There’s definitely a move ahead to encourage Jamaicans to drink more wine. Rum, Roast and Royals officially opened their cellars Thursday last at their newest location – Devon House. Onlookers (and there were many) gagged at the amazing display of wines; some 1,100 different types of wine and enjoyed wine conversation with Caribbean Producers Jamaica Limited wines and spirits sales manager Denzie Sinclair and Rum, Roast and Royal director Nicholas Feanny.

Thursday Food caught up with Sinclair and Feanny a couple of days later when fewer corks were popping. Their enthusiasm still very much intact.

Feanny was gently coerced by many a visitor from Kingston to Island Village in Ocho Rios to replicate the same formidable setting. His wish is for people from all walks of life to enjoy wines (which by the way range from $300-$16,000) with whatever they enjoy eating. To this end, he has already started to create a veritable wine chart for Jamaican foods.

Feanny has already noticed that many persons have already started requesting wines for specific meals. “It is,” he adds refreshing,”and has really encouraged me”. In fact, according to Denzie Sinclair, Jamaicans have moved away from the traditional “sweet and sparkling to wines that better complement what they are eating”. This he attributes to more exposure and persons like himself demystifying wines.

Caribbean Producers, the largest importers of wines and spirits on the island, have sought to promote their wines through wine dinners. They have participated at Roundhill’s guest chef dinners. Grand Lido’s Epicurean Festival and many a Chaines des Rotisseurs dinner.

So with Nicholas Feanny delighted to have found a location like Devon House which affords the perfect setting there’s not much left for Thursday Food to do except enjoy the berry and vanilla oak aromas of the Australian yellow tail Shiraz. The more on this much loved wine is according to Sinclair the subdued earthy tones with soft ripe sweetness displayed in perfect harmony with fine tannins.

Last word from Thursday Food: enjoy your own great Aussie Red with pasta, steak or even a fillet of kangaroo steak.