Stonehedge at Cova: Great Wine, Great Food, Great Company

It was the usual busy Friday evening, but this was going to be no ordinary evening. And after going through the mad rush hour traffic, I was looking forward to a cool evening with some premium wines, excellent food, and great company.

It was my first real wine tasting, and as part of my personal continuous learning program, this was one event I wouldn't miss. And since the wine tasting was held at Cova Tapas y Sangria, my new favorite place, it was a no brainer. Good food, great wine, I'm there. And what an amazing evening. Sampling a new line of unique, artisanal premium wines from Stonehedge paired with Cova's exquisite tapas, now that sounds like a seriously good pairing. Napa Valley's Stonehedge Winery is recognized for its elegantly handcrafted wines with its meticulous and  gentle care of the grapes from vine to bottle, allowing each bottle to "let the fruit show the way."  And Cova Tapas y Sangria prepared new dishes specially for this wine tasting.

As I settled in, my anticipation slowly went to overdrive as the first round of wine glasses reached our table. Joining us was Sherwyn Lao, a regional wine consultant and expert, who patiently explained the subtle nuances of each wine, giving us a much better perspective in understanding and enjoying the selection of premium wines.

The wine tasting begins with the 2009 Stonehedge Reserve Chardonnay, a crisp, fruity white wine with a subtle hint of vanilla and tart green apples. Produced from selected blocks of vineyards as indicated by Stonehedge's "Reserve" label, it's an excellent introduction to the premium selection from Stonehedge...

...and paired with Cova's New England Clam Chowder espuma with maple glazed jamon, the crisp, clean Chardonnay brings out the subtle yet rich flavors of the delicate foam. The New England Clam Chowder espuma looks deceptively light, but the creamy flavors slowly come out, balancing the sharpness of the jamon. I go for another glass of Chardonnay... 

Next up, the 2008 Stonehedge Terroir Select Pinot Noir, a dry, fruity, full bodied red wine yet smooth and easily paired with a wide range of dishes and flavors, with its subtle cherry note. The "Select" designation indicates a special limited production from Stonehedge, as we experience the pairing versatility with the next round of tapas from Cova's amazing kitchen...

...Cova's Pumpkin and Morcilla Croquetas, a delicate and light starter with subtle sweet and savory flavors complementing the dry fruity notes of the Stonehedge Pinot Noir.

This was then followed by the Steak Pintxos with Chimichuri, perfectly grilled with a juicy pink center. Soft and tender with the bold beefy flavor enhanced by the chimichuri, as I enjoyed another glass of Pinot Noir...

...and the Stuffed Portobello Mushroom with ox-tail ragu, elegantly plated with rich flavors. The Portobello's nuttiness and rich ragu combine for a delicious blend of flavors and textures. At this point, I was really enjoying the wine, food and company...just check out the fuzzy photos...but all's good, and there's still more to come...

The 2009 Stonehedge Reserve Merlot, my favorite red of the evening. The usually lower tannin levels for Merlot as compared with other reds brings out a smoother, fruitier and almost chocolatey note, with less of the bitter stemmy taste. And for a wine newbie like me, I go for this one for seconds and thirds.  

And the smooth Merlot is paired first with Cova's Roast Pork Cochinillo style with apple sauce, crispy pork skin over tender and juicy pork...

...followed by the Fideua with duck breast, foie gras, cranberries and jamon, crisp short noodles topped with juicy duck breast, rich foie gras and sharp jamon for an amazing blend of flavors and textures...now I just wish this would be part of Cova's regular menu...  

...and finally, the rich, creamy Goat Cheese Orzo Risotto. Moist and flavorful, the final pairing was simply perfect. And with a happy buzz, I go for yet another glass of Merlot...

Finally,the 2009 Stonehedge Terroir Select Muscat Canelli, a sweet dessert wine to cap the wine tasting. According to Nicole Keys, the Finance/Marketing Manager and local distributor of Stonehedge, it was during a recent trip to Napa Valley where they discovered Stonehedge, and it was this particular wine that convinced them to bring Stonehedge over to Manila. And after one sip, I can see why they decided to do just that. Smooth, easy and refreshing, floral with hints of peach and pear, the pleasing sweetness just fills you with good vibes...

...and paired with Cova's Apple Fritters with salted caramel sauce, absolutely perfect. An amazing evening with great wine, great food and cool company. Special thanks to Sherwyn Lao for broadening my understanding of fine wines, to Nicole Keys and Bianca Tumibay for bringing a piece of Napa Valley to Manila, and to Tatyana Guevarra and Chef Patrick Hess for some really awesome tapas and for hosting the cool wine tasting event. And that was one awesome Friday evening...

Stonehedge's unique artisanal wines are exclusively available at Cova Tapas y Sangria, located at 22 Jupiter Street, Brgy. Bel-Air, Makati or call 478-9700 for inquiries.  

Dude for Food is now on Facebook, check out the FB Page to receive regular updates on good eats. Better yet, click "Like" and enjoy the ride...simply look for the FB "Like" widget on the right sidebar.