Bringing elegance and complexity to its flagship wine, Kinvah, Italian oenologist Luca Patricelli has big plans for Karnataka's Nandi Valley winery, writes Ruma Singh. Wines in Karnataka are getting an Italian flavour. And that is because of Italian oenologist Luca Patricelli, who is lending his expertise to Nandi Valley Winery's Bijapur-based 250 acre vineyards. The winery's flagship brand of wine, Kinvah, is undergoing changes under his tutelage. Read the full article in the latest issue of Sommelier India.

In a strange turn of events, Starbucks is testing a new coffee shop concept that looks nothing like Starbucks. The iconic green logo is nowhere to be seen and the cookie cutter globalized feel of Starbucks that we're used doesn't exist. Instead you have a homely, warm, cozy coffee shop that doesn't just sell coffee but wine too! Now I wonder what Cafe Coffee Day or Barista think of that.

The closing of their Delhi and other regional sales offices is just the latest sign that Indage Vintners, the grandfather of the Indian wine industry is rather suddenly in a precarious position. A lot of different factors are potentially at play but what's certain is that the market was flooded with more Indage wine than it could stomach and the special two for one deals devalued its brands too.

With the global economy just about recovering from the recession, Champagne sales are still down. LVMH whose portfolios includes the likes of Moet & Chandon, Dom Perignon, Veuve Clicquot and Chateau d'Yquem, said that revenue had fallen by 17%. According to the Federation des Exportateurs de Vin et Spiritueux de France, exports of Champagne to India dropped by 70% so far this year. With these statistics, it begs the broader question is there room for more foreign labels? Shiv Singh reflects on the question.

Renowned novelist and influential columnist, Kushwant Singh waded into the alcohol debate on Saturday with a column in the Hindustan Times. Known as a whisky drinker he not surprisingly shared his opinion that drinking is not bad as long as its done in moderation.

We've all had those panic attacks. You're about to have a dozen friends over for dinner and things have begun to go wrong. The chicken tikkas that you ordered haven't been delivered, you've discovered that you don't have enough ice and your dessert is suddenly looking weary. When this happens the last thing you want to do is think about when to serve your best wine. Here are some tips from Shiv Singh.

Balesh Jindal's "Cheers India" painting captures Indian wine lovers enjoying some red wine. The painting is a part of an art show which opens on August 8th and runs till the 12th at the Palm Court, Habitat Center, Delhi. Priced at 1.9 lakhs it has a 10% discount for all Sommelier India subscribers.

Our never-ending wine taxation saga truly never ends. The latest salvo in this ongoing tug a war has the Maharashtra state government reducing the VAT (value added tax) from 25% to 20%. The government will also provide a 16% rebate to wineries thus reducing the VAT in effect to 4%.

It has recently come to our attention that retailers planning to setup wine retail outlets in basements below their main shops may run afoul of the local government. This state law seems extremely restrictive.

The ambience and colours of South Africa came alive in suburban Mumbai at an evening out at the Indo-Afro restaurant, lounge and bar - Ubuntu. Our hosts, Neetu Sheth of Wine Rack, Ralph of Ralph Craven Wines and Geeta Jivan of Ubuntu welcomed us to a perfectly cured Sherry from Ralph Craven's cellar which set the luscious tone and mood for the evening, writes Suneeta Kanga. Pictured right: Gita Jivan, Suneeta Kanga, Neethu Sheth and Ralph Craven

As Reva Singh wrote in June (Ed's Note, SI July/August 2009, which many of you would have seen by now) Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine in association with The Wine Society of India has embarked on an exciting new project that will help consumers decide between the good and the not-so-good or the good and the excellent - the Sommelier India Wine Competition (SIWC).

Kevin Zraly runs one of the top wine schools in the United States. Windows on the World Wine School based in New York and through it he's known to have educated an entire generation of sommeliers and wine enthusiasts alike. Some people consider him the best known Sommelier in New York if not the world! His book (with the same title as his wine school) is a bestseller in its own right. Here he is being interviewed discussing wine pairings with spicy food. Don't miss it. You'll learn a lot in the 60 seconds!

In another sign that the Indian wine market is contracting with the global economic downturn, Diageo has decided to exit the Indian wine market. They have taken their only brand - Nilaya off the retail shelves and are focusing on their hard liquor business in the country. Nilaya was launched in November 2007 less than two years ago amid much fanfare. Shiv Singh reports.

