Filipino Wild Rice Wine Needs to Be Preserved (Tapuy)

Tapuy or Tapuey is a fermented rice wine made in the Philippines, particularly in the northern province of Ifugao in the Cordillera Administrative Region. We visited the small town of Batad to learn about the communities who continue to make the sweet beverage using traditional methods and organic ingredients.

From learning how Tapuy is made in the majestic rice terraces, we then hopped on to the beautiful landscapes of Inuwayan Farms in Adams, Ilocos Norte to try the different varieties of Bugnay wine. The fruity local wine inspired small business owner Ken Alonso of Proudly Promdi to create uniquely Filipino cocktails using Bugnay to promote traditionally brewed Philippine beverages. This led to his partnership with Rona Wines from the same region of Adams which translated to one of his bestselling products, Pedronan Tapuey.