Merkado: Vino Arsan – Sweet, Sultry Filipino Wines With Soul

From those humble beginnings, they’ve grown into an award-winning, family-run social enterprise that works directly with farmers, supports sustainable agriculture, and champions proudly local winemaking using native fruits.

I mentioned that my doctor once told me a glass of red wine could be good for the heart. Without missing a beat, he recommended MalibuGold—their version of a red wine made from local fruit. Now here’s the thing: the name. It immediately had me grinning internally. In Tagalog slang, the name, well… let’s just say it leans into the sultrier side of the vocabulary. I kept my thoughts to myself, but let’s just say the name lingered in my head longer than I expected.

I bought a bottle right then and there—and yes, I finished it in one sitting. At home, of course. And I’ll admit: the name started to make a little more sense the deeper I got into the bottle. Let’s just say the effect was smooth, warm, and very... persuasive. 😉

The company certainly made the rounds internationally—two silvers and a bronze in Vermont (2016), plus a gold at the Winemaker International Competition in San Diego (2018). Their Lolo Art Marnier Brandy even scored silver at the Los Angeles International Spirits Competition in 2019. Clearly, these aren’t novelty drinks—they’re legit, global-caliber Filipino wines.

And speaking of Lolo Art—the booth guy offered to introduce me to him, but I had to go around the entire venue. But next time, Lolo Art, let's share a drink—maybe even a second bottle of that Gold.