By Jay Amberg Bloomberg Lifestyles.Bloomberg.com Cigar News. Wed, 20 Sep 2000, 11:29am EDT
Havana, Sept. 20 -- Add wine to the list of luxury items, like cigars, aged rums and gourmet coffees, that Cuba is attempting to promote as the island economy becomes more dependent on tourists for generating hard currency.
For the first time since the revolution, about 41 years, Cuba will host a wine festival Oct. 6-7 at the Hotel Nacional in Havana, according to Granma, Cuba's state newspaper.
Companies participating in the wine festival include Freixenet, Pernod Ricard, Vega de la Reina, HCI, Sercomex and others. Most of these companies currently supply Cuba's tourist industry with wine and sparkling beverages.
According to Granma, the idea to hold the wine festival originated with HRL, the company that manages the Hotel Nacional and distributes wine, both domestic and imported brands, in Cuba.
Some of the most popular of the domestic wines produced in Cuba and those that will be available for tasting are Castillo del Morro, San Cristobal, Soroa Isla and Soroa Orquidea. The grape varieties grown in Cuba include Cabernet Sauvignon, Tampranillo, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay.
Traditionally, Cuba's hot climate has been associated with the consumption of rum and rum-based drinks as well as beer.
Wine, though first brought to Cuba by the Spanish four centuries ago, was also imported to the island by the British and French, who both vied with Spain for control of Cuba during the country's colonial period.
With Spanish and Italian sun-seekers comprising two of the largest nationalities now venturing to Cuba for winter vacations, Cuba's emphasis on wine has increased.
Wine has also gained acceptance in Cuba, though consumption pales in comparison to rum and beer, because new hotels are managed by Spanish and Italian companies whose guests are accustomed to enjoying wine with lunch and dinner.
Unfortunately, while wine is offered for sale in most of Cuba's government operated restaurants and some officially licensed paladares (family-run places to eat), the average Cuban has little opportunity to enjoy this beverage unless he has access to U.S. dollars.
Even with dollars, the cost of a good bottle of wine, $15- $30 depending on the brand, is out of reach for most Cubans, compared with a bottle of rum which could cost as little as $3 or a six-pack of beer at $2.
Promoters of the wine festival said participants in the wine tasting would be given a souvenir glass to commemorate Cuba's first wine event in 41 years.
For information on the wine festival, contact the Hotel Nacional at (53-7) 78920-21, 78980-89 or fax at 33-5054.
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