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April 2007 |
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| This time it was the Telegraph UK, newspaper's turn to discuss the emergence of wine across the Indian subcontinent. What was nice about the article is that rather than focusing on statistics or the industry, instead it focused on consumers and their introduction to wine. A Tulleeho wine appreciation event was featured and Magandeep Singh who writes for Sommelier India was quoted discussing wine. |  |
But probably best of all, the article reminded readers that India's 16th and 17th century Mughal emperors drank wine - mostly Shiraz from Persia. Wine is gaining popularity across the country but by no means are we completely new to wine. Indians had wine before many New World countries even existed!
 | 2007 was the largest LIWSF ever staged with approximately a 50/50 split between Old and New World producers. With over 40 seminars, briefings, debates and tutored tastings plus an exceptionally wide range of international wines and spirits were staged under one roof, the show had something of interest for a vast cross section of the industry. |
It provided a rich opportunity for importers, buyers and consumers to get acquainted with not just the great names, but a surprising number of small, quality driven estates. “We estimate that there are over 6,000 intriguing and interesting wines to discover,” noted Marketing Director Will Broadfoot.
According to The Times of India, liquor vendors across Goa are striking in protest against alleged harassment by the excise department. The excise department wants to limit the flow of alcohol during election time as they fear that it will be used to buy votes. As a result the department has filed 100 cases with around 50 permits being cancelled for violating excise laws.
This is the first time that the wholesalers are striking and it has begun to affect bars and restaurants as stocks dwindle. The liquor industry brings the treasury Rs.100 crore each year.
| The recently concluded Spanish Wine Fair, was by all accounts an outstanding success. Buyers from new and emerging markets like China and India were introduced to the delights of Spanish Wines, while wine makers and industry associations debated the future of their art. The convergence of producers, buyers and importers, media and industry analysts made the fair a vibrant venue. |  |
A venue for addressing the issues, concerns, hopes and aspirations of the various Spanish wine making regions.
Here's another sign that Indian wine is coming of age. For the first time, Sommelier Alpana Singh is presenting Grover Vineyards Viognier Clairette at a special 600 people wine dinner in Chicago. Other wines being served include Chateau Rayas Blanc and vintage Veuve Clicquot Champagne. Susana Balbo will be speaking at the event.
In 2003, Alpana passed the final exam to become the youngest person ever to achieve the rank of Master Sommelier. (The master sommelier exam has an approximate 3% pass rate). She is currently Director of Wine and Spirits for Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises in Chicago and last year published a book titled, Alpana Pours: About Being a Woman, Loving Wine, and Having Great Relationships.
| The Indian wine story is making waves around the world. The latest is a story in Australia's The Age which talks about wine consumption across India. It also highlights Chateau Indage and its Australian acquisition, Tandou.
Some statistics mentioned include the number bottles being consumed - 5 million per year. The number of regular whisky drinkers is 200 million compared to 700,000 wine drinkers and finally the domestic market is expected to grow to 9.76 million bottles by 2010 according to Assocham. This is a 30% increase.
Reva Singh of Sommelier India was quoted in the article discussing wine consumption in India. |  |
 | Day three of the Spanish Wine Fair, Fenavin, had two highly informative Round Table discussions on, "Wine and Public Health" and "Wine and Health:Recent Investigations" conducted by both medical practitioners and academics from around the world. |
One could not help but take note of the relatively small but increasing number of organic wine growers in the country and the ecological role they were playing in maintaining the terroir of their vineyards and thereby producing ´healthier´ wines.
Wondering which is the most powerful wine brand in the world? It's Gallo Family Vineyards. The Power 100 survey was put together by brand consultants Intangible Business. Interestingly, France had no wine in the top 100. Torres at number 15 led the Europeans. Five of the top ten brands were from the US, four from Australia and one from Chile (Concha Y Toro). Yellowtail of Australia came in at number 5.
In terms of overall drink companies, Diageo and Pernod Ricard came in first and second followed by Beam Global and Bacardi Martini. This was first reported in Decanter Magazine.
India's UB Group, the world's third-largest maker of spirits, is close to signing a US$1.3 billion deal to acquire Scottish whisky maker Whyte & Mackay Ltd., a news report said Monday. The UB Group had earlier setup an Indian wine company called United Vinters.
