One such evening was celebrated at Indigo, arguably Mumbai’s favourite and preferred choice for a continental meal. This five-course sitdown dinner was organised by the Wine Society of India, whose main business objectives are to provide wine education and experience through tastings and other specialised programmes including the supply of exceptional wines at modest prices carefully selected by the Board of Wine Advisors from all over the world.

Steven Spurrier, the world renowned wine authority (and contributor to Sommelier India – The Wine Magazine) is the chairman of the Wine Society of India. His visit to Mumbai last week was the perfect opportunity for the Members of WSI to meet him over dinner combined with an informal Master Class on wines chaired by Steven Spurrier himself. It was truly a well organised evening in a beautiful setting – the Indigo terrace. Thankfully, it did not rain and the humidity levels were surprisingly well within limits.

The traditional long dinner table laid with the finest crockery, cutlery, wine glasses with white flower arrangements down the centre set the mood for an elegant evening with wine enthusiasts and experts.

Bouvet Ladubay Brut, a sparkling wine from France made for the perfect welcome drink along accompanied by delectable appetisers. The roast mushroom soup was probably the best I’ve had in years and complemented beautifully the refreshingly clean Yalumba Riesling 2006 from Australia. The crisp acidity of this Riesling amazingly successful in cutting through the strong mushroom flavour of the soup.

Le Bonheur Sauvignon Blanc 2007 from South Africa was commended for its typicity so all you lovers of bell pepper, asparagus and grassy aromas in your Sauvignon Blanc, go try a glass of this wine with lightly flavoured foods such as goat cheese and green apple salad or sea bass carpaccio, as was decidedly established that evening.

The main course of roast lamb with caramelized onion sauce and ravioli in pumpkin sauce for the vegetarians was paired with a choice of two reds, namely, Santa Cristina 2006 and TRE, Brancaia 2005, both from Italy. I can tell you without a hint of doubt that the Brancaia is a winner on all counts – good ripe black fruit, fine tannins but more importantly the finest balance. And finally, there could not have been a better choice than the Late Bottled Vintage Grahams Port to accompany the cheese platter followed by fruit, chocolate and meringue for dessert.

Steven Spurrier’s commentary on the wines in between the courses was both insightful and engaging, particularly his comments on the Paris Tasting in 1976 which rocked the wine industry in Bordeaux as a result of Californian wines being rated higher than their Bordeaux counterparts. Also, the fact that Steven Spurrier was the first Englishman to set up a wine academy in France to teach the French about wine made an amusing and inspiring tale. All in all, it was a delightful evening, well spent. — Sonal Holland