Love wine? Raise a glass and enjoy a well-orchestrated wine journey with this dinner series running throughout 2025
Ask wine enthusiasts what makes a wine good and each of them would have a different answer. Most are informed by its tasting notes, while some are about where it comes from. Others, however, put it simply and focus more on the feeling it gives.
Not all wines are the same, after all. There are around 10,000 wine grape varieties in the world, and several of them are put together to produce unique flavor profiles with tastes that vary from one to another.
The wine scene is big, which is what makes it worth exploring. One way to do so is by indulging in a wine dinner. While you’re not able to feel the sun and take a walk in vineyards just like in wine tours, it’s still more than sipping booze—it's a multisensory experience that lets you know what each bottle has to tell accompanied with good food and good atmosphere.
That’s what we got a preview of at Samira by Chele Gonzalez's wine dinner series, which is showcasing different wine destinations throughout 2025. The well-orchestrated adventure kicked off with Spain’s Ribera del Duero, which is one of the most renowned wine regions with offerings mostly made from Tempranillo, a red wine grape variety.
The affair put the spotlight on authentic Spanish dishes elevated with the brilliance of award-winning chef Chele Gonzalez and sommeliers Pierre and Cyril Adison, who handpicked medium-to-high range wines from the region for the wine list.
After some bites paired with sparkling wine, guests enjoyed a soulful four-course meal starting off with coconut and snapper ceviche paired with Bodegas Valduero, Blanco del Albillo 2022. "Ribera produces a very small amount of white grapes," said Cyril. "This 100% Albillo, a native grape of Ribera del Duero, has notes of pineapple and citrus, but also a minerality and salinity that pair really well with ceviches."
The second course was Gambas & Mushroom Al Ajillo with Arzuaga, Rosé 2023, featuring notes of red fruits like strawberries and cherries. "The Gambas has a bit of spice which is beautifully muted by the wine revealing the fruitiness in the wine," he explained.
The Charred Pulpo was matched with Bodegas y Viñedos, Valderiz, 2021, which was described by Cyril as "an iconic wine of the vineyard with fresh riper fruit." It has "black cherries and backberries on the nose, while the smokiness and little bit of spice pairs well with the grilled octopus."
The star of the dinner was, in Cyril's words, a "classic pairing for Riber": Lamb Shank Stew with Cruz de Alba, Reserva, Fuentelun, 2017. The wine was aged for 20 months in oak, giving off aromas of black fruit and chocolate. It was decanted for three hours to give it some room to breathe.
Aside from the wines, adding more excitement to the meals was the famous Pimenton de la Vera, which is a "distinctive Spanish paprika that gives chorizo its signature color and smoky depth of flavor," according to general manager Mikel Arriet.
The wine journey will continue in the coming months at the same venue nestled in Anya Resort Tagaytay. In June, there will be "French Discovery" that will highlight France as one of the world leaders when it comes to wine. "American Cult Wines," meanwhile, will take place in September featuring the well-known wine-producing region Napa Valley. It will be followed by "Sparkling Discovery" in November, which will focus on some of the most loved bubblies in different parts of the globe.
For bookings and inquiries about the 2025 Anya Wine Dinner Series, you can contact 0998 955 3630 or visit anyaresorts.com.
