Close to 300 guests of the Jamaica Observer Limited delighted in 45 wines from five purveyors inside the Worthington at the Spanish Court Hotel on Monday, November 12, to celebrate Salut! 2018. Tai Flora Luxe transformed the Worthington into an upscale lounge (think: Nikki Beach) where Select Brands, Rosh Marketing, J Wray & Nephew, Harbour Wines & Spirits, and CPJ Wines poured some of their best bottles. Thursday Food visited each booth to sip what was on offer and observe which bottles won the specially-invited guests over.

At CPJ Wines, guests could partake of three still wines and one sparkling. The crowd favourite and the Thursday Food pick: Mionetto Prosecco Brut. The fruity apple notes, subtleness of honey and fine bubbles made this a delightful quaff. There, too, was succulent ham and jerk pork.

J Wray & Nephew showcased their Apothic Wines portfolio with Apothic Red, Apothic White and Apothic Dark. The Apothic Dark was by far the crowd favourite and Thursday Food concurs. The blackberry, chocolate and coffee notes of this bold red blend made for an easy-to-drink wine that challenged the way oenophiles tend to view blends.

Harbour Wines & Spirits brought something for every taste. Pouring 15 different bottles, the GraceKennedy division asked guests about their taste profile preferences before making recommendations. It seems that red blends are having a moment as the Ménage à Trois Midnight was hands-down the crowd favourite. The notes of blackberry and plum with hints of coffee and chocolate made the long finish of this wine welcomed. Thursday Food really enjoyed the Lunetta Prosecco, but we have a thing for bubbly. Harbour Wines & Spirits also had glazed ham, assorted hors d’oeuvres and a selection of cheeses for guests to nosh on.

Select Brands could have poured Perrier-Jouët all night and still brought everyone to their bar. We couldn’t blame those who heeded the siren call of Champagne. Kudos to Select for bringing such a fantastic bottle. Thursday Food was also a fan of the Montes Outer Limits Sauvignon Blanc with its notes of passionfruit, pear and lime, and bright acidity.

Rosh Marketing enticed Salut! guests with its Carmela sparkling wine. Semi-sweet and possessing a creamy finish this sparkling was delicious. The Château Cavalier Grand Cavalier Rosé also deserves honourable mention. Balanced floral and fruit notes with a bit of spice and lip-smacking freshness made this wine a discovery, and it paired excellently with the seafood on offer.

Rainforest Seafoods allowed guests to indulge in a whole roasted salmon with a chilli-sriracha glaze and what seemed like endless sushi rolls. Sushi master Eliseo “Oggie” Caliguia and Corporate Chef Evrol Ebanks had guests in sheer bliss.

With the festive season officially launched there’s no better time to stock up.

Salut! 2018 was made possible with the support of Sagicor, Spanish Court Hotel, Tai Flora Luxe, Rainforest Seafoods, Select Brands, Rosh Marketing Company Limited, Harbour Wines & Spirits, J Wray & Nephew and CPJ Wines.