PH CONSULATE EXPRESSES PRIDE IN NAPA DE ORO, A FILIPINO-OWNED WINERY IN NAPA VALLEY
(San Francisco PCG photo)
SAINT HELENA, CALIFORNIA, USA – Filipino pride filled the visit of Philippine Consulate General in San Francisco officials, led by Consul General Neil Ferrer and Madame Miriam Ferrer at the Napa de Oro Vineyard and Winery in the world-renowned Napa Valley wine region on 19 October 2024.
Napa de Oro is co-owned by Filipino businessman Noe “Butch” Taojo and Filipino American lawyer Abe Marapao who, along with his wife Mai, hosted an intimate reception for Consulate officials at The Andini guest house, located within the vineyard.
Consul Rowena Pangilinan-Daquipil, Vice Consul Adrian Baccay, Vice Consul Hannah Go, and Commissioner Kristine Umali of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Silicon Valley were among those who joined the Consul General during the visit.
As a Filipino-owned winery in the Napa Valley, Marapao said that the Napa de Oro brand purposely features the Philippine flag’s “three stars and the sun” insignia and an outline of Mount Apo, the country’s tallest mountain.
In 2019, Napa de Oro tapped the services of well-known winemaker Rudy Zuidema in searching for a vineyard and winery in Napa Valley. The now-25-acre Napa de Oro Vineyard and Winery sits at the former Tudal Winery in Saint Helena, a property that was once associated with Italian farmer Arnold Tudal and his friend, Bay Area-born baseball legend Joe DiMaggio.
In 2021, the Napa de Oro Chardonnay received two awards, a Double Gold Medal and a Best of Class Medal, while its Au 79 Cabernet Sauvignon won the Gold Medal at the Orange County Fair Commercial Wine Competition. Its wines also won Double Gold awards in the Sunset International wine Competition in 2022.
Napa de Oro wines were showcased as a featured product at the reception following Consul General Ferrer’s sit-down interview with the Commonwealth Club World Affairs in April 2024.
“I am grateful to co-owners Atty. Abe Marapao and Noe Taojo for raising the Philippine flag, both literally and figuratively, in California wine country through the award-winning Napa de Oro wine,” said Consul General Ferrer, who was also referring to the Philippine flag that is flying proudly at the wine estate.
Napa de Oro’s other products include Merlot, Pinot Noir, Grenache, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rosé, which may be bought online at https://napadeoro.com.
Napa de Oro co-owner Abe Marapao and Consul General Neil Ferrer. (San Francisco PCG photo)
(San Francisco PCG photo)
(Napa de Oro Winery photo)