News
Clinton’s Gala Dinner
Organized by the Central European Business Centre in honor of former US president Bill Clinton, the exclusive gala business dinner, looked forward to as „the event of the decade”, held in the Sofitel Budapest Hotel on October 6, 2007, featured Monarchia wines.
The 42nd US president flew his private jet in from Athens in order to deliver a lecture titled „Addressing our shared humanity ” at the Central European Business Forum. The audience included diplomats, politicians, Hungarian M.P.’s, representatives of the Hungarian Government, CEO’s of multinational corporations and businesspersons alike.
It’s absolutely natural that there’s been a huge deal of hype about this event, said Nimród Kovács, UPC Central Europe President and majority owner of both Monarchia Matt International and Monarchia Winery, who received such a great honor as to have been invited by the organizers to act as moderator to Bill Clinton during his lecture.
In a nutshell about Nimród Kovács: emigrated Hungary at the age of 21, a Hungarian and American dual citizen, graduated from the University of Colorado, worked in New York as an advertisement specialist for 5 years, then managed a Colorado-based cable television company. Returned to Hungary in 2000 as an accomplished businessman, to date travels back and forth between Budapest and Denver on a regular basis.
It was my pleasure to accept the offer for being a moderator at this event, as I consider Bill Clinton a brilliant statesman and a „great player”. Although I myself am a Republican, I must acknowledge that he is an excellent politician and I respect him highly for his foundation, bearing his own name, that has raised over three billion dollars in the past seven years for the treatment of people living with AIDS as well as to improve the conditions for the hungry. I have just met him for the first time and was fascinated with his directness, informality, kindness and level-headedness. A few days prior to the event, his colleagues and I met to talk the agenda over and discuss what my duties would involve at the event. I did my best to extensively research and familiarize myself with Bill Clinton’s lifework available so far. Even though I usually keep my cool, I must confess I was a bit anxious at first, nevertheless, it was he himself who made me feel at ease right away thanks to his informality and directness. He promptly complimented me on my tie decorated with the arms of the United States, which, of course, I wore out of respect for.
Nonetheless, I was sitting in awe by his side on the platform. Having finished his lecture, I had the opportunity to ask him two questions, as follows: first, what he would do to boost a more positive image of the USA in the world and secondly, with the on-going controversy on the restructuring of the Hungarian healthcare in mind, how this challenging task is coped with in his native country. When listening to his answers, which were extensively covered and published in the Hungarian press, I felt privileged to be able to share such special moments and witness a person who is ready to express his own views sincerely and without any personal interest. I was pleased that he brought up the responsibilities that freedom and democracy entail as well as the obligation for those better off to help the less fortunate and the needy. This should be a moral obligation, a deep-seated conviction without anything expected in return. I fully share his philosophy and live by such myself.
Following his lecture, the progress of events took an unexpected turn when Bill Clinton left the scene. The gala dinner catering 250 guests went on, however, as planned. In Nimród Kovács’s opinion, this unforeseen twist did not dishearten the guests who had paid anywhere between HUF 250 and 500 thousand for this special evening; what’s more, the atmosphere seemed to have eased as well as attendees become more relaxed, and, if possible, enjoyed all the more each other’s company while sipping on Monarchia wines.
2005 Monarchia Chardonnay Battonage was served to complement the hors d’oeuvre of scallops on carrot carpaccio with extra virgin olive oil dressing.
This white wine is made using classic Chardonnay winemaking methods that require the wine’s being fermented in small (French and Hungarian barrique) oak barrels, on its lees with repeated stir-ups. Volcanic soils of carefully selected hillsides contributed its unique mineral notes while the fresh elegance and lively acids were given birth to by the cooler microclimate. Ripe pear and apple fragrances, a hint of butter and hidden subtle smokiness in the background along with the lingering finish perfectly reflect the unique properties and terroir of Eger’s wine region as well as the internationally celebrated character of this varietal. Enjoy this wine with poultry and light pork dishes, seafood and pastas.
The main course – tenderloin of Hungarian longhorn with chanterelle sauce garnished with truffle mashed potatoes and grilled vegetables – was paired with 2004 Monarchia Rhapsody in Red.
This Bordeaux-style cuvée is a blend of Kékfrankos (Blaufrankisch), Cabernet Franc and Merlot. Handcrafted by Monarchia’s chief winemaker Dr. Tamás Pók, this truly artisanal wine excellently weds forest fruits, lavish black currant, blackberries, cacao and cloves. Eger’s unmatched characteristics are accurately echoed in the ruby-red color, velvety tannins and long finish. Pairs ideally with game and spicy dishes.
Organizers made sure that no one left the event empty-handed, and bid farewell to each guest with, of course, Monarchia wine: a complimentary bottle of 2006 Monarchia Zen, that is.
This greenish-white, fruit-forward, crisp white wine, with distinct fresh aromas and flavors of peach, melon and pear, is a refreshing alternative to other well-known white wines and is especially well suited, served chilled, to spicy fish dishes, light pastas and salads.
As it turned out later, Bill Clinton, who had left before the gala dinner unexpectedly, didn’t retire for the evening with an empty stomach after all: with a select few, he dinned at Tom & George’s where he had Ferenc Takler’s Regnum, marketed exclusively by Monarchia, which good news Nimród Kovács was infromed of via SMS.
It was one lovely and unforgettable evening, indeed. Knowing that our wines, too, have contributed to making this event a truly remarkable one that all those privileged to attend will look back upon as the event of the decade, gives me great satisfaction, said Nimród Kovács.
Ágnes László
Photo: Nimród Kovacs and Dorottya Szalay with Bill Clinton