The Pullman Pattaya Hotel G has certainly elevated itself within the collective consciousness of the folk in Pattaya. Their latest promotion was a wine tasting event, held in the Beach Club, with wines supplied by G Four Wines from Bangkok, and finger food from Chef Thierry’s kitchen.
The wine guru for the evening was Davide Contu Salis, a passionate Italian (but aren’t they all)! The wines were mainly from Argentina and Chile, though Davide had sneaked in a Follador Prosecco which was a great palate freshener.
Laurent Scire, director of F&B Pullman Pattaya Hotel G.
As enjoyable as the Follador was, he then produced what I irreverently called a “Follador Fizz”. This was around 60 percent Follador with the remainder of the glass filled with Fragoli wild strawberry liqueur. I can’t speak for the strawberries, but I considered the Follador Fizz pretty wild too!
Taking the Argentine wines first, these were both from the Tierra Buena vineyards from the Mendoza region in Argentina. The first was a Chardonnay 2012 (100 percent Chardonnay grapes, aged three months in the bottle), and was pleasant, though a little too young. Give it another six months in your home cellar.
The second Argentine wine was a Malbec 2012. Once again, a pleasant wine, but this one needs at least another year laying down. Being a budget priced wine, this should be no hardship in waiting. The maturing in the vineyard is only three months in oak casks and another three months in the bottle.
The Chilean wines came from the Sanama vineyard (not to be confused with the wines from Sanoma county in the USA). The first was the Sauvignon Blanc 2011 with 100 percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes, another good wine for the first course of any dinner. I enjoyed it and appreciated the smooth finish.
The second Sanama offering was their Merlot Reserva 2011. 100 percent Merlot grapes, good body and finish. This was the wine of the night, as far as I was concerned. (Excepting the Follador Fizz!)
The final wine was the Sanama Cabernet Sauvignon Reserva 2011, again a 100 percent Cabernet Sauvignon grape with 12 months maturation between French and American oak barrels and six months in the bottle.
Pakin Chaisangkam, events manager of Pullman Pattaya Hotel G.
Sophon Vongchatchainont (center) GM of Pullman Pattaya Hotel G entertains guests at his hotel.
(L to R) Davide Contu Salis, G Four Fine Wines; Tony Malhotra, Pattaya Mail; Nannadda Supakdhanasombat, director of MarCom and Sophon Vongchatchainont GM of Pullman Pattaya Hotel G.
(L to R) Janjira Buanlee, PR Manager Pullman Pattaya Hotel G, Marie Gonter events & marketing director, Pullman Pattaya Hotel G; Juthamard Boonchinwudtikun, PR Executive Holiday Inn Pattaya and Nannadda Supakdhanasombat, director of MarCom Pullman Pattaya Hotel G.
Dr. Iain Corness chats wine with Davide Contu Salis.
