Siem Reap: Fine wine summit in the city of temples

I TOOK a sip of the 2007 Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon, a noteworthy wine from the Vina Concha y Toro (VCT) family, a premier Chilean wine producer, and drank in my surroundings.

Planted amid an ancient 12th century temple, Thommanon in Siem Reap, Cambodia, guilt gripped me as I held on to my wine glass. Surely it was sacrilegious to drink in a temple?However, the people of VCT were quick to allay my fears and assured me the Siem Reap authorities would not be swooping down on us anytime soon.

My wine-addled brain was having too much of a good time to entertain further thoughts and I decided to put aside my initial misgivings.It was the last day of a well-spent three-day trip in Siem Reap where the wine summit organised by VCT Group of Wineries Asia was held.The summit culminated in a gala dinner for the media members and wine distributors.

With my counterparts from Singapore, South Korea and China, and distributors from Vietnam, China, the Philippines and Cambodia, we drank, ate and ended being unabashedly tipsy on the final night.With purple-coated tongues, we toasted to a good time and fine wine.If anyone had reservations or fear of being struck by lightning for drinking in front of deities and celestial maidens, the third glass put a rest to it.

VCT Group of Wineries Asia managing director Andres Ballesteros R, a Hindu, confided that he felt a connection with the temple built by Suryavarman II during his reign.Thommanon, dedicated to Lord Vishnu was built shortly before the more famous Angkor Wat.Entertainment for the night was courtesy of the Cambodian Chamber Orchestra whose lead singers enthralled us with some timeless classics.

Somewhere into the dinner, ‘devils’ in tight suits and pitchforks appeared to prance on stage.No, it was not bad karma attacking the revellers but some rather interestingly dressed Cambodian dancers.The highlight of the night was the recognition of VCT distributors for their tireless efforts.

Malaysian wine distributor Muihua Sdn Bhd, represented by managing director Gwee Sze Kiat and marketing manager Teong Hooi Min, won a few awards and did the country proud.Overall the night was satisfying with nary a complaint.Of course, I am starting from the tail-end of my trip.

Surely, I have to talk about the entire trip (to the envy of many, we did not run short of good wine and food).VCT is a name to reckon with.With a long list of iconic wines, it is the largest producer of wines from Latin America.The brand with history dating back to 1883 has wineries located throughout Chile’s major wine regions.

The summit was to reinforce the branding of its three iconic wines, namely Don Melchor, Carmin De Peumo and Gravas Del Maipo and to share the brand’s future marketing plan.VCT marketing director Isabel Guilisasti spoke passionately about the group’s vision and mission.The summit held on the second day was filled with activities for the distributors and wine tasting for the media members.

On the list were Carmin de Peumo Carmenere 2007 and 08 (a varietal exclusive to VCT), Gravas del Maipo Syrah 2007 and 08 and Don Melchor Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 and 08.Strong and firm with delicate flavours of ripe red fruits and a sweet end, Gravas del Maipo Syrah got a personal vote and a nod of approval from the rest of us.

VCT corporate chief executive officer (Asia) Cristian Lopez highlighted one of the group’s milestones last year — the winery’s official partnership with the Manchester United.The partnership was sealed in September last year when VCT was introduced as the official winery at the Manchester vs. Liverpool match at the Old Trafford, pushing forward the winery’s global image.

Many wine distributors vouched for Cambodia’s burgeoning wine market hence Siem Reap being the choice of the summit.Siem Reap is the home of the famous Angkor Wat and many other ancient temple ruins of the Khmer empire.Many temples but too little time, and I still regret not going to Angkor Wat since I departed on the morning of that particular tour.

Still the earlier two temples we were taken to elicited the necessary ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from us.Later a visit to the Old Market brought out my crazy shopper side and I lost control momentarily.To the robust call of ‘lady’ in heavy Cambodian accent, I parted with quite a bit of US dollars.

The second night saw us being treated to a special dinner while entertained by ‘Apsaras’ (celestial maidens) who performed traditional Cambodian dances while the young male performers impressed with martial art moves.

Prior to the dinner, we were taken on a cruise along a river then whisked to a hilltop where the Preah Prei temple ruins could be found.During the cruise, we were plied with Casillero del Diablo Brut Chardonnay from the Limari Valley.

It ended with a view of the sunset from the hilltop. I concede life is fair sometimes.Hotels are a dime a dozen in Siem Reap, and a few of us were lucky enough to be put up in Sothea, a five-star luxury boutique hotel.The hotel was built by a prominent local businessman as a tribute to his wife, Sothea.

I had a spacious room overlooking a swimming pool, a large bed, huge bathtub, natural spa therapies and did I mention a personal butler?Enough said. It was an experience worth savouring and warrants more words but I fear we are coming to the end of the story.

The organiser definitely pulled off one heck of a trip.Despite the copious amount of wine consumed, I did not wake up with twenty little people drumming in my head (the usual accompaniment to my hangover) on any of the mornings.And that is the mark of fine wines and a trip worth writing about.

Source = thestar.com.my