The world of wines is an exciting and colorful one. 

It has an incredibly rich and diverse history that spans centuries and continents, and it has embedded itself so deeply in many cultures that it has become a part of many nations’ individual identities. Poets wax lyrical and civilizations herald it as a genuine gift from the gods, and entire empires and economies actually rise–and fall–around it. 

But for the simple man, the complexities of the wine world can be just a tad unnerving. After all, few, if any, alcoholic drinks can match up to wine in sheer volume of types and varieties, and all these options, in addition to the multitude of other nuances of wine drinking like the labels (and all they represent), the flavor with respect to the season, and even the glass you’ll be drinking them out of, can be nothing short of overwhelming.

But just as the journey of a thousand miles starts with a single step, the journey to the fantastical world of wines starts with a single sip. And this article is all about guiding you through that journey; from your very first sip of wine to your possible future collection of vinos, we will be walking you through the wine world in this extensive guide for the complete wine beginner.

What is wine?

At its very core, wine is simply alcoholic, fermented grape juice.

Most wines are made from wine grapes (not to be confused with table grapes–the ones you eat), but other sources like apples, plums, and even rice, have likewise been used throughout the years. 

The different types of wine emerge from the grape varieties, soil, climate, and winemaking processes used to create this drink. For instance, even the same grape variety can result in several, distinct wines depending on factors like the country or region in which it is planted, the blending of different proportions of the grape into a single drink, the way the wine is stored, etc.

The secret to truly appreciating a glass of wine lies in understanding how these complex processes make for an equally complex, but exquisitely delightful drink. And that starts with first knowing how precisely wine is made.

How is wine made?

Winemaking processes have evolved and changed over the years and around the globe, but the heart of it remains the same from the 7th century (perhaps even earlier) until now. 

All vine-to-wine processes start by harvesting the grapes. The cultivation of these grapes, and the actual harvesting process will vary from vineyard to vineyard, region to region, but they are all carefully harvested when the time is right, and transported to the next step, which is crushing. Many winemaking facilities are equipped with a grape-crushing automated machine known as a destemmer, which first removes the stems before lightly crushing the grapes. From there, the grapes go on different journeys depending on the intended results. White grape varieties like Chardonnay or Sauvignon Blanc, for example, go to a press where they are, literally, pressed dry of their juices, which would then go on to a filtering machine to remove debris and sediments. Red grape varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon go straight, grape-and-juice, to a vat for fermentation. This is because red wines, unlike their white counterparts, are made with both the juice and skin of the grape, which is the source for its color, as well as the many nutrients found in red wines.

Fermentation comes next where the sugar in the grapes are converted into alcohol. This process will also vary depending on the desired result, but yeast is a staple ingredient regardless of the intended variety. Left on its own, yeast naturally present in the air will begin to ferment the grape juice in a matter of hours, but commercial winemaking now makes use of specifically-cultivated yeast varieties to ensure consistency and safety. The resulting liquor is then filtered or “clarified” before it is aged and, eventually, bottled.

Aging and bottling caps off the winemaking process. It is worth noting that although wine has earned a reputation for aging well, not all wines should actually be shelved away for the long term. Some simply taste better when consumed “youn” (essentially, as soon as possible), while others are created to taste their best only after years have passed. For this reason, the aging process will differ greatly from one variety to the next. In addition to the length of time before a wine is bottled, the container used to age a wine also plays a significant role in the final result. Wines aged in stainless steel are different from those aged in the classic oak, which will also depend on the kind of oak used (common examples include new vs. used barrels, American vs. French varieties, and the “toastiness” or charring of the barrel.) Once this process is done, the wine is bottled, and is shipped to its next destination: your dinner table.

Common wine jargons

But as a beginner, the lengthy process with which a wine is made may not be at the forefront of your mind when you’re ordering your own bottle, especially for the first time. Likely, you’ll be more concerned about getting the names of the variety or region right, and trying to figure out the meaning of the adjectives on the bottles’ labels the sommelier is rattling off, in your local fancy restaurant.

Familiarizing yourself with wine jargons is essential in your wine-drinking journey, which is why we’ve rounded up ten of the most commonly-used terminologies in the world of wine.

Acidity

The perceived sensation of sharpness or crispness of the wine; as a component, a wine’s acidity is key to its longevity, and helps to balance all the flavors present in a sip.

 

Aroma

A scent (could be one of many) that is present in a wine.

 

Body

The weight (as in, heaviness or lightness) of wine in your mouth.

