Riona Wines is a company promoted by Mr. Mane, a first generation entrepreneur based in Miraj, district Sangli, Maharashtra. According to Mr. Hansraj Ahuja, Marketing Director, Riona is the first wine company in India to have a joint venture with a foreign wine company in India. It is setting up a 1.5 million litre state of the art winery at Miraj and is the first to exclusively import wines from the Marche region of Italy.

La Marche is a beautiful wine region on the east coast of Italy, with miles of untamed coastline, picturesque terrain and Renaissance gems like Urbino (where painter Raphael was born). This Central region of Italy produces some astonishing wines. The unique conditions like clay and lime soil, climatic exposure of the river valleys that leads to sea and hilly territory make this region an ideal place for some of the best wines with varietals like Verdicchio, Rosso Conero, Piceno, Montepulciano, Sangiovese and traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and Merlot.

Andrea Angeletti, the star of the evening, was in Mumbai with a team of chefs that included his 21-year-old son, Mattia. Andrea arrived in Marche just before the opening of Le Busche which was a brand new restaurant built by the Moncaro wine grower, one of the biggest co-operative wineries in Italy, in a wonderful old farmhouse in the middle of the vineyards of Verdicchio Dei Castelli di Jesi.

It was a big challenge to open a restaurant far from all the towns and main routes. Now the restaurant is one of the most successful and well known in the Marche Region and outside. Andrea was Chef de cuisine of Le Busche, which literally translates to "harvest", until 2001 and then became the owner and General Manager together with his wife Fabiana.

The Awards he boasts of include Michelin stars in 2004-2005-2006-2007-2008, Michelin Guide the best European Guide and in 2005 Le Busche was rewarded for his special merits by the "Premio Portonovo" a prestigious International Award of Art, Culture, Wine & Food.

Some of the highlights of the Chef's menu were - Pollo in Pottachio, Carbonara di mare, Fish stew Anconetana style, Lamb rack in thyme crust and garlic sauces and the highlight of the evening - the delicious Passatelli dry with Parmesan Fondue - a pasta formed of grated breadcrumbs, eggs, grated parmesan cheese and nutmeg cooked in chicken broth.

The wines that were selected for this delightful meal were:
Le Vele Verdicchio Classico 2008 a 100% Verdicchio. Verdicchio is the star of Marche, rich and complex and probably one of the best Italian white wines.There is no contact with oxygen in tthe entire winemaking process and consequently the wine is fresh and fruity. A smooth and elegant wine with an intense bouquet which gives of its best in its youth within two years of the harvest.This wine won a Gold Medal in the "Berlin Wine Trophy 2009".

Le Silve 2007, 100% Montepulciano from vineyards in the Rosso Conero area on the Adriatic coast. The wine is aged partly in wood and partly in vats for seven months. Ruby and intense red colour with purple hints. Soft fruit on the nose, especially wild strawberries and raspberries, violet, velvety, soft and well balanced on palate.
Pictured a bottle of Le Silve
Capriccio, a 100% Italian Chardonnay. A fresh and pleasing wine with specific aromatic impact of white flowers, fruit and spice. Lively, soft with medium texture on the palate with slight aromatic elements.

Colle Malvano Rosso Piceno, a blend of Sangiovese and Montepulciano. This is among the most popular wines of the Marche region and is considered by many to be a wine which can be served with all courses of a meal, when young. It also blends well with the local cuisine. Delicate with unpronounced tannins.

Presently, importing the finest qaulity wines from the famous land of Italy, Riona is marketing about 13 Italian Brands in India. The wines at present are available in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore and Pune. The main goal of Riona is serving wine lovers in India with exclusive Italian, premium quality wines at an affordable price range.