The Grand Cru Classe woman
“WOMEN are like fine wine. They get better with age.” Getting to know Margaret Richards Taylor is like opening an exquisite bottle of Premier Grand Cru Classe wine—passionate, elegant, classic and distinctly fine.
Interestingly, wine continues to play a vital role in the life of Margaret, a highly successful marketing strategist and entrepreneur. She established the Harston Group with her children Hans Eulenhoefer and Stephanie Hum. The Harston Group, with two strong divisions: Harston Fashion and Harston Cellars, specializes in the travel retail sector representing some of the most respected brands in fashion and wines in duty free stores worldwide, with headquarters in Miami, offices in London, Toronto, Hong Kong and the Philippines.
A member of the Harston Group, Bibendum Wines Philippines (BWP) opened its doors last year at the ground floor of the MLD building next to Café Georg along Banilad, giving oenophiles a wide range of choice wines, from premier Grand Cru Classe to affordable Cru Bourgeois and esteemed varietal wines. Hans and his friend Mikell Perdices established the wine retail store, which hopes to revolutionize the local wine industry. Not your regular wine store, Bibendum (which means “to drink and celebrate” in Latin) provides information about each wine on well organized display racks, categorizes wines not only by region but by rating points of internationally acclaimed wine critics. An added bonus, probably the first of its kind in Cebu, is the Enomatic wine dispenser that allows one to taste wines at a minimal fee, thus eliminating the guesswork when buying wines. For a neophyte like me, I find this absolutely helpful and less overwhelming in choosing what wine will appeal to my taste and suit my budget.
Now retired from the sophisticated world of fashion, food, wines and spirits, Margaret brings with her a rich experience in the wine trade. Genteel lady Margaret knows wines like the palm of her hand. If one is lucky to catch her in her retail store, she’d graciously give you an insightful information about the selection of her wines. She is first and foremost, a wine connoisseur whose profound knowledge about wines can be awe-inspiring. She will not hesitate to tell anyone that there are no hard and fast rules about drinking wines. Get whatever pleases your palate.
Bibendum’s wide selection of wines includes award-winning bottles from leading estates and vineyards of the old and new world. Premiere Bulle, exclusive to Bibendum and an excellent alternative to pricey champagne is a first-rate sparkling wine from Limoux, France where the first sparkling wine was born in the 16th century. Every bottle of wine is handpicked on high-rating points. With very strong partners of negociants (a French term for wine merchants who assemble the produce of small growers and wine makers or vineyard owners), Bibendum prides itself as the leading source for fine wines in Cebu.
Santé!
