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La Brancaia Dinners in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore
2008-02-14 15:42:00
Recently new wine importer Vishal Kadakia of Wine Park Mumbai held a series of dinners in Mumbai, Goa and Bangalore for La Brancaia, a top-end ?Super Tuscan? wine.Brancaia in the Chianti Classico area of Tuscany is owned by the Swiss couple Bruno and Brigitte Widmer since 1981; their daughter Barbara is the winemaker, while the latter?s husband Martin Kronenberg runs the company.
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Wedding bells at Sommelier India
2008-02-14 09:52:00
Co-Publisher of Sommelier India , Shiv Singh decided to tie the knot with Dr. Rohini Luthra this January. The nuptials took place in New Delhi. The actual wedding ceremony was a dignified affair conducted according to the Sikh rites for close friends and family. This was preceded by a Champagne Lunch at Tikli Bottom and Dinner and Dance at the Hyatt Regency.
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Wine may cost the same across the country
2008-01-08 07:21:00
The business media is reporting that the Planning Commission is recommending that alcohol prices be standardized across the country. They are recommending that the liquor taxes be streamlined with duties being levied only on the value of the liquor (or ad valorem) in contrast to the current structure which levies a mix of ad valorem and specific duties.
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Significant health benefits through moderate change
2008-01-08 06:11:00
Taking exercise, drinking moderately, eating sufficient fruit and vegetables and not smoking can add as much as 14 years to your life, a study has found according to the BBC. Research involving 20,000 people over a decade found those who failed on all criteria were four times more likely to have died than those who succeeded.
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Chateau Indage partners with Satya Paul for Pop Art Collection
2008-01-07 13:29:00
In its third collection as a part of the inspirational series, Satya Paul in association with Chateau Indage uncorked the Pop Art collection at the ITC Grand Central recently. This collection is an explosion of all rules associated with saris - it reduces the age of a sari by a whole generation. This is another example of Indian wineries being more imaginative in how they connect with consumers and build awareness for their brands. It follows Chateau d'Ori's use of Simone Singh at its launch. Earlier N.D. Wines used Salsa dancers to add flair to their Delhi wine introduction. Expect to see a lot more of this in 2008.
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Who made the most impact on the F&B business in India last year?
2008-01-07 13:08:00
Who has had the most impact on the F&B business in India in 2007? Business Standard took a stab at the list. Interestingly, the list mentioned some wine people - Abhay Kewadkar, Head of winery division, UB group and then Aman Dhall of Brindco and Ritu Dalmia of Diva in the context of Italian people pushing wine. The others on the list included Anjan Chatterjee of Speciality Restaurants, Jack Aw Yong, executive chef, projects, Hyatt International and Dhiraj Arora of Shalom, the bar, and Soul Vacations, the hotel.
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Wine decides the menu says French chef Bernard Danc
2008-01-07 12:53:00
French chef Bernard Dance's priorities are clear. The wine precedes, and decides the food to follow. That sounds radical; but after all, he is working at Möet and Chandon's Chateau de Saran, the company's private centre for entertaining a select few. Visiting Mumbai and Delhi, he elaborates on pairing wine with Indian food.
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Foreign Wines continue their march into India
2008-01-07 10:08:00
This is a video story discussing foreign wines entering India and the changing drinking patterns of the Indian consumer. Source Asia News International.
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Thinking about a career in bartending?
2008-01-07 07:45:00
Over the last few years bartending has become a hot career option. No more is it a poorly paid career as it once was. Some of the top bartending schools in the country include the Johnnie Walker Academy which runs a six month training programme. If you are interested in a bartending career, this LiveMint article is a must read.
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Top Online Stories for 2007
2007-12-24 19:37:00
India Wine Challenge Results - Nine Hills & Sula lead Love wine quietly, a personal perspective The 2006 Bordeaux En Primeur Season, the last word May a thousand IVY Wine Bars Bloom Additional Custom Duties Scrapped. The Facts The Distinguished and Indefatigable Angelo Gaja Vinexpo 2007 Vignettes Sommelier India, Celebrating an Anniversary Articles were chosen based on their page views and the comments added to them.
