Out and About with
Dra Lourdes Quijada
It was the best of days, for some, and potentially the worst of days for others, as they gathered for one of Panama’s social events of the year “free” to all, and at times  close to a free for all.

The Felipe Motta annual wine fair returned to The Mirimar Intercontinental Hotel on Thursday October 21, and for two days, connoisseurs and those who just like to imbibe, chat and snack, joined wine experts from around the world

The experts occupied 37 stands and  provided samples and information on their products from vineyards in eight countries: Argentina,Australia, California, Chile,  France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Prices were as low as under $5 a bottle (Trivento Tribu Pinot Noir 2009 @ $4.50; Trapiche Pinot Grigio 2009, $4.95; Trapiche Pinot Noir 2009 $4.95 and right on the button at $5 an eminently drinkable Carmen Chardonay from Chile); to as high as $60 (Concha y Toro Don Melchor 2006 ) and $73 (Achaval Ferrer Finca Altimira, 2008) and a whole range of prices in between.
Even if your potential wine cellar does not include the laying down of such exotic high end offerings, you still got to taste them and dream of the future.
But the open secret of the event, a tribute to marketing at its best, was that it was essentially free for those who visited. For $20 visitors received a passport listing the 163 wines on display. On arrival a voucher for $20 was attached to the book and after completing the marathon circuit, or even dropping out after a lap or two, the voucher was redeemable for $20 in product.
So for most it was the best of times, although some who seemed to be vying for a spot in the Guinness Book of Records as they made the rounds, swallowing every sample available. the following morning might have bordered on the worst of times, and a large dose of Angustura Bitters might have been needed to bring some sunshine back into the day.
But after all it was also a social occasion, with some there to see or be seen, to reunite with old friends, and to have a good time.
I was happy to meet returning Snowbirds from Canada, many regular readers of Newsroom, political lights, past and present.

In the crowd I spotted Laura Alexander, who has been working assiduously with multiple expat organizations, the Santo Tomas and del Nino hospitals, to promote 

a new blood bank program; former Canadian MP Phil Emondston taking time off from promoting his latest Car Guide; web designer Mike Price, from Wales, and his charming Bulgarian wife, Bistra; and renowned restaurateur Willi Diggelman, whose wine list in The 1985 restaurant is recognized world wide; and of  course Valerie de Montule, the public relations star of Felipe Motta . at last year's event she was about to take time off to have her baby, Mission accomplished,

 More, many more, but everything has to come to an end and it was decision time for purchasing.

My husband has sentimental memories of Torremilanos on Spain’s Costa del Sol, dating back to navy days in Gibraltar, so was intrigued by the products of Finca Torremilanos, all 100 percent tempranillo grapes with the wine stored in French casks for 13 months from  Los Cantos de Torremilanos 2006 at $11.35 to 36 months for the Gran Reserve 1999 at $47.50.

This turned out to be his favorite of the evening, and he spent time persuading me that there would be a special occasion worthy of the expenditure (like winning the lottery).

But after scouring our passport entries, garnered after three hours, we returned to a later love, France, and ended up with a Louis Jadot Pouilly-Fuisse 2008 to satisfy his love for Chardonay at $23, and a Louis Jjadot Beaujolais Villages,2008, at $13,25 to satisfy my preference for the dark reds (of course we get to share) and an Italian selection, that was a coin toss between several competitors  and the winner was  ..... a Cavit Riesling 2008 at $10.40.

So we traveled home with our purchases (I think they added up to more than the $40 of vouchers ...   you do the maths) to dream of the lottery and those $60 and $73 vintages.
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