As the granddaughter of Alexandre Marnier, the creator of the famed French liqueur, Grand Marnier, Alexandra, through both lineage and personal experience was perfectly suited to conceptualize and design their gravity fed Chilean winery, Casa Lapostolle. The winery opened in 1994 and has since then benefitted immeasurably not only from Chile's ideal winemaking climate but also from original pre-phylloxera French vines that were available.

At Indian Accent's intimate dining room, Alexandra introduced us to four wines, Cuvee Alexandre Chardonnay 2006, Cuvee Alexandre Merlot 2006, a Clos Apalta 2006 and finally the Cuvee du Cent Cinquantenaire. Chef Tirath Singh and his team put together a menu that complemented the wines and teased the palate alike.

For example, the Tandoori Scottish Salmon with dill leaves and a Greek style yoghurt nicely accentuated the "creaminess" of the Chardonnay and the wine's "crispiness" and slight acidity were not overwhelmed by a barrage of spices.

Similarly, the soft, well-rounded, velvety tannins of the Clos Apalta 2006, a blend of Carmenère, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot, paired well with the succulent, tamarind glazed New Zealand lamb shank, and brought the "juiciness" of the steak to the fore.

A thoughtful menu in an elegant hotel coupled with some exquisite wines all contributed towards a memorable culinary experience, the irresistible finalé being the Indian accented Grand Marnier jalebi!!