Clark Wine Center

Bldg 6460 Clark Field Observatory Building,
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Clark Air Base, Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga, Philippines 2023
Clark, Pampanga: (045) 499-6200
Mobile/SMS: 0977-837-9012
Ordering: 0977-837-9012 / 0917-520-4393
Manila: (632) 8637-5019

Wine Notes: Piedmont producers share vat of knowledge

If there’s a Portland zeitgeist manual somewhere, it’s got to include a page (I’d say somewhere after “cycling” but maybe before “knitting”) on our predilection for Italian wines. And that love is most evident in our tendency to zealously collect the great reds of Piedmont: Barolo and Barbaresco. From Wizer’s Oswego Foods to Liner & Elsen, you can find Stumptowners far and wide salivating over bottles from La Spinetta, Angelo Gaja and the like.

When a group of Italian vintners came through town recently to pour for the trade, I snagged three of Piedmont’s most interesting producers to ask them some questions about their craft as part of my ongoing quest to discover what makes their wines so appealing to us.

If you’re new to Barolo and Barbaresco, you should know that both are made from nebbiolo. When grown in vineyards near their respective villages, in the hillsides overlooking the town of Alba, this grape makes a soul-moving red, redolent of tobacco, licorice, dried leaves and sweet chocolate.

The following three are producers you should know. And even if you are already an aficionado, you’ll enjoy reading about what makes these guys tick.

Their responses have been edited for length and clarity. The pity is, you can’t hear their glorious Italian accents.

The boundary-pushing classic: Luca Currado, Vietti
It may be a historic family producer of Barolo, but Vietti has always rocked the boat. For example: Beginning in 1970, a group of artist friends of the Currado-Vietti family began painting original works, often depicting animals, inspired by each wine. The precursors to the now-ubiquitous “critter labels,” these images shocked a wine market accustomed to labels printed with nothing more than standard black script. Today, Vietti’s labels continue to be among the most beautiful in the world. And the wines? To die for.

Your father, Alfredo Currado, married your mother, Luciana Vietti, in 1957 and became the winemaker for Vietti. Then, in 1961, he was the first in Barolo to release single-vineyard bottlings. How did that come about?

You really have to go back two generations. In 1870, there were two Vietti brothers. The eldest, my great-grandfather, became an engineer in Torino, then like many Italians at that time, he left Italy and spent 35 years in America, in Boston. Then in early 1910, his brother in Italy who was managing the family vineyard passed away. So my family came back from America to work in the vineyard and take care of the family business. Now, my great-grandfather had traveled overseas and was much more open-minded. He understood the meaning of the word terroir and the importance of biodiversity. So he began cherry-picking the best grand cru (or the most prestigious) vineyards in the Barolo region. This was very unusual at that time. Now — thanks to my great-grandfather — of the 20 grand crus of the region, we own parts of 15. So in 1961, my father said, “We have all these great vineyards; why don’t we start to vinify them all separately and see, really, what they show?”

And in 1967, your father was the first to start bottling the flavorful traditional white grape of Barolo, arneis, on its own as a dry table wine.

Yes. In the mid ’60s, my father and mother were looking to make a white wine. They felt that if a variety had been planted in our region since Roman times, it must be there for a reason. But arneis was being made in a sweet style, almost like moscato, or blended with leftover pints of nebbiolo after harvest to make a simple rosé. It was called “il vin de la suocera” (the wine for the mother-in-law). I am sorry, but it was not really a very good wine. There were just a few vines, here and there, in the middle of the nebbiolo vineyards. My father wanted to make a wine with a little less residual sugar, like a fine German riesling. He collected the grapes from 55 different growers; some only picked just one basket, because the variety had almost disappeared. Then, by an error, the fermentation went totally dry. My father was very disappointed. He left it in the tank all winter, on the lees. And then in the springtime, the wine journalist Veronelli came to the winery to taste the new vintages. He said, ‘What is that? … Oh, let me try!” My father said, “No, no, it is a bad experiment.” But then he took a carafe and said, “OK, let’s try an aperitif before lunch.” And the wine was fantastic! He planted the very first vineyard in 1968; all the growers took cuttings from our vineyards, then the university selected clones from our vineyards, and now today it is one of the most popular foreign varieties.

(Note: The Ponzi family here in Oregon are longtime friends of the Currado family; so for a fun side-by-side tasting, try the 2011 Vietti Roero Arneis alongside the 2011 Ponzi Willamette Valley Arneis; $23 and $25, respectively; E&R Wine Shop, Pastaworks NW (City Market), Zupan’s Burnside and Lake Grove.)

You are considered to be a Barolo producer in the traditional style. Knowing all that you know about winemaking, why do you use old-fashioned techniques in the cellar?

For us, the vineyard has always been more important than who is making the wine. I think it would be arrogant, egocentric, even stupid to impose your ego, your own modern style, on a historical vineyard — like Lazzarito, Brunate, Rocche or Villero — that has been known for 300 or 400 years to make a great wine. When I worked my first harvest in ’88, I was a young winemaker. I had studied in France and California; I used a lot of scientific analysis to understand the wine. And then, as time passed, I realized this is all (hogwash). For sure, some analysis is important, but only a very small amount. Wine is made, for me, with your eyes, your nose, your tongue, your stomach. You need to feel it.

http://www.oregonlive.com/foodday/index.ssf/2012/05/piedmont_producers_share_vat_o.html

Although the Philippines is not known for being the wine capital of Asia, Clark Pampanga is the most frequently visited destination for wine lovers in Cebu, Angeles City and Manila to shop for some good vintage wine. The famous wine shop outside Manila called Clark Wine Center is the largest wine shop in Philippines which offers over 2000 selections of fine vintage wine from all wine regions, vintages spanning over 50 years covering all price ranges.