Light-bodied

Wines that feel lighter/easier on the palate because of their mellower flavors and alcohol content, making them generally more beginner-friendly. E.g.: Sauvignon Blanc

Medium- to Full-bodied

Wines with higher levels of alcohol and flavoring, making them feel heavier on the mouth. E.g.: Cabernet Sauvignon.

 

Dry

The bitter taste of wines in the absence of sugar, often attributed to the presence of tannins as well as the lack of residual sugar (natural sugars present in the grape) in the final product; the opposite of sweet.

 

Mouth-feel

The literal feeling of the wine on your palate; can be light, heavy, rough, smooth, etc.

 

Sweet

The saccharine taste of wines that is the result of the presence of residual sugar; the opposite of dry.

 

Tannin

Natural compounds present in most plants; in wine, the tannins of the grape give the drink an astringent, dry taste. The higher the tannin content, the more bitter and rougher a wine will be.

 

Texture

A term often used to describe how a wine feels on the palate (e.g., smooth vs. rough).

Choosing wine according to function

Perhaps one of the best things about wine is that as many varieties as there are to choose from, there are just as many uses for it as well. Wines are perfect as a companion for a quiet stay-in, or they can be the life of the party on an exciting night out. They can be a classy, thoughtful gift on a special day, a timeless memorabilia to curate and collect, or just about everything in between.

Thoughtful gift

Wines are fantastic tokens of appreciation because they are classic, and you can trust that there will always be a bottle to suit any and every occasion. If you’re picking wines as a gift, there are a few pointers to keep in mind to finding just the right one.

Start with the occasion. The nature of the event plays an important role in choosing which wine to get your intended recipient. If, for instance, you are headed to a big party and you plan to get the host a bottle to show your thanks, consider a classic party wine like Champagne, whose sweet, bubbly flavors make it easy to drink for anyone, whether beginner or connoisseur. Smaller, or more intimate gatherings can call for more personalized choices, like in the case of birthdays or weddings where there’s a good likelihood the recipient will want to keep the bottle for themselves, whether to drink later or to add to their collection. In such case, you will need to do your research and take note of your recipient’s preferences. If they are beginners, simple, light-bodied wines like Pinot Noir or Sauvignon Blanc are a great choice because they feel easier on the mouth. Connoisseurs may have more specific tastes; in which case, it would be better (and simpler!) to just ask them or someone close to them and knowledgeable about their tastes in wine, about it. You can go the extra mile by also gifting them with wine products like a wine rack or an exquisite set of wine glasses (more on this later). 

When picking wine out for someone else, especially with a deadline like someone’s birthday or special event, it’s best to transact only with a reliable wine supplier. They will more than likely have an expert on their team to guide you through the process, and they can even provide discounts, flexible consignment choices, and return options should you order too much or find that another bottle would suit your intended recipient better. As gift giving can be taxing at times, having a team professionals behind your back can significantly improve the process, and really help you score that perfect, memorable token.

The Perfect Pair

Another category with which you can choose wines is based on its food pairing qualities. Certain wine types pair better with certain food types, and if you have a special dinner planned out, it’s worth looking into the known food and wine pairings to get an idea on what to get.

As a general rule of thumb, white wines usually go well with lighter foods like fish and vegetables, while red wines tend to suit richer meals like meat dishes. When looking for a bottle to go with a particular dish, it is often ideal that the wine has the same flavor (e.g., sweet or bitter) and intensity (e.g., acidic or mellow) as the food.

When the right wine pairs with the right food, it’s a match made in heaven indeed. Sauvignon Blanc, one of the most popular white wine varieties, is known for its acidic, citrusy flavors which have a way of really bringing out the herbaceous undertones of food. Cheese and nuts, for instance, pair nicely with Sauvignon Blanc, in the same way that tangy seafood and tart citrusy sauces also do.

One thing that might be of note to you about food and wine pair is that although red wine and chocolates have become something of the quintessential romantic gift, it’s actually quite the difficult combination to match, and is not something we would really recommend. This is because chocolates and red wine both have tannin components that don’t necessarily complement one another, and will end up, literally, leaving a bitter taste in your mouth.

