
In a recent report by Euromonitor, the availability of wine at different price points has allowed consumers to spend according to their budget—and millennials are proving to be the potential market for these wines as they are more educated, well-traveled, and open to new experiences. One key finding though is that majority of Filipinos still opt for the sweet and light wines.
Chilean wine brand Concha y Toro is one of the international players that have established a name for itself in the Philippines. Its recent offering, the Don Melchor 2015 Cabernet Sauvignon, is an assemblage of cabernet sauvignon and cabernet franc that originated from the grapes of Puente Alto vineyard at the foot of the Andes Mountains and on the oldest terrace of the Maipo River.
Wine maker and oenologist Isabel Mitarakis believes the wine’s qualities make it apt for the Filipino palate. “The deep, cherry wine is a great example of balance, depth, and complexity. The aroma of red fruits is present but not overpowering, intermingling with mineral notes that recall cold ashes and pencil lead.”
Chile is a sliver of a country bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and the Andes Mountain to the east. The Andes is the most important geographical landmark in Chilean landscape and the quality of the wines depend on its granitic soils and alluvial terraces. It serves as a temperature regulator that allows the grapes to ripen at an ideal temperature. Those that grow at the foot of the Andes have the best quality of vines: intense, silky, round, and elegant tannins. The cabernet sauvignon at the foot of Andes gives concentrated aromas, with a firm body taste and lingering freshness.
It can range from citrusy to tropical flavors that Filipinos are used to or it can have recognizable mineral notes in the drink like wet stone or saline sea air. The best part is that the wines can be paired with dishes like red meats and game as well as terrines, patés, and cheeses.
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