February/March Sommelier India Editor's Letter
After an extra month's hiatus due to the change in our publishing calendar, (the first issue of the year is now February/March), we are moving full steam ahead with six illuminating and inspiring issues in 2011. Only a magazine insider can appreciate what a lot of work this entails - very enjoyable work for the most part, but still a full plate for an editor who works with a small but committed editorial and design team, backed by a prestigious stable of columnists, contributing writers, wine experts and freelancers.
While the next edition is being printed as we speak, here's a sneek peak of the Editor's Letter. Watch for the issue to be on the newsstands in the next ten days.
It is your enthusiastic involvement and feedback, sending us encouragement and appreciation (as well as brickbats when we annoy you!) that keeps us going. Incredibly, we are already in our seventh year of publication and can report with authority that the interest in wine is growing apace along with its consumption. All of us who are associated with the business have our pet peeves and challenges, but I don't know of anyone who has turned their back on wine.
The high points of the last few months for me were several exclusive wine dinners where Sommelier India had a table, and a visit to New Zealand. I met some fantastic people and took part in incredibly interesting seminars with a star-studded list of international speakers at the Great Wine Capitals Global Network conference, not forgetting the vineyard visits and amazing (mainly Kiwi) wines we tasted. See photo feature on page 38.
My personal interest in wine, as you might have gathered, is not confined to drinking it, but extends to what it represents and how it has enhanced my enjoyment and appreciation of many other interests such as art and literature, music and gastronomy. I believe, along with a growing number of wine enthusiasts in India, that wine is one of the greatest natural, sensual pleasures in life and there is nothing better than relaxing with good food, fine wine and great company!
The latest SI Panel Tasting, which featured on our blog, benefitted from the contribution of Roberto Bava, the Italian winemaker who happened to be in town for the launch of a special rosé developed for Fine Wines & More for the Indian market. (See photo on page 73). The new Indian wines we tasted were from Fratelli which is an Indo-Italian collaboration, and Luca, an easy-drinking wine, akin to a wine spritzer, and a good stepping stone to more serious wine.
This issue's special restaurant section provides excellent reading in addition to the list of Top 20 restaurants polled by our readers and contributors. Don't miss Marisa D'Vari's article on Raj Vaidya's wine dinners at Restaurant Daniel in New York on page 56.
Finally, we reiterate Sommelier India's editorial mission to publish expert views and thought-provoking articles on wine and the good life. With all the changes and growth in the wine world, we plan to keep you informed about wine trends and news with our expanded Grapevine section in the print edition, supplemented by social media and online coverage. Follow us on twitter at http://www.twitter.com/sommelierindia and visit our blog http://www.sommelierindia.com.
