Wining And Dining With The City's Finest

Mr. Harrison Ekeoma Osondu Iheke
Ghana may not be amongst the world's premier wine destinations but it is an irrefutable fact that some of the world's finest wines are enjoyed on a daily basis by numerous Ghanaians with a taste for the finer things in life at various chic hotspots and homes across the city.

This fact was largely evident, when an intriguing mix of the city's most renowned tastemakers, corporate heavyweights, wine connoisseurs, yuppie rave heads and folks from all walks of life gathered at the Dansoman headquarters of HCKB Limited to enjoy a night filled with the delightful taste and aroma of some of the best wines on offer in Ghana.

The event was organized by HCKB Limited, importers of an assortment of red and white wines, and was dubbed, 'A Wine Tasting Affair'.  The first, of many such monthly yuppie raves; it afforded the city's most influential socialites and media men as a well as a cross section of wine buffs the opportunity to have a firsthand tasting experience from the Belbon Hills range of exotic table wines produced in Cape Town, South Africa.

With every glass of wine on the house, the city's tastemakers looked to have quite a go at it as they indulged in some of the best wine produced on the continent. The brands included, the Belbon Hills SAS Passito which is said to be produced by extending the maturation process of grapes from 40 years old Hanepoot vines perched in the hard terrain. Its distinctive and aromatic sweet taste is sure to literally get many a tongue wagging happily before the end of any wine session.

Also being served was Chenin Blanc white wine. It mixes a pale straw-like crystal clear colour with and a soothing aroma. According to the connoisseurs, the Chenin Blanc is a perfect match for your starters or fresh uncooked fish recipes.

Out of the lot, the feminine crowd on this night seemed keener on Pinotage Rose, oozing delectable aromas of raspberries. The Belbon Red however seemed to do the trick for most in the crowd who loaded up on the barbecue on offer for the night. According to them, it washes it all down pretty well.

Speaking to the Press during the event, Mr. Harrison Ekeoma Osondu Iheke, Chief Executive Officer of HCKB Limited, stated that after three years in the business of importing and retailing wines in Ghana, his outfit has realized a gap in the local market due to the low quality taste of the wines on the market and believes that HCKB's range of Belbon Hills wines will go a long way to bridge the 'gap' especially after such a successful event.

He also debunked the widely held notion that wine is a 'treat' reserved for the upper class and bourgeoisie, stating that his company's range of wines, though very refined and of very high quality will be marketed in a way that it appeals to and is available to everyone with the taste for the finer things in life.