Wine-and-Golf Pairings Back in Season

The 2012 PGA Tour season is back in full swing, which means Unfiltered’s favorite final-round pairing of wine and golf will be on the DVR menu for many months to come. Last week, Beringer Vineyards, the official wine of the PGA, Champions and Nationwide tours, announced its newest partner, golfer Justin Leonard, who won the 1997 British Open and 1998 Players Championship. Leonard, who will appear in various Beringer ads this summer, joins a very long list of golfers who have turned their eyes from the fairway to the vineyard.Ernie Els’ label has long stood on its own as one of South Africa’s most prestigious wines. Els’ countrymen David Frost and Retief Goosen have wine brands as well. Greg Norman’s Australian and Californian wines are top sellers. Annika Sorrenstam, Nick Faldo andMark O’Meara all play the wine game. Even all-time greats Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer have time for wine. Not surprisingly, golfers took up half the panel at the Athletes and Their Wines seminar at October’s Wine Spectator New York Wine Experience. It seems golf and fine wine have become ubiquitous, with good reason—they’re probably the only two vices that retirees and their cardiologists can agree on.
The Chinese invasion of Bordeaux shows no signs of slowing. A few hours after closing on the purchase of Château du Grand Moueys, a sprawling 420-acre estate in Bordeaux’s Entre-Deux-Mers region, new owner Zhang Jinshan sat down with Unfiltered to discuss his game plan. At first, Zhang, an amiable goji berry spirits tycoon from Ningxia, China, revealed a strategy so predictable that Unfiltered begins to suspect a central committee directive for Sino-Bordelais investments: purchase picturesque historic castle in modest appellation, drop some serious change to repackage as super-premium wine and use vineyard estate as centerpiece for high-volume export business—in this case, a modest 1.2 million bottles per year. Then things got interesting. First, rather than diverting the entire production to China, Zhang will keep 10 to 20 percent of his Merlot-dominated blend in the U.S. and European markets so we can all enjoy the efforts of consulting guru Stéphane Derenoncourt to produce a smooth, fruity, elegant wine, “St.-Emilion style.” Major investments are planned for the cellars. Next, the Gothic Revival château will receive a $5 million facelift, and re- emerge as a boutique hotel and 70-seat gourmet restaurant, run by restaurateur Lei Wu An, who is something of a celebrity in Ningxia for his eight Dong Gan eateries. The decor will be classic, contemporary French, but Lei told Unfiltered that the food will be an authentic, modern fusion of French and Chinese, with ingredients and chefs flown in to do the job properly. Think Peking duck roasted over fragrant jujube and pear tree wood, served on a terrace overlooking 145 acres of vineyards following nine holes on the new golf course. Zhang envisions bringing contemporary Chinese culture—cuisine, art exhibits, concerts—to Bordeaux, East meets West in luxurious wine country.
It’s become nigh impossible to avoid reality (TV) in the wine world these days. A few weeks ago we told you about Kendall-Jackson’s Rick Tigner going Undercover. On Feb. 10, inventor Eric Corti presented his Wine Balloon to the investor judges of ABC’s Shark Tank. The Wine Balloon is a hand-pumped inflatable rubber balloon inserted into a half-emptied bottle of wine and inflated, displacing the oxygen and theoretically preserving the wine for several days. The Sharks bit, offering Corti as much as $600,000 for full ownership of his invention (he passed). And this past Friday, Wine Spectator reported that original Real Housewife Bethenny Frankel’s wildly popular Skinnygirl brand is introducing three California wines next month. Of course, the undisputed king of the reality TV wine world is the winemaking Bachelor, Ben Flajnik of Sonoma’s Envolve winery. This week was the seasonal “hometowns” episode, in which our hero visits the homes of his final four lady friends and meets their families. Fittingly, Flajnik watched the episode from his own home, in Sonoma, with his sister, Julia, and their mom. Flajnik, who does all the cooking at the San Francisco apartment/bachelor pad he shares with his two partners, made chicken parmesan, and they opened a bottle of Paul Dolan Deep Red Mendocino County 2007 (the Bachelor is very into biodynamic wines; most of Envolve’s grapes are sourced from organic or biodynamic vineyards). It was the first time Ben watched an episode with his mother, who awkwardly laughed her way through the make-out scenes. It’s down to three suitorettes for Ben now—includingUnfiltered’s episode 1 pick, Nicki—and they’re off to Switzerland this week. The Bachelor tells us he’ll be keeping it real with a Swiss wine this Monday night, Cave des Tielleuls Réserve.
http://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/46430
Pampanga Angeles City and Clark Philippines is a popular choice for event organizers and company event planners because it is safe, secure and conveniently accessible from Manila. The short travel time from Manila to Clark means there is more time for participants to enjoy the programs, relax and unwind in the outdoor facilities of this highly recommended resort hotel in Clark.