UK investor wishes to invest in a Nasik winery. Are you a new or recently established winery in need of capital to accelerate the growth of business? Michael Greeve will be in Nasik the last week in May, if you would like to discuss the possibilities, please contact him by email mike@hepscott.com or call on 0044 870 2252656 to arrange a meeting. Michael Greeve, Managing Director, Hepscott Water Systems Limited.
Email Sommelier India if you want your ad to appear under Classifieds in the print publication and on the website for a nominal fee.
 | The second day at Fenavin, the Spanish Wine Fair being held in Cuidad Real was witness to high levels of activity, due in part, to the success of the Wine Gallery being held on the first floor of the main exhibition hall. Placed neatly in rows, over one thousand of the choicest Spanish wines with individual placards describing their grape varietals, the production capacity of the vineyard and the region to where they belong were available for visitors to the Fair to sample. |
The wines you drink actually tell a lot about you. For example, drinking Pinot Noir makes you a person who is knowledgeable and with a fondness for luxuries. Pinot Noir drinkers like to charm and seduce but can also be moody. Shiraz fans on the other hand, like a good story and love meeting up with old friends.
So what are you telling people about yourself by your choices in wine? Read on to find whether you should be drinking your favorite wine in public or quietly in your solitary splendor at home!
 | Visitors claim there are too many trade shows and one cannot attend them all. It is for this reason that each trade show is becoming a speciality for a certain country and/or a certain range of wines, notes Dr Ariff Jamal.
After a successful exhibition, one already plans for the next ProWein scheduled for 16–18 March 2008. |
Until then much water will flow under the bridges of the Rhine, Mosel and Neckar when once again the German platform for the wine trade will become alive.
With over a thousand exhibitors, multiple and parallel conferences on issues as diverse as, “The Impact of Climate Change on the Wine Industry”, ”The Future of High Expression Wines”, ”The Wine Market in Japan” and an illuminating round table on, ”A Matter of Noses” have all contributed in making the first day of the Spanish Wine Fair, Fenavin, both highly informative and from all accounts equally transactive.
| Kapil Grover of Grover Vineyards was quoted in a Hindustan Times article the other day about a new Vir Sanghvi show. He said, "Wine making is easy and only the first 200 years are difficult." He added, "I wish I could live to enjoy the easy part."
After that he went onto say that 80% of their exports go to France. It is a good sign that Indian wine is selling in France especially since wine production in India is not 200 years old! |  |
Vir Sanghvi is doing a six part TV show for the discovery channel on food and wine. His fifth episode is titled, "India Uncorked" and covers Indian wine exports and a trip to Grover Vineyards where he interviews Kapil Grover. Sanghvi confesses to having difficulty in sniffing the bouquet in wine. Our advice to him - don't worry too much about the bouquet, just enjoy the wine!
Wine Spectator is highlighting new research from Finland which shows that people who drink wine live longer. The study suggests that moderate consumption may lead to a healthier and longer life. Wine drinkers were in better health at the end of the study and had also performed better on mental health tests. However, the wine drinkers also tended to exercise more and smoke less, making the researchers wonder whether wine is simply one piece of a "happy long-life puzzle", as opposed to a deciding factor.
Here are at Sommelier India, we encourage our readers to always drink in moderation and not to drink before driving.
Tulleeho is organizing a Wine Appreciation Workshop on Sunday, May 13th 2007 at Moksha, New Friends Colony at 11:00am. It costs Rs. 1,500 per individual and Rs. 1250 per person for a group of 4 or more. Click ahead for a listing of the Indian and imported wines being served. To sign up and learn more call Neeta at 9971154955.
 | Miguel Torres of Torres Wines was in Delhi recently. He chatted about his own life, Torres Wines and the Indian wine consumer with Reva Singh of Sommelier India over lunch at La Piazza in the Hyatt Regency, Delhi. The Miguel Torres Santa Digna Sauvignon Blanc 2004 and the Torres Atrium Merlot 2004 were served at the lunch. If you're wondering what food was matched with these wines, read on. You'll find more coverage of Torres wines in the print issue of Sommelier India. |
Today Torres is Spain's largest wine producer with vineyards in Catalonia, California, Chile and China! Torres wines are exported to over 120 countries. In 2006 Wine Enthusiast recognized Bodegas Torres as the Best European Winery of the Year.
