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Wine Consumption to touch 9 million litres
2007-09-03 20:38:00
Domestic wine consumption is expected to touch around nine million litres by 2010 growing at a CAGR of around 22 percent per annum according to a new study. It is currently estimated at five million a year with Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Bangaluru drinking the most. Currently India's wine market is at the equivalent of 200 people sharing one bottle per year. 63 percent of volume sales are still through off-trade channels in the five star hotels, pubs and bar restaurants says the study. For more information, read the DNA Mumbai story which discussed the study in detail.
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Indian Institute of Vine and Wine to be established
2007-09-03 20:32:00
Champagne Indage is partnering with the University of Adelaide and the Maharashtra government to setup a wine institute to train individuals interested in working in the sector. It will be set up at Narayangaon near Pune and hopes to start training within the next three years. According to industry experts, India's wine industry will require 10,000 skilled viticulturists, 5,000 winery staff operations, 1,000 wine makers and 500 wine experts and marketing, serving and financial professionals by 2020. The University of Adelaide runs Australia's National Wine Center which is a public exhibition about wine making and the Australian wine industry. Oenology courses are offered through the School of Agriculture.
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Howling Wolves enter the Indian market
2007-09-03 20:30:00
Decanter Magazine, which rarely covers Indian wine, is reporting that Howling Wolves has set up a joint venture to produce wine in India with distiller and distributor Brihans. The Howling Wolves CEO, Damian Knowles, is quoted as saying that ninety-five percent of locally- produced wine is average or below average because the Indian growers are conditioned to growing quantity not quality. Do you agree? The vineyard is at Sreepur about 300km south of Mumbai. Knowles says the climate is half way between Western Australia's Margaret River and the Swan Valley near Perth. He argues that producing wine locally is a way to reach the lucrative Indian market and avoid some of the duties.
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Happy Independence Day from Sommelier India
2007-08-15 03:40:00
Sommelier India wishes all its readers a Happy Independence Day. Celebrate it with some Indian champagne! Today India celebrates its birth as a sovereign nation.View a video clip of Jawaharlal Nehru's address to the Assembly in India a few hours before independence at midnight on August 15th, 1947.
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Bordeaux & Aquitaine Wine, India 2007
2007-08-15 03:32:00
Bordeaux & Aquitaine Wine , India 2007 will be held in New Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore between November 13th and 17th this year. The event will showcase Bordeaux and Aquitaine wines from France through the Proximum Group which has offices in Paris, Beijing and Torino. The trade event is supported by Le Conseil Régional des Vins d'Aquitaine (CRVA) and AAPrA (Association Aquitaine de Promotion Agroalimentaire). The event is going to feature 40 wine producers from the two regions of France showcasing three to four wines from each producer. The major hotels and restaurants in India are expected to participate in the events.
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The 2006 Bordeaux En Primeur Season, the last word
2007-08-08 16:47:00
Pictured on the left is Reva Singh of Sommelier India, Patrick Maroteaux, President of the UGC, Serena Sutcliffe of Sotheby's International. On the right is Georg Josef Riedel of Riedel Glas and Philippe Casteja of Chateau Batailley at a Bordeaux En Prime ur dinner. Some say that the Bordeaux 2006 vintage could be as special as the famous 1982. Most critics however, argue that the 2006 are not even up to the 2005 let alone the 1982. While on the surface this might appear to be just wine critics bickering among themselves, huge amount of money are involved. How the world perceives the vintage, determines how the wines appreciate in time.
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The India Wine Challenge - Should you participate?
2007-08-08 14:58:00
IFE-India is organizing the India Wine Challenge in association with Robert Joseph, editor-at-large of Wine-Business International. He also launched the International Wine Challenge in 1984 in partnership with Charles Metcalfe and ran it until 2005. Billed as ?India?s only major, independent and truly influential wine competition?, it attempts to determine the best wines available in India through blind tastings. But what really is the India Wine Challenge, how does it compare with other wine competitions, should you participate and is India ready for it?