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Cheers to the Pune Gourmet Club
2007-12-24 19:35:00
?What makes this festival unique is that it has been put together by a group of volunteers driven by Shankar?s passion!? said Ashvina Vakil, a member of the Pune Gourmet Club that hosted a first-of-its-kind wine festival in the city on 15th and 16th December. The club, initiated by Shankar Narayan, started off informally when a group of friends would get together for meals paired off with wines and steadily swelled in numbers.
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India Wine Show - A Success
2007-12-24 19:30:00
The India Wine Show held at Krishi 2007, Nashik was a one-of-its kind and memorable. The India Wine Show was a reflection of how Indian Wine is making waves in the foreign markets. The highlight of the event was the participation of the foreign delegates, who presented their businesses and the new technologies that were showcased at the India Wine Show. Businessmen, traders, buyers, sellers, experts flocked to the India Wine Show. Most importantly, Nashik and its wine industry came into prime focus, as the visitors marveled at the growth of the Indian wine industry. Sommelier India was the official wine publication for the show.
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Mulling over wine
2007-12-24 19:30:00
Do not expect too much or too little from your wine. Unique, fine wines for instance should be reserved for occasions when they can be enjoyed with deliberate awareness of the unusual pleasure they provide. Save them for a contemplative evening with other wine lovers. If you choose an unsuitable wine there is the risk that a good wine will be wasted and the occasion itself badly served. Read on for a mulled wine recipe at the end article too.
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Wine Appreciation Dinner for Bouvet Ladubay in Pune
2007-12-24 19:30:00
Le Meridien, Pune had organized a wine appreciation event where General Manager Jaswinder Narang played gracious host to Juliette Monmousseau, Director Exports of Bouvet Ladubay. Bouvet Ladubay has French style wines from the Saumur region which were paired with a five course sit down dinner.
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Nine Hills wins for Finest Indian Red Wine at India Wine Challenge
2007-12-22 15:00:00
When Pernod Ricard India ?s ?Seagram?s Nine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007? was adjudged the Finest Red Indian wine at the first India Wine Challenge , a delighted Param Uberoi, Chairman and CEO, Pernod Ricard India Ltd stated, ?When we launched our domestic range of Nine Hills wines in Nov 2006 to a limited market, we hardly expected that in a year we would win a definitive accolade for our wine. There's no doubt that Nine Hills has come a long way in a very short amount of time. Seagram's launched Nine Hills pricing the wines between Rs. 450 and Rs.550 and expecting to sell 10,000 cases a year. The winemaker is Jean-Manuel Jacquinot.

Vinitaly India 2008 coming to India
2007-12-21 20:06:00
Vinitaly 2008 will be held in Mumbai and Delhi. The Mumbai event will be at ITC Grand Central, 287, Babasaheb Ambedkar Road, Parel, Mumbai 400012 on January 15th while the Delhi event will be at Intercontinental The Grand Barakhamba Avenue, Connaught Place, New Delhi on Thursday, January 17th. Mr. Paolo Da Castro, Italian Minister for Agricultural and Forestry Policies will be opening both events. They will also include tastings with over 60 wineries from Italy participating. Also included in the programme is a seminar on Brunello di Montalcino, highlights from a project promoting Sicilian varietals and a guided tasting of 12 interesting wines from Sicily. To reserve a place at the seminars please contact vinitaly@lotusexhibitions.com
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Chateau d'Ori Winery launches in India
2007-12-21 19:48:00
TV Star Simone Singh has launched Chateau d'Ori's range of local wines in Mumbai. The wines include a Viva, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernot Merlot and Cabernet Syrah. The collection of two whites and three reds are priced between Rs.350 and Rs.650. These wines will be first available in the Mumbai, Pune, Goa, Bengaluru & Kolkata markets with Delhi to follow soon after that. Simone Star is an India n actress who played the title role in the popular television series Heena. She has also starred in Ek Rishta: The Bond of Love. Speaking on the occasion, Ranjit Dhuru, Chairman and MD, d?Ori Winery Pvt. Ltd said: ?Chateau d?Ori has endeavored to incorporate the best viticulture and winery practices from the Bordeaux region of France ? home of the finest wines in the world ? right from the cultivation of grapes to the winemaking process ? we believe its a first in India.?
