Wine, s’il vous plaît?

It happens to most of us, in any gathering, that we find ourselves thinking of anything that could break the ice. Wine is a catalyst, an ideal primer to a tête-à-tête. The best ones, they say, are from France.

VINEYARD in Carcassonne, Occitanie, France. | PHOTOGRAPHS COURTESY OF UNSPLASH/BOUDEWIJN BOER, ELLEN HUGHES

“France is well known for high quality wines. We also know that the competition is quite high. Many countries try to think their wines are the best, of course they are wrong,” H.E. Marie Fontanel, Ambassador of France to the Philippines and Micronesia, said.

For a French Ambassador, wine is an asset.

“We try to promote our culture, food, fashion and so our wines,” Fontanel said. She also notes how Filipinos indulge themselves in good food and good wine with a bit of French flare.

The Embassy of France in the Philippines and Micronesia in cooperation with Business France and the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines held anew Tastin’ France Manila, an exclusive French wine trade delegation aimed at creating a platform for B2B interactions between French wine producers and local importers, distributors, and retailers. This exclusive French wine experience is part of Tastin’ France’s worldwide series, which takes place in various regions.

Exhibitors include Loire Vins Domaine from Loire Valley; Alain Corcia and Domaine Gille from Bourgogne; Same River Twice Wines from Rhone Valley; Les Vins De Roquebrun, LGI Wines, Vignobles Vellas and Wines Tree; Vignobles Mauve & Co (Les Grand Chateaux) from Languedoc/Bordeaux; Wines Overload, Les Petit Clos, ABK6 Cognac and Godet Freres Cognac from multi-region.

LOIRE Vins Domaine has a grand selection of wines, champagne, spirits and beers. | PHOTOGRAPHS BY DIANNE BACELONIA FOR THE DAILY TRIBUNE

After visiting Thailand and Vietnam for the past week, it’s an honor to welcome this delegation to the Philippines, said Kevin Charuel, managing director of French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines.

WINES Tree has perfected the art of blending with its bestseller, the Languedoc.

“This is the second year in a row that we are organizing Tastin’ France Manila in collaboration with Business France. With the success of Tastin’ France last year, we have planned to host today 13 French companies from various regions that will be presenting a selection of fine wines and spirits that would further make this sector dynamic and vibrant in the Philippines,” he said.

Strengthening Team France

Business France and CCIFP renewed their collaboration and joint commitment to providing business support in export and the development of trade relations between France and the Philippines.

Ambassador of France to the Philippines and Micronesia Marie Fontanel.
managing director of the French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines Kevin Charuel.

Present at the ceremonial signing were Ambassador Fontanel with representatives of the Team France Export in the Philippines, along with the signatories Yann Frollo de Kerlivio, Business France Director for ASEAN and Oceania, and Jacques-Christophe Branellec, president of the CCIFP. 

CLOS Apalta offers mocktails that are alcohol-free.

Attendees were reminded of the origin of Team France Export — the fruit of a reform implemented in 2018 that aimed to simplify and strengthen the public export support system for French SMEs and ETIs.