This was a night of elegance and style: A Bangalore Wine Club sit-down dinner entitled, Reserves at the Palace on Saturday, October 24, 2009, which featured the first tasting of the Four Seasons Barrique Reserve wines by UB. This was something that those who follow Indian wine trends closely were looking forward to eagerly, writes Ruma Singh. Left: Abhay Kewadkar and Sanjay Roy of the UB Group

The launch of Living Liquidz - a luxurious liquor shopping experience along with the quaint Wine Bar 'n' Café at Tata Star Bazaar, Andheri, Mumbai - took place on the 10 October 2009. The evening started with some haunting music from the Argentinian music legend Natalio Faingold and his group, Space Garage, who had flown down especially from Mendonza for the opening, writes writes Suneeta Sodhi Kanga.
Right: Hosts of Living Liquidz - Moksh Sani along with guest of honour Kishen Kumar and Keith Sequiera

Over the last couple of years Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine, has had the privilege of meeting some of the world's most renowned sommeliers and wine makers. The other night, however, it was different. Susanne Hecht, a beer sommelier was in New Delhi presenting Bavarian and Belgian beers to a gathering of afficionados at Seville, the Mediterranean restaurant at the Claridges Hotel. Rahoul Singh reports. Pictured is visiting Beer Sommelier Susanne Hecht and Importer, Ankur Jain.

Mike Barrow, the winemaker from the Costaflores Organic Vineyard in Mendoza Argentina, is the newest member of the FineWinesnMore wine family, reports Craig Wedge, adding, "I have never known a winemaker that doesn't have a story to tell, yet Mike is one of those who puts a different spin on his views of the world, and fortunately for India, a uniquely different spin on his wines."

A rare masterpiece of Mughal art - a gold and silver wine flask, studded with jade, rubies and emeralds - is one of the highlights of a breathtaking new exhibition at London's Victoria and Albert Museum reports Sandra Westbrooke Made between 1600 and 1625, it was later presented to Robert Clive, who established British rule in India in 1757. Right:Gem studded wine flask.

The inaugural Sommelier India Wine Competition is round the corner on 19th November in Mumbai, chaired by world renowned wine critic, Steven Spurrier, with a distinguished jury of top Indian palates including chefs, wine buyers, hoteliers, sommeliers, journalists and wine producers, many of whom have a wine qualification. The competition is open to all wines at every price point including locally produced and high-end imported wines for fine dining and retail. The competition will be followed by a Gala Dinner on 20th November, at the ITC Grand Central, Mumbai. Click for reasons to participate. For more information visit www.siwc.in

Jacinta Allen, the minister for Regional and Rural development of the State of Victoria, Australia, was recently in Bangalore to unveil the Victorian Food and Wine Festival. The minister came to town with some good news for all lovers of good food, and especially, wine, writes Ruma Singh.
Left: Jacinta Allen, minister for Regional and Rural development of the State of Victoria, Australia

Aspri, one of India's leading importers and distributors of premium wines and spirits, recently introduced us the Wine Masters Reserve range from Nederburg, South Africa. Nederburg, one of the best known and oldest South African wineries has been producing fine wines for over 200 years. It is part of the Distell group and has won many wine awards, in fact, more than any other winery in South Africa, reports Suneeta Sodhi Kanga from Mumbai
Left:Masters Reserve Pinotage 2007

Formerly part of the Bordeaux wine trade and now a full-time poster artist and illustrator, Jean-Pierre Got's art is imbued with the charm of a by-gone era. Got speaks to Reva K Singh about his work and the special poster she commissioned for the Sommelier India Wine Competition in the interview below. The next edition of the magazine, which will be out soon, has a full page image of the limited edition poster, plus other interesting features. Subscribe today to ensure you receive a copy.
(Right: The SIWC poster, first commission from India by SI - The Wine Magazine)