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Pune Gourmet Club, Pairing Food & Wine
2007-08-08 14:46:00
The Pune Gourmet Club (PGC) was formed in August, 2006 because as the owners explained, they felt that the average middle class Indian with a taste for gourmet food and an interest in wines was being given short shrift by the industry at large. Wine tasting was being packaged as an exotic and exclusive event. The PGC has simple membership requirements - Pune residency, a willingness to cook and an interest in wine. Membership is free.
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Rothschild baron who of Chateau Lafite fame dies
2007-08-08 04:09:00
Baron Elie de Roth schild, the banker who revived Chateau Lafite after World War II, died of a heart attack at the age of 90. He was the former head of the board of the Swiss bank Rothschild AG in Zurich. He led a program to restore the vineyards and buildings after the war and led Chateau Lafite through some excellent vintages such as the 1945, 1947 and 1949 and later the 1955, 1959 and the 1961. Baron Elie was a founding member of the Bordeaux wine guild. Chateau Lafite is one of the largest in the Médoc and produces around 35,000 cases annually of which between 15,000 and 25,000 are of its famous first growth.
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May a thousand IVY Wine Bars bloom
2007-08-08 03:38:00
Chateau Indage is moving one step closer to its goal of opening 1,000 retail outlets across the country. These will be called "IVY Wine Bars ". Planned for this fiscal year, these retail outlets will help the company reach a turnover over Rs 100 crore. The outlets will include Chateau Indage's own brands and as well as imports from Australia and South Africa.
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German Rieslings from Mosel
2007-08-08 02:30:00
I have to admit that being in the wine trade is sometimes very rewarding, especially if you like to travel to the interiors of the country and explore the cultures, tradition, food and of course the wines. Every year I look forward to visiting a new wine region and this year was no exception when I visited the famous wine country around Mosel in Germ an y. A postcard from Vishal Kadakia.
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Love Wine Quietly
2007-08-08 02:28:00
Wine snobs are often the loudest in professing their love for wine, but the true wine lover loves it quietly, says Ch?ng Poh Tiong. In India too, just as everywhere in the world, we must be wary of the wine snobs who take themselves too seriously through wine. This article first appeared in the July/August issue of Sommelier India. Subscribe to Sommelier India to read more articles by some of the best wine writers in the world.
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Through The Wine Glass, Rajeev Samant on Indian Wine
2007-08-08 01:28:00
Rajeev Samant of Sula Vineyards wrote an editorial on the growth of wine for The Times of India which was published a few days ago. Sommelier India has excerpted the thoughtful essay for its readers. The past five years have seen a dramatic shift in the drinking habits of affluent urban Indian s. More and more sophisticated city-dwellers are giving up their old hard liquor habits and switching to the softer option of wine. In the 90s, wine was still an afterthought at celebrations or evenings out at the club, but with increased availability of good, affordable locally produced wine, drinking patterns are changing fast. The full article is available in the Times of India archives.
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Nine Hills Wine now in Delhi
2007-07-30 13:44:00
Wine lovers can now buy Nine Hills wine in Delhi . Labeled ?Nine Hills? after the hills of Nashik from where the grapes come, Seagram formally launched their new quartet of Indian wines in the capital in early July, comprising two whites (a Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc) and two reds (Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz). At an exclusive walk-around tasting for members of The Wine Society at Dublin at the ITC Maurya hotel, French winemaker Jean-Manual Jacquinot explained his technique and philosophy.
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Diageo ties up with Reliance Fresh for Wines Distribution
2007-07-30 13:11:00
Diageo has tied up with Reliance Fresh to retail its international wine portfolio in the country. Diageo will launch domestic wines at Reliance Retail outlets in addition to regular liquor shops in September. Initially, the wines will be available at 15 Reliance Fresh outlets in Mumbai and Pune. Diageo will begin by introducing their Blossom Hill Red wine and White wine in the range of Rs.700-800. Other Blossom Hill varieties like Chardonnay, Colombard Chardonnay, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Shiraz are priced in the range of Rs 900 -1,000.