Many beginners encounter their first-and-food pairing at restaurants, and for novice wine-drinkers, this experience can be quite intimidating. In addition to the struggle of reading hard-to-pronounce foreign words (already a source of anxiety for many, especially in high-end restaurants where diners will want to project a certain image), beginners may also struggle to pin down their preferences in a drink. Nevertheless, the restaurant is still a great place to start your wine-drinking journey, and avoiding a faux pas is not as difficult as one might think. It all boils down to basic research. For instance, if you’ve decided on a place to eat, it is good practice to look up the menu online and get a feel of what they’re offering. You can easily Google anything that’s unfamiliar, and you can even look for recommendations from previous customers. 

Asking the sommelier, or the resident wine expert, for guidance is also highly encouraged. These people will be more than happy to walk you through the restaurant’s selections, and they can give you detailed information to help you decide on which wine to get. They can even suggest the one they personally deem best (if you find the selections too overwhelming, just ask the sommelier what they would get for themselves). For future reference, take note of their reasons for making their choices.

When ordering by the glass, it is also a good idea to ask for a taste test first before making a choice, as this not only ensures you get something you would actually like, but it also keeps you from making a potentially expensive mistake. 

And when still in doubt, don’t overthink. Go with French wines in a French restaurant, Italian wines in Italian restaurants, and so on. Red wines go great with red meat, and white wines complement white meats and fish–a generalization to be sure, but is true in 95% of the time or more. ‘New World’ wines such as those from the USA, Australia, and New Zealand are often easier to read because the labels are straightforward and clearly specify the variety and the growing region. Keep it simple.

Where to buy wine

Like many modern merchandise, wines are commercially available on various channels. Unlike many modern merchandise, however, an image on a catalogue doesn’t tell you much, if any at all, about the wine you intend to purchase. The only way you can really know a wine is by actually tasting and consuming the product, which is not always something you can do until you’ve already bought it.

The supermarket is perhaps the easiest and most convenient source of wine. There is generally a healthy selection of bottles available in every supermarket, and the prices tend to range well enough to accommodate different budgets. The downside to this option, however, is that most supermarkets will not allow wine-tasting, unless a particular brand is conducting a promotion and giving away free samples. Here in the Philippines, this happens so rarely that your main option is still to rely on the labels and check online for reviews. Even so, without gustatory confirmation, buying from the supermarket can be a hit or miss situation – and due to the inefficiency of traditional retailing and overall lack of competition, Philippine supermarkets are not exactly known for stocking quality, or good value-for-money wines.

A second option is to find a good local specialty wine store. These will generally provide more opportunity for you to taste test and discover firsthand what you want in a wine, and specialty stores also typically carry more interesting and rarer bottles, which aren’t always available in grocery stores. And while it can be hard to find a Filipino sales staff with detailed wine knowledge (more on this later), the staff at specialty wine stores will typically have better ideas and insights into their wine range compared to the supermarket sellers. If you build a trusted relationship with your store, over time, they can also give recommendations of their personal favorites, and likewise help you come up with your own list of preferences. Specialty stores, however, are quite novel, especially in a country like the Philippines where there is a much limited wine-loving population. 

Another great way to discover new wines and learn more about your own wine preferences is to join a wine club or a regular wine subscription service. These services send their customers a regular, pre-mixed wine box, usually on a monthly basis, which contains an assortment of quality wines to try, typically organized around a specific grape variety, country, or region. The advantage of wine clubs is that they can significantly expand your wine drinking experience (and collection) in a matter of months. Beginners will no longer have to worry about struggling to choose something from the hundreds of wine out there, as the wine club will provide them with the month’s choice of wine, allowing them to start honing their personal preferences over time in a fun, affordable, and educational way.

At the present, however, wine clubs in the Philippines still have some ways to go. Wine distributors in the country generally lack the complex operations required for wine clubs to be able to send out quality curated wine boxes, and Filipinos are also less familiar with this method of wine buying, which requires them to place their trust–and hard-earned Pesos–with suppliers they barely know. Luckily, as more Filipinos spend their time abroad where monthly wine clubs are more common, there is now a growing appetite for this particular service in the country. And indeed, as of 2018, the very first monthly wine club, the Kavino Club, was launched by Winery.ph to cater to this growing demand.

But if a monthly wine box is too much for you, online wine stores are a great alternative source of wine. They generally offer great quality, value-for-money selections, and they have the convenience of home delivery and flexible ordering. There is no more need for you to leave the house to hunt down an obscure location for a particular, hard-to-find bottle; a simple online search will do. Online stores also typically price their wines cheaper than physical stores (one key factor for which is that they don’t have to pay expensive mall rents to display their products), and some, such as Winery.ph, also now allow you to buy only the bottle, or provide better discounts when you buy in bulk, such as six or twelve bottles at a time. 

