By Agnes Yu

Atop Mt. Nam with fantastic views of the city as a backdrop the dining outlets of the Grand Hyatt Seoul assure appetizing meals, alluring ambiance and great service. In particular the “Winemaker’s Table,” a series of special, limited seating, gourmet dinners feature premium wines that can be sampled under the guidance of an expert.

On June 15 at 6:30 p.m. Dine@Hyatt, the food and beverage loyalty program of the hotel is presenting as part of this series, an evening with Terrazas de los Andes. Inside the Paris Bar on the lower level of the hotel participants can indulge in a sumptuous set menu with winemaker Mr. Gustavo Ursomarso from Terrazas de los Andes, a winery fully restored in 1999 by Moët Hennessy Wine Estates and Bodegas Chandon Argentina. According to the website it is Moet’s first vineyard outside of France but the winery itself dates back to 1898 and it is where the best grapes in the Mendoza province are grown at especially high altitudes.

Only 18 guests will be able to savor the four course menu accompanied by four different Terrazas de los Andes wines. The welcome drink is a Dom Perignon Vintage 2003 to greet guests then to kick off the exclusive dinner is an aromatic Torrontes Reserva 2010 (Torrontes is an Argentine white wine grape variety described as flowery, fruity and sensual) for the cold starter. It will be followed by a Malbec Afincado 2007 for the hot starter. Afincado means “to be settled and well-established in a specific place” in Spanish and this malbec is a “profound violet with magenta shades that cling to the glass; it is aged 18 months in 100 percent French oak.” In between courses Ursomarso will provide further commentary and interesting background information on the wines, adding to the enjoyment of the meal.

The main will go down nicely with a Cheval des Andes 2006/2003 and the dessert will be paired with a Cheval des Andes 2007. Made following traditional methods the wine comes from carefully controlled yields, no herbicides, bunch-thinning and an artisanal approach. (Bunch-thinning is manually controlling the grapevine to achieve vine balance and this enhances the quality and the speed at which the grapes ripen.)

The price is 180,000 per person. Dine@Hyatt members can attend for 170,000 won and earn points. Call 02-799-8161 or 8162 to make a reservation.