This wine shop in Clark is highly recommended as one of the best places to buy wine in Pampanga. Clark Freeport is just outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center. Visitors buy wine in Manila and Pampanga should not miss stopping at this wine shop for a few bottles of fine vintage wines to bring home.

Established in 2002, YATS WINE CELLARS is a wholly-owned business unit of Hong Kong-based Yats International which owns and operates resort, wine shops, wine bars and fine-dining restaurant properties in Clark Freeport in The Philippines. YATS WINE CELLARS caters to a clientele of discerning wine lovers from all over the world. Besides a good selection of wine for everyday enjoyment, YATS offers a unique selection of aged vintage wines made available to wine enthusiasts at remarkably affordable prices. Vintages span over a century and the selection of old- and new-world wines covers all major wine regions.

Yats Leisure Philippines

Things to do in Clark Philippines and Pampanga: do a little wine shopping at the famous wine shop outside of Manila called Clark Wine Center. One of the favorite places to visit in Pampanga Clark Freeport is the white building along M A Roxas highway of Clark which houses over 2000 selections of fine vintage wines. The Clark Wine Center is one of the places to visit, a tourist spot and a good shopping place for those staying in Angeles City, Subic or Clark Pampanga.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Best place to buy wine in Clark Pampanga outside Manila near Subic and Angeles City Philippines is Clark Wine Center.

Click here to contact Clark Wine Center in Clark Pampanga for inquiries and orders.

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023

Tel: 0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Wine@Yats-International.com

YATS Wine Cellars
Manila Sales Office
3003C East Tower, Phil Stock Exchange Center,
Exchange Road, Ortigas Centger,
Metro Manila, Philippines 1605

Tel: (632) 637-5019 0917-540-3626 ask for Rea or Chay

Log on to this web site for more information about Yats Wine Cellars as the leading wine importer and wine supplier in the Philippines:

ats Wine Cellars Leading Wine Supplier in Philippines

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

http://www.PhilippinesWeddingVenue.com

While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. Highly recommended fine dining restaurant in Manila for special occasion is Yats Restaurant & Wine Lounge located in the famous Mimosa Leisure Estate in Clark Pampanga. Situated near this popular restaurant in Clark is the Mimosa Golf Course as well as the Mimosa Clark Casino. This top rated restaurant near Angeles City Pampanga in Clark Philippines is frequently used for private parties and corporate functions such as board meetings and other gatherings. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

Besides good restaurants to wine and dine near Manila, Subic or in Angeles City Pampanga, Clark Philippines, those requiring assistance for hotel and resort bookings in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines may log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com for more information and reservations.

The lifestyle in Clark Pampanga is quite unique. For more information about shopping, sports, golf, leisure, hotel accommodation, where to see and visit, what to do, where to wine and dine and good places to hang out, relax, have a drink with friends, child-friendly establishments, log on to
http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com

Wine lovers looking for a special bottle or something that is of great value and special discounts might log on to this web site to shop for fine vintage wines
http://www.YatsWineCellars.com

Those visitors who plan to relax and unwind in Angeles City, Subic, Pampanga, Clark Philippines might make an effort to book a room at the famous beach and lake resort Clearwater Resort & Country Club. This famous hotel in Clark Pampanga is frequently visited by families with children looking for a good place in Clark to see, a good holiday destination for the family to relax and unwind in the beautiful outdoor facilities. For more information, log on to www.ClearwaterPhilippines.com

Buy wine baskets in Manila as gifts to friends and business associates. Wine lovers in Philippines can find good wines from major wine regions around the world in wine shops in Manila and Pampanga. Among the good selections of fine vintage wines from Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Austria and other parts of Europe. Rare vintage wines from Vega Sicilia, Biondi Santi, Sassicaia as well as the Ice wine from Germany can be found in good wine shops around Manila. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. The best way to learn more about wine in the Philippines is to attend public wine tasting events that have no sponsors. These wine tasting events held by Yats are non-commercial. Yats Wine Cellars does not promote a specific winery, producer or a brand. These wine tastings and wine dinners held in Manila and Pampanga are all designed to let wine lovers explore more interesting aspects of wine.

Buy wine in Manila, Metro Manila, Philippines at good wine shops and boutique wine stores that offer good selection of good vintage wines at all price points.

Good white wines that available at the wine shops in Manila and Pampanga include Puligny Montrachet, Chassagne Montrachet, Pouilly Fuisse, Corton Charlemagne, Montrachet, Batard Montrachet and Beaune. This makes it easy and convenient for wine lovers to buy wine in Manila. They are also great wines to include in wine gift baskets for delivery in the Philippines. This wine shop in Manila is also a good place to buy wines for giveaway.

Manila wine and food lovers looking for things to do in Pampanga and Manila can consider attending one of these wine events. Leading Philippines wine supplier and wine importer Yats Wine Cellars frequently hold public wine tasting in Clark, Pampanga and Manila. Even beginners can have a lot of fun attending these public wine tastings held by Yats. Participants enjoy good wine, learn some more about fine vintage wines and meet new friends during these wine tasting events of Yats Wine Cellars held in Manila and Pampanga.


You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.
 

Leave a Reply