Celebrating International's Women's Day
Can it be possible for International Women's Day to go by without a splendid celebration by W3 - a wine club that proudly welcomes only women to be members, wherein events may be open to male partners and spouses. Sonal Holland, wine consultant and patron member of W3, highlights this special evening where women and only women gathered together for an evening soiree.
Pictured above (L- R): Roshni Damania; Mr. Anil Malik (General Manager - ITC Maratha); Dharti Desai (Founder-W3); Chandni Dhall (Partner - W3); Kiran Patil and Sonal Holland (Patron Members - W3) and Farah Siddique. Click to enlarge the image
The objective was to celebrate woman power and their achievements in various fields of work and walks of life. West View - the Grill Room at the ITC Maratha Hotel in Mumbai, with its all-women kitchen and service team headed by a rather spunky Chef Anahita Gustaspi not just complemented the theme perfectly, but added further to it by a sumptuous spread of delectable grill foods and meats, freshly baked bread and flawless service throughout the evening.
Monica Vazirally, Penaz Masani, Poonam Soni, Sabira Merchant, Roshni Damania and Farah Siddique were some of the women guests seen enjoying a perfectly chilled glass of Champagne Veuve Devaux Grande Reserve Brut, a blend of Pinot Noir's fruity depth and Chardonnay's lacy freshness which brought fresh citrus and crisp apple acidity on the palate, followed by a fairly complex earthy-yeasty mouthfeel and a zing on the finish. Personally, the bubbles could have been finer and less frothy but hey, it was fine champagne nonetheless!
The Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2006 seemed to be holding out quite well with blackcurrant and red cherry flavours combined with vegetal notes, showing a level of complex depth, which to my mind was being masked slightly by the unnecessarily prominent residual sugar content.
The flow of the evening was relaxed and spontaneous where guests willingly submitted to the cause of charity at an orchestrated auction of fine wine hampers with proceeds going to Save The Children India Foundation. The weekend getaway package for two at ITC Maratha, inclusive of spa and Sunday brunch attracted a feisty round of bids with Dharti Desai, founder of W3, with much generosity and warmth, finally winning this treat. I was pleasantly overwhelmed by Penaz Masani's spontaneity who sang a special ode to the girl child with a voice that can still launch a thousand ships.
A bottle of Reveilo's Chardonnay and a box of fine chocolates as a takeaway souvenir ended this special evening, leaving everyone looking forward to the next W3 event.