With online stores being accessible from just about anywhere and anytime you have an internet connection, you can also browse wherever and whenever is best for you. You can take your time poring through selections without the pressure of a shop assistant hovering over you, and it’s significantly easier to compare prices and secure yourself the best deal available. Shopping from a website also makes it easier to keep track of promotions and discounts. Signing up for their newsletter can keep you up-to-speed on the store’s activities, ensuring you’re always in the loop for the latest deals and happenings. 

About the only downside of ordering online is that it can take one to two days to receive your wine, or longer if living outside of a major city area like Metro Manila. While there are now a few more options for ‘on-demand’ alcohol delivery, it can still be a challenge to stock a wide range of wines as that would require more warehouses all over the city to make a fast delivery time. Therefore, if you want to shop great bottles at great prices, it generally means planning a few days in advance. You may also want to stock up on your order so you don’t have to go through the whole process every time you need a bottle. Still, a few delays in shipping time doesn’t outweigh the many merits of online shopping, and wine-drinking countries of the world, like the United States and Australia to name a few, are steadily seeing a rise in the popularity of online shopping, suggesting that when it comes to buying wine, customers really love going online.

And perhaps the biggest advantage of this option is that in a country like the Philippines where good advice on wine is hard to come by, online websites can house a treasure trove of information about their range, compared to what a typical shop assistant in the supermarket can provide. With a handful of certified experts and hardcore wine enthusiasts manning the online store, they can provide detailed wine advice to thousands–even millions–of Filipinos, on demand through their computers or mobile devices, letting you better choose a bottle that would suit your unique tastes and requirements. 

Winery.ph is one such place, run by a team of passionate wine lovers whose main objective is to empower Filipinos to know, buy, and drink better wine. 

How about wine glasses

Now if you’re serious about embarking on your wine-drinking journey, your next agenda should be wine glasses.

Strictly speaking, wine, much like any other liquid, can be drunk from any container–even straight out of the bottle. The real reason for the wine glasses is because they drastically enhance the flavors of the wine and the experience of drinking it. There are different types of glasses for the different types of wine, each one fashioned to bring out the best qualities of the liquor. 

As a beginner, the first thing to remember when pouring yourself a drink is to maintain a space between the top of the liquor and the rim of the glass as this is where the scents of the spirit gather, which is crucial in bringing out the true flavor of the wine. So if your goal is to savor the rich tastes and aromas of a wine, remember: do not fill your glass to the brim.

Red Wine Glasses

These wine glasses tend to be larger, with wider openings designed specifically to manage the strong astringent flavors of the wine so that each sip becomes smoother. The structure of red wine glasses allows you to dip your nose and get a strong whiff of the aromas of the liquor, and the larger bowl design is crafted to allow a good amount of air to interact with the drink, facilitating oxidation, which helps smooth out the deep, complex flavors characteristic of most red wines.

Bolder red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeux blends tend to taste better with larger “Bordeaux” glasses. “Standard” red wine glasses are smaller in comparison, and they taste well with medium- to some full-bodied reds like Syrah and Malbec. Light-bodied wines like Pinot Noir generally have softer, more subtle aromas, which is why they benefit well from “Bourgogne” glasses, whose openings are larger compared to the Standard glasses, to give the various aromas more room with which to gather, resulting in more enhanced scents and flavors.

As you go through your wine journey, you may encounter, and even collect for yourself, more specific glasses. Burgundy, Pinot Noir, Large Bordeaux, Small Bordeaux, and Cabernet Sauvignon, for instance, all have their own individual wine glasses designed exclusively for the flavors and characteristics of each red, but until such time, a good rule of thumb to go by is that larger wine glasses generally suit red wines better than any other type.

White Wine Glasses

With that being said, it is safe to assume that white wines will typically favor smaller wine glasses. This is because unlike red wines with their powerful and deeper flavors, white wines are mellower in comparison, and the goal now is to preserve as much of the aroma as possible. White wines are also served better at cooler temperatures, which smaller glasses are more conducive to maintaining.

And just as there are size variations with red wine glass types, white glasses likewise come in different kinds. For instance, full-bodied whites like Chardonnay taste better in glasses with larger bowls because the design of such enhances the creamy texture of the drink, giving it more depth and complexity.

