The chef that the French embassy invited to Manila was Nicolas Stamm of La Fourchette des Ducs in Obernai, Alsace, which has already achieved two Michelin stars.
I think it's the white grape varieties used and their tendency to carry a little extra richness and sugar in Alsace that make the difference: Pinot Blanc and Pinot Gris in particular.
The unit in Alsace, east of France, has been sold to Eiffage Travaux Publics and Holcim France, while the Swiss operations were bought by Holcim Switzerland.
BLESSED with an exceptional natural beauty, it seems only fitting that the fragrant wines from the idyllic Alsace region in north-east France are dressed in distinctive and elegant bottle shapes.