Beer drinkers no more

MANILA, Philippines – Filipinos are known to drink beer on nights out with friends, after a bad day at work, or on lazy afternoons by the pool. Beer has been the drink of choice because of its taste, availability and price. For P22 a bottle in the supermarket, anyone can afford this fermented concoction. 

On the other hand, Spaniards, like most of their European neighbors, are known to be wine drinkers. Wine in the Philippines has been getting popular in the past years, but because of its price, it’s still not very common to have it at every meal; water is still the cheapest option. In Spain, it is nice to note that water and wine are priced the same!

Kids in Spain are taught to drink at a very early stage, as wine is sometimes mixed with Coke or Sprite, says Virginia Lopez, the sales and marketing head of Barcino’s, the popular wine tavern and deli. Curious about this concoction, I tried mixing red wine and Sprite myself and was surprisingly delighted with the resulting fruity, sweet and sparkling drink. It’s lighter and a little less bitter than the flat concentrate of a sangria minus the fruits. For those who still find wine too strong for their liking, this kind of mix may just be your thing.

Barcino’s recently celebrated the grand opening of its newest wine shop and deli branch on the ground floor of Greenbelt 5. Barcino’s, named after the old name of Barcelona — “Barcino” was given by the Greeks — is the brainchild of Sergi Rostoll, Daniel Aliaga, Oscar Bosch, Estrella Galicia (natives of Spain), and our very own Ramon Gloria.

Virginia tells us more about the drinking places in Spain, known as tavernas, which look very much like wine cellars, similar to the old-world motif of Barcino’s with its brick walls, Spanish paintings on the walls, and wine barrels used as tables. Unlike all the other bars here that pretty much give the same vibe and have the same atmosphere, Virginia recounts that Spain has many tavernas with different characters that reflect the diverse culture of España.

With the aim to make wine an everyday drink to everyday people, Barcino’s enoteca brings in new wines every month with prices ranging from P320 to P2,500 per bottle, adding to their hundred-plus selections from Spain, Portugal, and South Africa.

For those who are taking their first venture into the world of wines, Virginia tells us that wines have different effects on different people. Wines, according to her, encourage people to talk more with each other in an intimate manner. The vibe that wine gives is relaxed and soothing as compared to the hyper-sensitized effects of tequila or vodka. Some wines she swears by, such as Stormhoek, a white wine from South Africa with “Love” written on the bottle. It is moderately priced at P650 and said to act as an aphrodisiac for those looking for excitement. Other best-sellers are Vallformosa, P560, and my personal favorite, the cava, a term used to describe Spain’s sparkling wines.

To get to know wine a little better, do as the Spaniards do: drink wine with every meal. Yes, that includes breakfast. Wine can become a quick friend since drinking a glass a day is considered good for the health as it has fewer calories — approximately 85 calories for a four-ounce glass of red wine — compared with a light beer’s 120.

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Try different great-tasting, affordable wines and tapas at Barcino’s outlets in Forbeswood Heights, The Fort; 2nd floor of City Golf Plaza, Ortigas Center; and the newly opened outlet on the ground floor of Greenbelt 5.

E-mail the author at azzuri_beach@yahoo.com