Last November 30th, the Center for Culinary Arts (CCA) and reigning Philippine Sommelier Champion Ian Santos hosted a Wine Workshop at the Wine Room in the Brittany Hotel BGC.
Setting the bar on global standards of excellence for beverage service and hospitality, Ian had undertaken a series of official sommelier certifications and competitions leading up to this and many other wine workshops in the last few years.
In California, the internationally acclaimed wine expert took his Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 2 and 3 at the Napa Valley Wine Academy, where he also explored various wineries in the region as well as met important people in the wine industry.
Later on, he undertook the Court of Master Sommeliers certification, the Introductory Sommelier (CMS 1) in Nashville, Tennessee, and then the Certified Sommelier (CMS 2) in Hong Kong. This honor brought him to prestigious Sommelier competitions and workshops around Asia, particularly in Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
Ian’s most significant trip, however, was to Paris, France, in 2023, where he competed in the World’s Best Sommelier Competition. This week-long event gave him the opportunity to compete with sommeliers from 80+ countries, all vying for the Best Sommelier of the World Title. It also gave him the chance to explore the French region of Champagne and visit his favorite Champagne houses.
During this first Wine Workshop with CCA, Ian shared his profound knowledge and experience about the basics of wine and how food and wine pairing works. He began with an introduction to the basics of wine, expounding on the definition of wine, the difference between white, rosé, red, and sparkling wines, with an explanation of how each one was made and the proper way to taste wine.
This Wine Workshop helps both wine newbies and enthusiasts to appreciate wine on a deeper level. Thus, through wine tasting and food pairing, participants get to explore their palates and identify the style and variety of wine that truly satisfies them. This also helps them elevate their dining experience as well.
While these subtopics on wine were being discussed, six different wines and hors d'oeuvres were served to fully immerse participants in the wine experience, allowing them to discern with their palate the different styles and varieties, as explained.
The first wine that was served was the Sparkling Faustino Cava Brut Reserve from Penedes, Spain, followed by two types of White Wine, Allan Scott Steytler Sauvignon Blanc from Marlborough, New Zealand, and Finca El Origen Chardonnay from Mendoza, Argentina, and then the Red Wine bottles, with the Taltarni T Series Shiraz from Victoria, Australia and Chateau La Gamaye from Bordeaux, France, and lastly Rosé. These wines were thoughtfully selected and sequentially dispersed to allow the participants to gradually taste the differences between its varieties and terroir.
Throughout the three-hour workshop, Ian embodied his Sommelier champion status effortlessly, explaining the subject matter and interacting with the participants with grace and focus.
“I have always loved to share my passion and love for wine. Seeing people’s reactions when tasting wine and helping them find the right style or variety. I always love sharing how wine is really all about terroir, the sense of place, and how weather, climate, soil, and other influences the grapes grown in a certain area. To me, it feels like traveling. Through wine, I get to share different places and cultures,” Ian enthused about conducting wine workshops.
This recently concluded workshop ultimately offered CCA and Ian Santos to connect with industry and non-industry clients who share a love for wine, thus paving the way for more wine workshop opportunities and deeper connections.
Wanna learn more about wine? Email Ian Santos at ianodiliosantos@gmail.com.
