MANILA, Philippines - It was a rare evening of rock ’n roll and wine as Jose “Pepe” Smith and Wally Gonzales of Juan Dela Cruz Band fame rocked the night away in the recent Soirée Beaujolais held at The Manila Hotel.
Organized by French Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines-Le Club, the event is a global wine festival celebrating the launch of Beaujolais Nouveau young red wine in the French Burgundy region. Started in 1964, it has become one of the world’s most successful wine traditions, notwithstanding its humble beginnings as a harvest feast for vineyard workers and townsfolk.
The fete, which is Le Club-FCC’s biggest social event, also celebrated the ties that bind the Philippines and France.
Also given away were some P850,000 worth of prizes by Jewelmer, M. Lhuillier Jewellers, Asian Eye Institute, Bellaroca Resort and Spa, Red Coconut Boracay, and the grand prize of which were two Manila-Paris round trip tickets from Etihad Airways.
The wine fest’s major sponsors were Supply Oilfield Services, VIP sponsors BNP Paribas, Marco Polo Hotel Cebu, PAMATEC, The Beaufort by Filinvest Premiere, Brasserie Boheme. Brittany sponsors were Asiatype, Chloride Secure Power Phil., Sanofi Aventis, Sanofi Pasteur and Total Phil. Corp.
Benefactors were the Embassy of France, SOS International, Inc. and SDV Logistics.
Hosting the show was The STAR columnist Johnny Litton who captivated party goers with his wit and humor.