Specific white wine glasses include a separate one for Sauvignon Blanc (which also works well with other light- to medium-bodied whites like Pinot Grigio and Chenin Blanc), Chardonnay (can also handle other full-bodied), and Riesling Sweet (also the standard sweet wine glass).

Speciality Wine Glasses

Wines that do not fall under the above-mentioned categories, such as Champagne or sparkling, Port, and other dessert wines also have their own individual wine glasses. Dessert wines generally have high alcohol contents, and the glasses are designed to reduce the evaporation of this, while allowing for the sweetness of the drink to pervade each sip. Dessert wine glasses are also structured so that the wine flows from the tip of the mouth directly to the back to maximize the taste of the drink.

Sparkling wine glasses, on the other hand, are created to preserve that unique carbonation quality, as well as the flavor. Flute wine glasses are the most popular examples of this, and they hold young sparkling wines to perfection. Other types of sparkling wine glasses include the tulip glass, and vintage and coupe glasses.

All Purpose Wine Glasses

If all of this is a touch overwhelming for a complete beginner, you can always start with a simple, catch-all solution. There are plenty of all-purpose wine glasses available on the market now, and though they cannot provide the same level of experience as dedicated wine glasses can, they are a good starting point. Generally, these wine glasses will have a bowl shape somewhere in between the narrower bowl of white wine glasses, and the larger structure of red wine glasses. They can hold all types of wines reasonably well, and can sufficiently tide you through your first forays into the wine world, until you’ve decided to expand your collections further.

A stemless option is also available, for those who aren’t fans of the traditional stem design.

Acceptance of wine in the Philippines

With all of these basic, universal concepts covered, we now look at wine from a regionalized perspective through the Filipino lens.

It is a well-known fact that Filipinos are a festive people, and drinking is a fundamental aspect of the culture. In almost every Philippine celebration, there is always a bottle of liquor being popped in honor of the event. And it is precisely because of this boundless love that Filipinos have for their spirits that makes the fact that wines (arguably the most iconic alcoholic beverage) are not popular in this island nation, such an interesting juxtaposition.

But it is not illogical.

Most modern wines are produced from a variety of grapes that thrives in conditions foreign to Philippine soil. As one can see from examining the wines of the world, most of the grapes used in wines either grow in cold, wet climates like those in European nations, or in dry, arid temperatures like those in South America. The tropical land of the Philippines, where rain is abundant, but the weather is warm all year-round, is not conducive to growing the kinds of grapes commonly used in winemaking.

For this reason, wine has never really been a major part of the Filipino’s history. Filipinos never developed a taste for this particular drink simply because it has not always been a part of our day-to-day lives. When comparing the culture of nations like France or Italy, where winemaking has been integral to their countries’ histories for thousands of years, it makes sense then that Filipinos do not share in this universal fascination for the drink.

And there is another, more pressing reason for the wine’s lack of popularity: it’s not cheap. Compared to most of the well-loved liquors in the country, wine bottles are so much more expensive. Most alcoholic beverages only retail at the hundred Pesos (even less), but wine bottles easily go up to the thousands. Realistically, there is no compelling reason for Filipino revelers to ditch their classic beers and gins in favor of the more expensive wine, especially if their only purpose is to make merry.

But there is one thing to be said about the Filipino people: they are nothing if not adaptable. 

With its rich and diverse history, the Philippines has always been a nation of change, and new things are always welcome in these golden shores. And wine is shaping up to be the next big thing in this island country, thanks largely in part to the quality-over-quantity approach being taken by wine sellers. With the first wave of foreign wines coming into the country being limited to topnotch wines, praised for their quality even if not their mainstream popularity, and having these priced significantly lower for the Filipino market, there is now a slowly but steadily growing consciousness among local alcohol enthusiasts with regards to wines.

And the process is quite tedious. Another reason for the wine’s lack of popularity in the Philippines is because the liquor tends to taste quite bitter, something the sweet-toothed locals aren’t too fond of. But sweet wines are slowly gaining traction among the masses. American wines are currently the most popular variety in the Philippines (who is, in fact, the largest Southeast Asian market for US winemakers), and the leading varietals are notably those of the softer, sweeter bend like White Zinfandel, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. Young Filipinos are the top consumers of wine, helping to achieve the wine industry’s projected growth of 16% from 2019 and likely onwards. This is largely attributed to the younger generation’s strong access to international markets, both in terms of information and actual product-purchase, which, in turn, translates to interest about their products, and willingness to try new things despite their scarcity in the market.