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Forging Ahead In The Asia Pacific With Wine For Asia
2007-07-30 11:28:00
The French reputed the world over for their fine wines, exquisite flavours and traditional businesses are forging into the Asia Pacific to deepen their footprint in the Asian wine Industry. Ms Christine Gilguy, Deputy Chief Editor of MOCI reported at Vinexpo recently that French wine exports to Singapore jumped by 43% to ?360 million in 2006. This is more than 3 times the value of French wine exports to China which stood at ?100 million the same year.? Sommelier India partners with Wine for Asia.
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Mathur Vada with Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa
2007-07-30 10:53:00
Dakshin at the ITC Park Sheraton, Delhi recently matched Kalyera thokku (lobster in an onion-based sauce) with a crisp Riesling. This was preceded by matching mathur vada, a Mysore vada, with a sauvignon blanc from South Africa . The bold match went down very well with diners. What are your most unusual (and successful!) food and wine matches?
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Integrated Viticulture Online from UC Davis
2007-07-30 09:00:00
Researchers, specialists and farm advisors at the University of California at Davi s have done a important viticulture research over many years. They have created a website so that wine growers can keep up with the latest viticulture research. Called the Integrated Viticulture Online , the website is designed and maintained by the UC Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources Integrated Grape Production Workgroup.
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Have you heard of Big Banyan?
2007-07-25 11:50:00
Have you heard of Big B anyan wine? It?s the new Indian wine from Château de Banyan, a division of John Distilleries Limited, Bangalore and the latest venture from the promoters of Kumarakom Lake Resort. On sale in Goa and Bangalore with five varietals of white and red wine, we reckon we?ll be hearing a great deal more about these wines. As Indian wines achieve growing recognition in the country, Château de Banyan intends to bring world-class wines to the discerning wine drinker, notes a company press release.
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WHO Global Status on Alcohol - Red Wine Rules
2007-07-25 08:09:00
World Health Organization's Global Status Report on Alcohol reported that the Indian wine market is growing steadily. The share of red wine is 29%, white wine is 37%, sparkling wine 7% and fortified wine 17%. Not surprisingly, Mumbai accounts for approximately 40% of the country's wine sales. The Times of India has featured the report and highlights some interesting statistics on alcohol consumption in each state.
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Rosé, the red wine for white wine drinkers
2007-07-23 07:24:00
Historically, rosé wine was delicate and dry. It was thought of as the red wine for white wine drinkers; lighter, fruitier and crisper. However, after the Second World War, medium-sweet rosés gained popularity with the classic examples being Mateus Rosé and American "blush" wines. Now the pendulum seems to be swinging back towards a drier, "bigger" style. These wines are made from the Rhone grapes like Syrah in the Languedoc of France and in Australia too. They haven't made much of a mark in India as yet, but they do share something in common with our neighbor across the border. August 14th has been declared International Rosé Day. It also happens to be Pakistan's Independence Day!
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EU Halts WTO Wine Complaint About India
2007-07-23 06:30:00
As a follow on to the reduction of tariffs on wine being imported into India , the EU has halted its WTO complaint about Indian wine. The EU praised the Indian government for lifting barriers to wine and whisky imports. However, Brussels said that it regretted that India was raising its basic duties on wines to 150 percent from 100 percent even though these remain within the WTO limits. The United States declined to say if it was continuing with a separate WTO probe over the same issue. For more on this issue, read the Associated Press coverage. Sommelier India contributor, Alok Chandra also discusses the issue in a Business Standard article. Also read the previous winetariffs posts published on the Sommelier India blog and comment on the subject.
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Himachel Pradesh Wine Interest Blossoms
2007-07-23 06:22:00
Himachel Pradesh has gotten the wine bug too. Fruit winemakers are blossoming everywhere and are breeding the market with apples, peaches, plums, rhododendrons and watermelons. It may not be just grapes, but its certainly a type of wine according to The Economic Times. In fact, Chateau Indage, which is India's largest wine maker, is planning to invest Rs. 30 crore for a winery in Pragati Nagar, 55km east of Shimla. Indage will produce both grape and non-grape wine varieties at this facility.
