Chilean Wine Tasting — November 2010
A long-standing member of the C&O Society, Mr Miguel Poklepovic (Lincoln College, Oxford 1975) — then Minister-Counsellor at the Embassy of Chile in Tokyo — kindly offered to help organise a Chilean wine tasting event. The Society has held successful wine and whisky tastings in the past, and the committee was delighted to accept his proposal.
Unfortunately for us (but happily for him), Mr Poklepovic was appointed First Consul-General at the Chilean Consulate in Guangdong before the event took place and was therefore unable to attend. The C&O Society is grateful to the Chilean Embassy for continuing to support and deliver the event. Special thanks are due to Mr Herman Beck, Director of the Commercial Office, and Ms Catalina Sánchez, Assistant, Commercial Office.
Guests enjoying the Chilean Wine Tasting event.
The tasting was held at the Tokyo 21c Club in the Shin-Marunouchi Building on 22nd November. As expected, attendance was high, with more than 50 participants. A generous selection of Chilean wines was offered, thanks to several importers who kindly provided samples.
Red and white wines from Vintisquero, the Leyda/San Antonio Valley, the Limarí Valley, and Emiliana Natura were featured. With such a wide variety of excellent wines, it would be impossible to list them all — but every palate found something to enjoy. Attendees also sampled Santiago Chilean olive oil, noted for its pleasantly fruity flavour.
A buffet accompanied the tasting and was quickly and enthusiastically enjoyed by the hungry crowd. The venue was decorated with vineyard maps, brochures, and Chilean gourmet books, set against a projected slideshow of the majestic Andes.
Representatives from the Chilean Embassy and C&O Society members.
Many attendees placed orders and no doubt enjoyed the fine wines and olive oil at home afterwards. It was a highly successful event, and the C&O Society extends sincere thanks to the Chilean Embassy, the wine importers, and Mr Poklepovic for making the event possible.
— Huw Williams (Clare College, Cambridge 1984)