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Get Blog Updates in your email inbox!
2007-12-21 19:37:00
You can now get blog updates in your email by just entering your email address in the "Blog Updates " box at the top right hand corner of the home page. You will receive an email as soon as the Sommelier India blog is updated. Subscribe to the print magazine today for feature stories and lots more from some of the best wine writers in India and the world. It'll make the perfect Christmas gift!
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India Wine Challenge Results! Sula leads Indian wines
2007-12-06 07:15:00
Hot off the press are the India Wine Challenge results. 350 wines participated of which 140 won medals. According to Robert Joseph, this is standard and not overly generous in comparison to other competitions. But only 35 Indian wines from 10 wineries participated in the competition. As Mr. Joseph mentioned to us in an earlier interview, this was a very small number. Most of these wines faired poorly but Indus Winery and Vin & Vouloir showed promise as newcomers. Sula stood out for its Sauvignon Blanc. Grover which had submitted its 2005s did not do well. The Indian winners included Sula Sauvignon Blanc 2007 (Silver Medal), Vin & Vouloir Rose 2007 (Bronze Medal), Sula Dindori Shiraz Reserve 2006 (Bronze Medal), Sula Blush Zinfandel 2007 (Bronze Medal), Seagrams Nine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007 (Bronze Medal) and Reveilo Chenin Blanc 2005 (Bronze Medal). The Top Indian Red was Seagrams Nine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007. The Top Pink was Sula's Blush Zinfandel 2007 and the...
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Scorsese Wine Film Sparkles as an Ad
2007-12-06 05:19:00
Is this really an ad or a movie? Martin Scorsese plays a leading role in this promotional wine video clip. The story centers around a key to a box that houses a bottle of Freixenet Reserva and is made on behalf of Spanish winemaker Freixenet. Are you more likely to drink Freixenet wine after watching this? Freixenet is one of the most renowned and largest cava house in Spain, similar in quality, size and importance to France's Moet & Chandon. (Cava is the Spanish sparkling wine equivalent to France's champagne.) The Freixenet cava business started in 1914. More on the ad at Businessweek.
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A Chateaux d'Ori Wine Tasting at Le Meridien, Pune
2007-12-06 04:24:00
A wine appreciation event was held on October 25th, in Spice Island, Le Meridien, Pune 's fine dining restaurant to showcase wines from Château d'Ori. Chateaux d'Ori imports French style wines from the Bordeaux region. These were paired with a five course sit down dinner. The meal included smoked salmon quiche with Greek salad, tomato, crabmeat and egg drop soup, mandarin sorbet, bresse chicken en croute with morel sauce and caramelized pear pie with green tea ice cream.Pictured above are guests at the wine dinner.
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Wondering what role oak plays in winemaking?
2007-12-05 23:54:00
Wines made from certain grapes ? chardonnay, semillon, the Bordeaux reds and so on ? gain complexity and add layers of flavor when aged in new oak barrels. However, the type of barrel and the time in barrel can vary infinitely explains this Seattle Times article. Oak may be sourced from various forests in Europe and America, and once harvested, may be air-dried or kiln-dried, aged for different lengths of time and then toasted to different degrees. Winemakers love to play with the wide range of flavors available to them, which they often compare to a chef's spice rack. This is all well and good, but the final results, as always, depend upon the skill of the artist.