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French Embassy celebrates National Day
2007-07-23 05:55:00
The French Embassy in New Delhi celebrated the 218th National Day of France on July 14th, 2007. Wine from Alsace was served with French delicacies like Escargo and Legumes. The guests included Delhi based actor Nandita Das and the fashion designer duo, Hemant and Lecoanet.
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Residents protest Wine Shops in Mumbai
2007-07-23 05:06:00
India is a complex country with often competing interests that clash with one another. A recent example of this is the case of the Kharghar wine shop in Mumbai . Residents of the neighborhood are protesting its opening as they are against the availability of liquor in the educational hub. Banners denouncing the sale of alcohol have been put up and local authorities have been urged to maintain the "no alcohol" status of the area. Residents had believed that Kharghar was a dry zone because there are several educational institutes in the area. However, the opening of the Shyam Wine Shop has proved this wrong. City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra Limited (Cidco) authorities said that as long as the wine shop was in a commercial zone there was nothing wrong. The police added that they cannot do anything as long as the wine shop is not within 500 meters of an educational institution or a place of worship. Note, wine shops in India sell all kinds of liquor and oft...
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The Wines of Luxembourg: light, dry and delicious to drink
2007-07-14 16:48:00
The latest wines to come to my notice are from Luxembourg. The other night I had a deliciously dry and refreshing Riesling followed by an Auxerrois, one of Luxembourg?s most successful grape varieties. The Grand Duchy grows Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir, all of which are produced as varietal wines. Well chilled and refreshing, the wines were perfect with paté on toast triangles, cubed pineapple, cheese and cherries on toothpicks, and cucumber sticks, not to mention some moist dhokla! Not one person asked for a beer, a nimbu pani or a diet coke. That says something? about the wines and our changing beverage preferences. Pictured above is Moselle Vineyards in Luxembourg.
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Dangerous Weather in Bordeaux
2007-07-14 13:17:00
Torrential rains in northern Europe has left French vineyards at risk of losing a significant percentage of their vintage from rot and mildew according to Decanter magazine. The Bordeaux wine region is especially hard hit. There's been heavy rain in May, June and so far into July with mildew spearding to the grapes. The southern Graves is the worst affected region with a few vineyards losing up to 90% of their crop.
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Additional Custom Duties Scrapped. The Facts
2007-07-04 08:42:00
The Government of India has decided to remove additional custom duties on imported wines and spirits. Additional customs duties on imported liquor imposed by India ranged between 20-150% according to PTI. This was over and above the basic customs duty of 150% allowed by the WTO. The multiple duties took the overall taxes on wine and spirits upto 550% in some cases.Click to watch the CNBC video clip. The clip will appear after an advertisement.
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Additional Custom Duties Scrapped. Who will benefit?
2007-07-04 08:25:00
The Indian Government has cut duties on liquor. The Finance Ministry has finally withdrawn all additional customs duties on imported spirit, wine and beer, following ongoing complaints from the EU and US on the high duties levied by India. A European Commission study had reported that the combination of duties and taxes in some states in India was as high as 550% on imported spirits and 264% on wines. Abhay Kewadkar, Sanjay Menon and Alok Chandra share their opinions.
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Chateau Indage celebrates 25th Anniversary
2007-07-04 08:09:00
Chataue Indage organized the Indage Mega Wine Fest at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi to celebrate its 25th anniversary on June 30th, 2007. ?We are holding a pan India wine festival and this is an attempt to make wine consumer friendly and to reach out to more people,? said AS Bhatia, manager of Indage?s northern region. As the Indian Express and others reported, amidst grape stomping sessions and raunchy Punjabi pop numbers, people sipped the recently launched Ivy, Sauvignon Semillon, White Zinfandel and Vin Ballets and nibbled spicy paneer tikkas and fish fingers dipped in coriander chutney. "The whole idea of having these different stalls was to give people a new perspective on wine and to break that barrier of formality, rules and just be a free spirit and enjoy what you like," said Ajay Kumar Gothwal of Champagne Indage Ltd.
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