Feasting on Hardys offerings

With chilled glasses of sparkling Hardys Chardonnay, gracious hosts  Jill Bollozos of Future Trade International, Inc. and Ed Tongco, General Manager of the Casino Español de Cebu, warmly welcomed club members and their guests to an enjoyable evening of Hardys Wine Fellowship.

This light refreshing aperitif set the mood for a wonderful night  ahead. With pleasantries and cocktails completed, invitees took their seats for the much anticipated wine and food pairing.

Guest of Honor Bill Hardy recognizing the Philippines as one of the major markets for their wines, delivered brief remarks of gratitude  and promised more information on wines being served.

Along with descriptions and characteristics of the wines, Bill Hardy shared some interesting and humorous family history with the guests. He mentioned that the founder, Thomas Hardy, upon arrival in  South Australia from Devon, England, first found work on a ranch as a cattle herder. After losing part of his herd, he was transferred to the vineyard where the vines were less likely to run away. As we all know, in life fortune often comes disguised as misfortune and so it was with Mr. Hardy. His apparent failure as a cattle herder led to valuable  experience and training in the vineyards and eventually the establishment of the first Hardys’ winery.

Cebu’s wine connoisseurs and prominent hoteliers  enjoyed feasting on the club’s specialties such as tortillas, croquetas and a selection of cured Spanish meat, for starters, with the main courses of paella marinera, blackened hammour fillet with baby clams and roasted U.S. Angus prime chuck roll of beef. The excellent wines served that evening which perfectly complemented the dishes included Hardys Nottage Hill Chardonnay Brut, Nottage Hill Shiraz and the top of the list —Hardys’ OOmoo Grenache Shiraz Mourvedre.

Interestingly, Nottage Hill was named in honor of Thomas Nottage who managed Hardys vineyards and cellars at McLaren Vale in South Australia for over 60 years. Today, Nottage Hill is one of Australia’s leading brands, with a reputation built over many years for consistently producing high quality, flavorsome and reliable wines.

Hardys Oomoo represents the great characteristics of McLaren Vale wines – abundance of ripe, juicy fruit flavors and soft tannins.

According to Bill Hardy, the name “Oomoo” was taken from an aboriginal word meaning pleasant or pleasing to the eye.  Oomoo seemed to be the favorite wine of the evening as the name developed into a cheer of praise, “ Oooo-mooo, Oooo-mooo” instead of the usual applause.

The gourmet dinner and wine pairing as promised by the hosts proved to be educational and truly enjoyable.