Australian wines, USA cheeses, Italian chocolates brought closer to PH

Wine producers from Australia recently got to showcase their best bottles through a series of tastings across Southeast Asia, including the Philippines. 

More than 25 Australian wineries and winemakers connected with hospitality professionals and other trade partners in “Taste Beyond” at Grand Hyatt Manila. 

The event also had stops in Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta. 

Sarah Roberts, regional manager for Asia Pacific of Wine Australia, said “Taste Beyond” aims to introduce Southeast Asia to their vast winemaking landscape, with more than 120 grape varieties across 65 wine regions.

“For Filipinos, some of the most meaningful moments happen around the table, especially when families and friends come together,” she said. “These moments can also be an opportunity to discover something new – whether that is a wine from a region that is unfamiliar, a grape variety that has not been tried before, or simply a style that becomes a new favorite.” 

“Through Taste Beyond, we look forward to creating more opportunities for our Philippine trade partners to connect with Australian producers and discover the stories and wines behind them,” she added.

The Philippines is considered an important wine market in Southeast Asia with sales valued at just under $170 million in 2025, ranking fifth in the region. 

Australian wine exports to the country reached 2.5 million liters valued at AUD 11.5 million in the 12 months to June 2026. 

Chefs and culinary professionals in the Philippines are given more opportunities to discover cheeses from the USA through a newly formed collaboration.

The USA Cheese Guild has partnered with the LTB Philippines Chefs Association, extending its existing network of importers, retailers, educational institutions, and other partners in the market. 

Its flagship USA Cheese Specialist Certification Program has been introduced into LTB Philippines’ two-week scholarship for culinary instructors across the country. 

The USA Cheese Guild is also looking at more chef collaborations, foodservice experiences, retail sampling, and other industry initiatives to showcase its portfolio. 

“As chefs and operators become more familiar with USA Cheese varieties and applications, we hope to see more opportunities for these cheeses on menus across the Philippines, giving consumers the opportunity to discover more ways to enjoy cheese from the USA,” said Dali Ghazalay, regional director of USA Cheese Guild.

Marking the collaboration is a USA Cheese Chef’s Table dinner event held at the Michelin-selected Osteria Antica in Ortigas. 

Osteria Antica chef Carlo Miguel worked with regionally renowned chef Muhammad Imran to curate a six-course exploration of USA cheeses, with dishes ranging from cream cheese-stuffed zucchini flowers to pastas and desserts. 

“Tonight’s experience highlighted the qualities that make USA Cheeses valuable to professional kitchens,” said Miguel. “Reliable meltability, stability across cooking conditions and consistent texture give chefs the flexibility to experiment while maintaining quality and consistency throughout service.”

Imran, who has been working with the USA Cheese Guild since 2022, for his part said: “What stands out about USA Cheeses for me is the combination of quality, variety, and versatility. Each cheese has its own distinctive flavor profile, texture, and character, giving chefs so many possibilities to explore.”

Italian chocolatier Venchi has introduced two new Chocoviar flavors in the Philippines just in time for the holidays.

The Chocoviar collection is distinguished by its signature coating of 75% cocoa micropearls, lending crunch and richness to each chocolate, as well as its variety of fillings. 

The newest additions include the Lampone, which showcases the vibrant fruitiness of raspberry, and the Nougatine, with its smooth Piedmont hazelnut and cocoa cream filling enveloped in a crunchy shell with caramelized almond crumble.

Other variants of the include Pistachio, Creme Brulee, Crema Cacao, the extra dark Chocoviar 75%, the citrusy Arancia, the hazelnut-forward Gianduia, and the Stracciatella with white chocolate filling. 

Founded in 1878, Venchi has branches at Central Square, Podium, and SM Mall of Asia.