Lechon, pansit, galantina, crackers, cheese and cold cuts; a serenade of love melodies; friends and family abound-a classic image of a Filipino gathering around a spread of delightful Filipino food. In that feast, the center are 6 fine bottles of wine vintaged in Napa Valley and Sonoma, California from Tondi Navarrete-Bolkan, a Filipina associate wine maker from the Francis Ford Coppola Winery and co-owner of Alejos Cellars.

The get together is really a wine sampling for Tondi’s wine masterpieces consisting of the Pinay Muscato (white), Tondi Bolkan Merlot (red) as well as Pinay Pastel (port-style wine), leading bottles of wine of the Alejos Cellars; as well as Francis Ford Coppola Winery mixtures such as Coppola’s Diamond Series Claret (red), Su Yuen (Riesling) and Sofia (a sparkling wine branded after Sofia Coppola).

Having a degree on Physiology, Neurobiology and Behavior from UC Davis California, Tondi initially intended to study medicine to follow her father and sister’s path. “During my senior year attending school, I had my internship from the University Medical Center. As I saw blood, I instantly passed out.” Luckily UC Davis is likewise renowned for viniculture and grape growing.

Her family supported her that they actually helped her to start Alejos Cellars to generate her own line of wines. “I’m very fortunate to become part of an organization which allows me to embark outside. In 2006, we started Alejos Cellars with the Pinay Muscato, then the merlot and next the port. It takes lots of perseverance to create wine. It’s capital intensive and time consuming.”

Tondi chose to name her brand “Pinay”, slang for Filipina. “We needed a word that grabs attention and defines what our wines are, uniquely inspired by the Filipino palate.” The Pinay Muscato hints of fruity fragrances of lychee and peaches. It’s light, smooth, and fairly sweet. She recommends pairing the Muscato with less damp dishes or Filipino recipes like crispy pata or perhaps chicken adobo. The Merlot can be supported with the kare kare and caldereta while the Pinay Pastel is known as a dessert wine beverage with a perfect blend of sweet and spice.

For Tondi, the success for creating these mixes are doubly wonderful. “I’ve been receiving e-mails and telephone calls about Pinay, additionally, the exhilaration and inspiration from my consumer’s voices are really motivating. They say the word Pinay as they hold up a bottle.”