"Do not eat too much," Manfred Gugerel, food and beverage operations director of Marriott Royal Aurora Hotel, advised as he greeted the guests arriving at the presentation of Club Malesan in the hotel lobby on February 17. "There will be a huge dinner."

The advice, however, was hard to follow given the delicious cheeses that blended so well with the red and white wines presented by the Club.

In addition to businessmen, guests included diplomats and celebrities from the world of Russian show business such as the Empowered Envoy of Cyprus Charalambos Ioannides and pop-star Irina Ponarovskaya. Also present at the wine tasting was a well known family from Russia's cinema world: film director Vladimir Naumov (famous for film Tehran-43), his wife, the famous actress Natalia Belokhvostikova, and their daughter Natalia Naumova who has already appeared in several movies.

An eight course banquet which followed in the Polo Club restaurant was accompanied by selected wines.

The Brown of Norwegian Smoked Salmon and Scatefish accompanied the 1997 Malesan Chablis Blank AOC. The wine was introduced by Vice President and Chief Executive of Malesan - William Pitters Russia and co-owner of Chateau Prieure Malesan Cyril Necker.

The panache of veal sweatbread and fresh cheese ravioli was served with a bit sour 1996 Chateau le Privera Cru Borgeos-Medoc.

Many of the guests were impressed by the rich-tasting 1986 Chateau Pape Clement — Jereboam Cru Classe — Graves served together with lamb tenderloin.

The guests were wined and dined in the hopes that they would purchase a club membership.Malesan Club's price list boasts 199 brands of wines, cognacs and other alcoholic beverages.