And as these younger customers mature, so too do their buying powers and ability to influence the next generation. In time, wine may well just be another Filipino favorite.

So where do you start?

Start here. Winery is at the forefront of this movement, and we are all-hands-on-deck in ensuring that wine finds a place in the Filipino dinner table – starting with yours. We are committed to giving you the best first experience with this wonderful liquor, and we would absolutely love to have you on board. That starts with a good recommendation. We’ve compiled a list of the five best wines for beginners to get the ball rolling on your wine-drinking journey.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Our best seller: All Saints Cabernet Sauvignon 2017 

Cabernet Sauvignon is one of the most popular wines in the world, and beginners will find no difficulty securing themselves a good bottle of this well-loved red. And although it is not known for its sweetness and is in fact quite a complex drink with high tannins and acidity, it has also found a following among Filipino wine drinkers because of its rich flavors and sensuous aromas that greatly enhance red meat dishes. Sipping Cabernet Sauvignon in between bites is the best way to refresh your palate so that each bite is as flavorful and as exciting as the last.

Chardonnay 

Our best seller: Chateau Croix de Labrie Camille Blanc Chardonnay

This is a great entry-level wine because of its mellow flavors, thanks to a lack of tannin, as well as relatively low levels of acidity. Although Chardonnay is not strictly sweet, its astringency isn’t overwhelming for beginners. This liquor also pairs fantastically with many Filipino favorite meals, like shellfish (for young Chardonnays), holiday hamón and keso de bola (for the medium-bodied one), or chop suey (for the full-bodied one). A general guide would be the more complex the fare, the lighter the drink. 

Sauvignon Blanc

Our best seller: Mayfly Sauvignon Blanc 2017

Sauvignon Blanc is a world-famous white that beginners can certainly get behind because of its zesty flavors and unique herbaceous tones (think pepper or jalapeño) unlike the sweeter tastes of most white wines. It is generally completely dry with medium acidity, which pairs well with seafood like pusit, whether adobo or inihaw.

Pinot Noir

Our best seller: Santa Macarena Pinot Noir 2018

Another beginner-friendly red wine to try out is Pinot Noir, whose vanilla scent and long finish makes it an elegantly intense drink that really spices up any dining experience. It has strong notes of strawberry and hints of sweet spices, and its medium acidity gives it a robust character without being too overpowering. Try Pinot Noir with beef steak for a memorable dining experience.

Prosecco

Our best seller: Sassetti Livio Valdobbiadene DOCG Prosecco Superiore Brut NV

Prosecco is a sparkling wine that Filipino wine novices can certainly come to love. It is fruity, with just the right amount of sugary tones to appeal to our sweet tooth, and has no tannin content and low acidity levels, making it an easy, mellow drink that’s wonderful to drink by itself, and even better to pair with your favorite desserts. 

The world of wine is a complex and colorful one, but it is certainly a journey worth having. To fully appreciate it, it’s best to equip yourself with some of the basics about wine. Typically a fermented grape juice (but can be made from other sources, too), wine is made in a time-honored tradition which starts with planting and harvesting the grapes, processing it depending on the desired wine type (free of the grape skins for white wines, and together with it for reds and rosé), fermenting it (and fermenting it again if the goal is to achieve effervescence, as in the case of sparkling wine), before finally aging it (if needed) and bottling it. Wines can be the perfect gift to show someone you love or appreciate them, but they can be a treat for yourself too, as they can significantly enhance your everyday dining experience. The key is to match the right bottle with the right reason or occasion.

Wines can be brought from supermarkets, specialty stores, or wine clubs, but one of the best places to get a bottle is through online stores, particularly those with a good reputation, and a dedication to providing its customers with only the best products and services.

Another important aspect to consider is wine glasses, as the right one can really make a difference to your wine-drinking experience. It is important to note that different wine glasses are designed specifically for different wine types, but beginners can always begin their collection with an all-purpose glass that is something of a happy medium between the various wine glasses, and should suffice, at least for the moment, in getting you started.

And starting somewhere can be a challenge for Filipino wine-drinkers, because wine has yet to reach its full potential in the Philippine market. Nevertheless, more and more locals are starting to develop a palate for this historical drink, thanks largely in part to the commitment of wine sellers to quality over quantity and providing only the best selections with which to introduce Filipinos to the drink. 

And if you are looking to start your own, personal journey, Winery.ph would be more than happy to help you out. Browse our selections today, or send us a message today at sales@winery.ph to get you started.