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Classifieds: Job Opportunities
2007-12-05 22:01:00
Istanbul based Sommelier, Davide Zubani is looking to move to India and is interested in job opportunities in the hospitality business. He is certified by the International Association of Sommeliers. If you can help Mr. Zubani, please email zuba65@libero.it
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Dhruv and Rati Sawhney's wine dinner ? A night to remember
2007-12-02 00:50:00
Dhruv and Rati Sawhney's wine dinner at Longchamps at the Taj Mahal Hotel, Mansingh Road, New Delhi on November 29, 2007, was a night to remember. Most of Bordeaux's first growths from the host's extraordinary private collection were served at the dinner. The wines were excellent vintages from Chateau Margaux, Lafitte, Latour, La Mission, Haut Brion, and Mouton Rothschild. Ambassador of France, HE Jerome Bonnafont congratulates Dhruv Sawhney on a successful evening
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The International Wine Challenge comes to India
2007-12-01 22:12:00
?I hope that with the help of publications like Sommelier India and hotels like the Hyatt, the India Wine challenge will become a widely used reference source for Indian professionals and consumers? says Robert Joseph in a wide ranging Sommelier India interview discussing the first India Wine Challenge. Read the interview to also learn about his disappointment with the small number of Indian entries and the hope that more participate in the years to come. The winners of the India Wine Challenge will be announced during IFE India 2007 which is being held a at Pragati Maidan Exhibition Grounds in the heart of New Delhi from 06 - 08 December 2007.
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The Burgundy Conference, New Delhi
2007-12-01 21:55:00
An exclusive Burgundy wine tasting was held on November 29th, 2007 at the Taj Man Singh Hotel in New Delhi . 25 wines from 3 great producers - Domaine Bouchard Père et Fils, Domaine Faiveley and Château de Fuissé, covering a vast range of wines, were tasted. The wines included mostly a selection of top Premier Cru sites, some Grand Cru's and featured two horizontals from the same appellation to explain the impact of terroir and the climat as each sub-plot is referred to in Burgundy. Sanjay Menon pictured above with Stephane Soret, Head Sommelier at The Imperial, New Delhi and a colleague
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Wine Society of India tastes Australian & New Zealand wines
2007-12-01 21:38:00
The Wine Society of India and Steven Spurrier held a special wine tasting at the JW Marriot in Mumbai on November 23rd, 2007. Members of the Wine Society of India had an opportunity to taste premium wines from Australia and New Zealand . HDFC Bank Imperia sponsored the event.
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Bouvet-Ladubay launched at French Embassy and more
2007-11-21 04:01:00
Friday the 16th of November, ?07 saw the launch of the Bouvet-Ladubay bouquet of wines from the Loire valley in Delhi. The event was hosted by the suave French Ambassador to India, Jerome Bonnafont at his residence. Guests included diplomats, the city?s socialites, wine aficionados, and representatives of the hospitality and wine industry. Vijay Rekhi, the Managing Director of United Spirits Ltd, a part of the UB Group that owns Bouvet-Ladubay specially flew in from Bangalore for the evening. Pictured above: French Ambassador, Jerome Bonnafont toasts Bouvet-Ladubay with Sommelier India publisher, Reva Singh
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India Wine Show 2007 announces detailed programme
2007-11-21 02:52:00
The India Wine Show is being held between November 29th and December 3rd in Nashik, Maharashtra. It includes wine tastings, conference sessions, and vineyard tours. The show is supported by the Ministry for Agriculture, Government of Maharashtra. Sommelier India is the official wine publication of the show. Download the detailed programme (PDF). And don't miss the show!
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Essay on Indian Wine wins Young Wine Writers Award
2007-11-21 02:37:00
The UK Circle of Wine Writers and Pavilion Books, new publishers of Oz Clarke and Decanter contributing editor Michael Broadbent, have selected Ray O'Connor as Young Wine Writer 2007 for his entry on 'Exploring Wine's New Frontiers - India' according to Decanter Magazine. The award was presented by Steven Spurrier who said that he had learnt a thing or two from the winning essay which described India as a vibrant wine producing country with a great deal of potential. The Award includes a cheque for £1000 and a two-week wine exploring trip to Australia, courtesy of Wine Australia and Qantas. Maybe its time for an Indian airline to sponsor an award.