Sat | Apr 18, 2026

Wine-ing time!

Published:Sunday | March 3, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Vijay Sujanani of Gem Palace sandwiched by beauties Amoi Leon and Jennifer Vernon-Jarrett of Blue Diamond Resorts.
Best Dressed Chicken's Andrew Allen being served a special glass of a French wine by hostess Jody-Ann Johnson.
A beautiful bunch (from left): Antoneil Pink, Cheryl Robinson and Toni Robinson of Polka Dots Resort Wear.
A happy bunch (from left): Michael Movery, Michelle Doswald, Paul Goldsmith, Sandy Goldsmith, Peter Turner and Heidi Doswald-Photos by Carl Giilchrist/Freelance Photographer
From left: Toni Robinson of Polka Dots Resort Wear enjoys a brief photo op with Paolo Fakhourie and Nicola Hamilton.
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Carl Gilchrist, Contributor

Famous for its rums, J. Wray & Nephew showed its wine side to a very appreciative audience at the newly opened Mongoose Jamaica restaurant in Ocho Rios last Saturday night.

J. Wray & Nephew introduced its new and exciting range of wines from across continents to an appreciative audience consisting of representatives from the tourism and business sectors. It featured wines from France and Italy, considered in the industry as the old world, as against the new world which consisted of Chile, South Africa, and California (USA).

"The response has been tremendous, beautiful," beamed Vivian Spence-Minott, marketing manager for international wines and spirits at J. Wray & Nephew, to Outlook.

"I mean, persons associate us mainly with our rum and now they see that Wray & Nephew has a beautiful line of wines to offer."

While there were several new brands of wines on show, Wray & Nephew's wine portfolio is not new, it's just that the company has decided to shift focus to its wines. And on the night, the display of wines was impressive showing the wide variety of grapes that are used.

Signature grapes

Guests got an introduction to these grapes learning about the Carménère, considered Chile's signature grape, the darkest and purplest of all red grapes, which makes wines that are best enjoyed with red meats. Meanwhile, South African wines, made from their famous Pinotage grape, were present, so too were Italian wines made from the Muscato and the Pinot Noir out of France and also from California, among others.

As explained by Sashae Leon, brand associate for international wines, "The majority of the wines that we are showcasing tonight are new to the portfolio and really what we want to achieve is to get a feedback from the people, we want to hear it from them first. Some of these wines have not gone to market as yet but we still want to let them be the first to experience it and then give us the feedback. It's important that we know what they want, what they like and then we can respond to their needs."

And respond they did to a night well spent in good spirits!