All the great Champagnes, wines and spirits in Jamaica are mainly imported by 10 companies. Five of these organisations will be participating next week (November 7-12) as The Jamaica Observer celebrates Salut! Champagne and Wine at Bin 26 Wine Bar located at Devon House. Invited guests will each evening be treated to a selection of Champagnes and wines that the importers choose to showcase for the upcoming festive season. There are really great wines at all price points on the market right now. Here's a peek in alphabetical at some of what might be in store for guests.

Betco Premier Ltd

Betco imports some of the very popular wines found on our supermarket shelves and on the wine lists of Jamaica's leading restaurants. Next week Betco will be pouring wines from two very popular brands which they import: Little Penguin and Beringer Vineyards. Beringer Vineyards, founded in 1875, is "the oldest continuously operating winery in the Napa Valley. Beringer has a wonderful series of light and refreshing wines known as the Beringer's California Collection. Each wine has a youthful exuberance that appeals to anyone looking for an easy-drinking wine that pairs well with a variety of foods. Betco will also be pouring the range of Little Penguin wines from Australia that is fast becoming a favourite of many Jamaicans because of its great quality, affordability and availability. Sparkling wine lovers will get to sample one of the most popular Spanish sparkling wines (Cava) in the world - Freixenet.

Caribbean Producers Jamaica (CPJ)

CPJ imports a wide range of world-leading brands of Champagne, wines and spirits. CPJ recently began representing Champagne Taittinger in Jamaica, so from all indications this delicious Champagne might be available for your tasting pleasure. CPJ will also be sampling the MARTINI & ROSSI Sparkling Rosé. Cultivated in the finest growing areas of the Piedmont and Veneto regions in Italy and made with handpicked Moscato Bianco, Malvasia and Brachetto grapes, this delicious, aromatic Sparkling Rosé is the perfect complement to a range of foods and occasions. CPJ also represents the very popular wines from Hob Nob and Wente - their wines tend to be a favourite whenever they are poured.

Grace Foods & Services Company

Grace is relatively new to the world of wine, but has quickly amassed an impressive portfolio. On tap over the two days will be wines from Sutter Home in the USA and Vina Maipo from Chile. Sutter Home Winery is one of the largest, independent family-run wineries in the United States, and the estate is known for the creation of White Zinfandel. A fortunate accident occurred during the making of the 1975 vintage, as some 1,000 gallons of bleed-off juice from red Zinfandel refused to ferment to dryness, retaining a substantial amount of sugar, and the winemaker put the wine aside for the time. He said, "Two weeks later, I tasted that wine and it was sweet, had a pink colour, and I thought, 'Darn, that's pretty good. We bottled it, and the rest is history'. Viña Maipo was started in 1948 in the town of Maipo, Buin County, located 38 kilometres south of Santiago de Chile. Today they offer a wide range of very affordable and approachable wines here in Jamaica. Grace will also pour two really great sparkling wines - Lunetta Prosecco from Italy and Trivento Brut Nature from Argentina.

J Wray and Nephew

J Wray and Nephew (JWN) has long been associated with the very best Champagnes, fine wines and spirits. Recently they have added even more wines to their portfolio, that of Torres from Spain and New Zealand's Cloudy Bay. JWN also carries a range of Champagnes from the house of LVMH - Champagne Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin, Maison Ruinart and Krug. Wray and Nephew will more than likely feature some of their newest wines from the Torres range, which are truly spectacular. Founded in 1870 by Jaime Torres, Bodegas Torres (Miguel Torres SA) is a family winery with the most extensive vineyards in the Denomination of Origin (DO) of Penedès and the largest winery in Spain.

Select Brands Limited

Select Brands is the newest kid on the block, but it seems like they will begin with a bang. I understand that a number of the world's largest brand owners were happy to see a new importer in Jamaica as it gave them an opportunity to fulfil a long-time desire to consolidate the product brands that are sold in Jamaica under one roof. One of these is an organisation called Constellation Brands, which is the world's leading premium wine company. Constellation has a portfolio of more than 100 widely admired premium consumer brands across the wine, beer and spirits categories. Major wine brands include Robert Mondavi, Clos du Bois, Ravenswood, Blackstone, Estancia, Nobilo, Kim Crawford, Inniskillin, Jackson Triggs and Arbor Mist. Major beer brands include Corona Extra, Corona Light, Modelo Especial, Negra Modelo, Pacifi co, St Pauli Girl and Tsingtao. Major spirits brands include SVEDKA Vodka, Black Velvet Canadian Whisky and Paul Masson Grande Amber Brandy. Select will be pouring from their Mondavi Product line.

Keep reading the Jamaica Observer for more information on Salut!

Chris Reckord - Entrepreneur & Wine Enthusiast. He and his wife Kerri-Anne are part owners of Jamaica's only wine bar - Bin 26 Wine Bar in Devon House, Kingston. Send your questions and comments to creckord@gmail.com. Follow us on http://twitter.com/DeVineWines

Editor's Note

News just in: JamGuy Food Processors Ltd has added a new weapon to their product line The SkUDD© Party Wine. Making its debut into the alcoholic beverage market, the company plans to flood the market place through its existing distribution network that spans the entire island of Jamaica.

Blended and bottled to perfection through a careful and calculated process that produces a high quality wine, The SkUDD© Party Wine is geared towards the average partygoer that enjoys a premium wine that is reasonably priced which also gives a lasting impression that adds to the party experience.

Looking to officially start the Christmas season The SkUDD© Party wine will soon hit the shelves of bars, wholesale liquor stores and supermarkets island wide. Make The SkUDD© Party wine the wine of your choice for the festive season, happy holidays.

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