Travelers going north to Clark Pampanga frequently look for enjoyable hotel for family bonding during summer vacation in the Philippines. Many visitors to Angeles City, Pampanga Clark Philippines prefer to stay in private resorts located in a secure and safe destination. Staying in a private place makes it possible to enjoy a peaceful holiday with no stress.

Subic is a popular destination for visitors from Manila bringing family out of town for a short getaway to the north. Subic is well known for its diving sites, the sea and water sports that come with the territory. However one thing that Subic is not famous for is dining options. For years, visitors to Subic have complained about the quality of the restaurants and dining establishments but it is only until recently that travelers to Subic discovered the best restaurant to wine and dine, even for visitors with families and children.

Where to go in Clark? Hotel Clark Philippines is a De Luxe Hotel in Clark and Subic, a risk free place to stay, cozy and nice ambience, a nice function place for special occassion

You might want to check also the Yats Restaurant is the best restaurant for special dinner, best restaurant for dinner with friends near Manila, also the best place to celebrate special events.

Famous Restaurant in Pampanga, a place to dine with friends in Clark, cozy restaurant with a nice ambience, a nice function place for special occasions. Looking for a restaurant in Clark for a Business meeting? Or a place to eat with friends? Yats Restaurant offers exclusive dinner venue for groups, a good place to celebrate special occasions, it can be a party venue in town. Yats Restaurant is a recommended restaurant for private dinner in Philippines, a well-recognized restaurant that serves good food and good wines for dinner.

Are you looking for an attractive restaurant or a nice place to eat with friends in Clark, Angeles City Pampanga? Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar is a restaurant with good food and good wines for dinner located at Clark Angeles City Pampanga. Perfect for exclusive dinner venues for groups, recommended for private dinner in Philippines. A Restaurant in Clark for business dinner meeting. Private dinner place or dinner restaurant in Clark Subic Near Manila Angeles City Pampanga. Yats Restaurant is one of the Good Restaurant in Pampanga Angeles City Clark near Manila.

Looking for interesting hotels near Manila Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga?
Trouble free hotels and well recognized hotels in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga
Clearwater Resort and Country Club offers a good place to stay in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga. In offers nice place to have rest in Subic Pampanga outside Manila.
One of the Philippines top hotels in north Luzon.

This web site contains articles and information that will be helpful to visitors, residents and tourists traveling out of town from Manila on a short getaway to Subic, Angeles City, Pampanga and Clark Philippines. There are several web sites that contain information that might also be pertinent to what is happening in North Luzon, Subic, Tarlac, Pampanga, Clark Freeport Philippines.

Looking for a party venue in town?
Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the ideal venues for birthday party because it is a risk free venue. Not only Birthday Parties but also a good place to enjoy family reunion. A good place to celebrate special occasions. Clearwater Resort and Country Club is one of the resorts in Subic Clark Angeles City Pampanga or near Manila with activity amenities, place that are nice for celebration.

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:

Yats International Leisure Philippines

For assistance with lodgings, accommodations, hotels and resorts near Manila in Subic, Pampanga, Angels City and Clark Philippines log on to http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

While in Clark, one might as well add to the itinerary a visit to the famous Clark Wine Center, 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.

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com