Decisions, decisions … when there are so many choices to choose from, finding new wines or spirits that you like can be a daunting task.
The best way to make such choices is to taste the various options and see for yourself which ones tickle your fancy. Tortuga Rum Company’s Cayman Wine Fest, held on 11 Oct. at the Westin Grand Cayman Seven Mile Beach Resort & Spa was an ideal opportunity to sample more than 60 different wines and more than 30 different spirits all in one, fun-filled evening.
There were also two cocktail stations – one a Flor de Caña rum bar and another a ‘Botanical Garden’, where all a guest had to do was ring a bell and out popped a Hendrick’s gin cocktail through a hole in the turf-lined wall.
In addition to existing local favourites, the evening featured more than 30 wines and spirits new to Tortuga’s portfolio, giving attendees a first taste of potential holiday libations. Best of all perhaps, all attendees received a coupon on their event programme that will allow them to receive 20% off any of the featured products at Tortuga Fine Wine & Spirits stores through 31 Oct.
Now in its fifth year, the Cayman Wine Fest also featured a gourmet station of cheeses, charcuterie and various Asian dumplings. For dessert, there was a selection of three different kinds of Tortuga Rum cake.
The Cayman Wine Fest is also a favourite among wine and spirits brand ambassadors and marketers, several of whom were returning after previous appearances at the event.
Pascal Bony, who represented Château de Berne rosés in his previous participation in the Wine Fest, was this time representing his own company’s line of French wines, which included selections from Burgundy, the Rhône Valley and the Loire Valley.
The hit of the Wine Fest for guests from his wines was the Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire Valley, Bony said.
“People are amazed about the Sancerre,” he added.
Another guest, Rob Watt, found wines he liked at the La Rioja Alta table manned by Export Area Manager Jose Luis Navarro.
“They’re my favourites,” he stated.
In addition to enjoying meeting people at the Wine Fest event, Bony uses his trips to Cayman to engage with the hospitality industry.
“I like the professional part – working with the people in the hotels and restaurants,” he said. “They have a real interest in the wines here and it helps me sell them.”
Also returning again was Umberto Marino, the Caribbean sales manager for Freixenet Mionetto USA, who was pouring samples of Prosecco, aperitivo and alcohol-removed versions of both. For health and social reasons, beverages like Mionetto’s “Alcohol Removed Sparkling” and other zero-alcohol versions of wines are showing strong growth in Cayman.
“And there’s only 75 calories in the whole bottle,” said Marino.
To add to the fun, the Wine Fest featured live music and later a DJ as guests danced until the end of the evening.
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