I know for a fact that I'm not drinking less wine but the average dollar amount that I spend on wine has dropped. And according to Wine Spectator, most Americans are doing the same - spending less but not drinking less with the economic downturn. I too have found myself paying a little extra attention to the cost of the bottles that I buy. Shiv Singh discusses what the economy is doing to his wine buying and asks you to share your story.

Here's another content rich issue of Sommelier India The Wine Magazine to see you through the next few weeks with articles on a host of interesting subjects. Jancis Robinson writes compellingly as usual... this time on the merits and demerits of varietal blending in wine. Kavita Faiella is a new columnist who writes on wine from a woman's perspective.

Members of the Bangalore Wine Club spent an interesting Sunday evening, exploring Kerala cuisine in all its splendour, paired with the wines of the Big Banyan range at The Paul, Château de Banyan's own star hotel in Bangalore. Ruma Singh describes the evening.

The first-ever 'Wine Fest & Seminar 2009' in Bangalore was organised by the Karnataka Wine Board in the sylvan settings of the 240-acre Lalbagh Gardens on July 10 - 12, with just three local wine companies taking part, Grover Vineyards, Naka Spurt, and Kinvah. While a far cry from the affairs we have been witness to in Mumbai and Delhi, this was a significant first step for local wine producers and wine marketing companies, and provides an important precedent for such fairs in future. Alok Chandra reports.

Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Vineyards,Nashik, has been passionately involved in all aspects of the wine business. Sula has grown from 30 to 1,500 acres (owned and contracted); from a production of 5000 cases to 200,000 cases; from two wine varietals to a portfolio of 18 wines since its inception in 1999. Samant shares his thoughts about his company and the Indian wine scenario with Brinda Gill

A new issue of Sommelier India has just hit the newsstands and you don't want to miss it! Jancis Robinson discusses blends and finds that there's much to be said for blending. Ashwini Patel Avate discovers a fantasy château in Bordeaux, Kavita Faiella applies some simple psychology to what you find in your glass and in life while Harshal Shah interviews Indian industrialist and sugar baron Dhruv Sawhney about his fascination for wine. Mr. Sawhney is also a member of the Sommelier India Advisory Council.

With 60 pages packed with stories on wine and the wine lifestyle, this is an issue that you must read. Be sure to read the interview with Rajeev Samant by Brinda Gill and get some tips on where to buy wine from Ameeta Sharma who reviews the Delhi wine scene. If you're not a subscriber, visit the subscriptions page to subscribe today. You'll receive this latest issue in no time.

We all have pet peeves. Those minor annoyances that for some reason or the other get under our skin. As a wine lover who goes to restaurants more for the wine list than the food, I've a pet peeve that annoys me no end. And that's when the wine that I order from the menu is of a different vintage than what's served. To me this is insulting - am I overreacting? Shiv Singh wants your opinion on whether he's making much ado about nothing.

Having visited India at regular intervals over the past ten years to promote Bichot wines through Brindco, I took up a 12-month assignment on 4 May 2008 to help Brindco penetrate and lead in the organised retail segment of the Indian wine market.

Are you wondering how much to tip on wine at a restaurant? What if you ordered a really expensive wine would you still top it up with a tip? Apparently, there's no established tipping etiquette when it comes to wine. And even the experts aren't really sure what the right amount to tip is. But that doesn't necessarily mean that you should not tip at all.

Sommelier India Wine Competition, that's what's next on the cards. Ever since I heard that the India Wine Challenge had been cancelled along with IFE, I have been mulling over the proposal that Sommelier India step into the breach with a wine competition of its own. As India's only magazine dedicated to wine with a national presence it seemed the logical thing to do. So, here we are, all set to make a success of it!

Our partners are The Wine Society of India with Steven Spurrier as Chairman of the Competition. Steven's credentials are impeccable as the architect of the Decanter World Wide Awards and Japan Wine Challenge. Considering also his familiarity with India and extensive wine tasting experience, we couldn't do better. Watch the Sommelier India website for more details in the coming weeks and months.

Over 80 members of the Bangalore Wine Club recently got together at the newly launched Vivanta by Taj Hotel in the upscale International Tech Park in Bangalore. The reason? To promote and celebrate Indian wines over an al fresco lunch in an event called The Indian Wine Village. Ruma Singh reports

There are two reasons to attend a wine tasting hosted by Wine Park's Vishal Kadakia. One, he has a fascinating portfolio of wines. And second, he's a great story teller. The wine importer's passion for his trade is clearly visible by the interest he takes in every wine in his portfolio, and the depth of knowledge he has about wine producers' histories and personal stories.