FENAVIN, the most important wine business fair in Spain starts early this month. At the last FENAVIN 789 wine producers from Spain, 24,512 wine professionals, 627 media representatives and 725 international purchases were present. View a list of exhibitors participating in this year's fair. |
Upto 1000 wineries and cooperatives from all of Spain will be participating at the fair which will be held between May 7th & 10th. Some of the Indian wine importers participating include Brindco, Sonarys, Aspri Spirits, Mohan Brothers, High Spirits and Diplomat Impex. The India Tourism Development Corporation will also be attending. Watch for coverage of the fair in Sommelier India.
Somrus Wines of Australia held a wine tasting on March 14th, 2007 at the Grand Intercontinental, Barakhramba Road, New Delhi. They source wines from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, King Valley, Goulburn Valley, as well as the Cowra region, in addition to their existing Hunter Valley vineyards.
| Kyndal india has introduced a new wine brand - 30 Latt into the Indian market. The grapes for this wine is sourced from Holkar Estate in Nashik.
But why call the brand 30th Latt? The reason being that historically some of the best wine making grapes have come from 30 degrees latitude or between the 30th and 50th parallels in the northern and southern hemisphere. |  |
The wines are already available in Goa, Chandigarh, Punjab, Pune and Kolkata and are now being introduced in Mumbai and Delhi. The Kyndal wine portfolio currently includes Trinity, Flamingo and now the flagship brand, 30th Latt which contains a Sauvignon Blanc, a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines retail at around Rs. 450 depending upon the city you live in.
Sommelier India tasted these wines and felt that their Cabernet Sauvignon showed the most promise with its silkiness and long finish. Try them and let us know what you think.
Sopexa organized a wine and spirits event for members of the trade in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore between April 23-27th, 2007. 21 wine and sprits producers from France participated in the event with the goal of showcasing their wines and learning more about the Indian market. These wine producers were also on the prowl for local importers and distributors.
Some of the wine producers present included Baron de Montfort, Cellier des Dauphins, Champagne Eric Taillet, Chassagnoux & Fils, Chateau Bellefontaine, Brague, Mallevielle, Tariquet, Rousselle, Denis et Florence Dubourdieu, Domaine de Val d'Estable, Domaine du Parc Saint Charles, Dubos Frere-Bordeaux, Gerard Bertrand, Louis Max, Maison Tricon, Malbec Cahors International, M. Chapoutier, Rhum Clement, Vinovalie and VMV.
Needless to say, India is a tough market and these wine producers will need all the patience they can muster if they want to break into it. Some of the wines showed promise, but with the Indian retail market just emerging, there currently aren't enough distribution points for all these new wine producers. Not surprisingly, some of the producers had difficulty in getting their samples through customs.
 | Another potential producer entering the Indian wine market is none other than world renowned South African golfer Ernie Els. He was recently in India on his first trip and that too a business one to scout out both golf course design and wine business opportunities. He was coy about his business plans but hinted that he may bring his own wine label into India. Those Stellenbosch produced wines are considered big in stature and gentle in character - just like Ernie Els himself. And we're certain, they'll be at the very least, popular at places like the Delhi Golf Club. |
The Indo Asian News Service (IANS)& The Economic Times recently reported on the view of senior doctors at the National Health Summit. Included here is the IANS coverage.
Dismissing the widely held theory that red wine is good for health, leading Indian doctors said that no one in the world has proved the positive side of either the red wine or any category of alcohol.
Scores of leading doctors assembled in the national capital to participate in a national health summit were unanimous in their view that wine, beer or any other form of alcohol couldn't be promoted as a health enhancer.
Sommelier India does not take a stand on this issue however we recommend that you always drink in moderation. If you are a subscriber, please click on the "health" tag below to read many more articles on this subject.
Decanter Magazine is reporting that the French winemakers are clear on who they would like to win the French Presidential election. Nicolas Sarkozy is being backed by Bordeaux, Burgundy and Champagne winemakers for one simple reason - he has hinted that he may loosen the restrictions on wine advertising by the Evin Law.
© Copyright 2008. Consolidated Media Intl. All rights reserved.
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