It couldn't have been a cooler start to a sunny spring weekend. Bangalore Wine Club members and their guests spent a Saturday afternoon at the exclusive launch of Ammirato wines on 19th February at The Lalit Ashok poolside writes Ruma Singh
Left: Ammirato wines chill

If the proof of the pudding is in the eating, then the proof of the wine is in the tasting. Keeping this simple adage in mind, The Next Quality Experience seminar organised in Delhi by the Italian Association of Wine Producers (UVI) took wine lovers through the entire experience of wine consumption - tasting, food pairing and enjoying wine, writes Soni Sangwan. Left: Leela Palace Kempinski New Delhi, venue of the event

From local fare to international cuisine, Sommelier India brings you a list of our favorite restaurants for wine enthusiasts. Pay particular attention to the wine pairing recommendations and tell us what you think of the food in the comments. View the listings from the print edition.

Last week shook Château Beychevelle, a famous second-growth in Saint Julien, renowned as one of the most beautiful properties in Bordeaux, writes Romain Bonnaud. The Japanese drinks company Suntory - a Beychevelle shareholder for 20 years - has increased its stake from 37% to 50%. (You may recall that Suntory also owns the distinguished Château Lagrange in Saint Julien since 1983!)

Do you yearn to make sense of wine? Take all the gobbledygook out and really get to grips with the subject? Do you dream of a hands-on course, working in the vineyard and winery? Imagine the beautiful environs of a wine estate in Provence in the south of France? Would you like to stay at a magnificent 9th century Priory, drinking the finest wines and dining on Michelin quality cuisine? Well, go no further. We have the course for you, writes Reva K.Singh

Good news for Moet Chandon's Indian lovers - we may soon be able to
raise a toast with our own bubbly from the same stable. Moet Hennessy,
makers of Moet Chandon and Dom Perignon champagne, have bought 150
tonnes of grapes in Nashik and are likely to come out with locally
produced sparkling wines. Though confirmations of a date-line are
awaited, speculation is that by 2012 we may have our very own 'Nashik
Chandon'.

Read more here-

At 63 years, after two decades of reviews, Robert Parker announced a few days ago that he will hand over responsibilities for reviewing California wine to Antonio Galloni. "In California, Mr. Parker's effusive praise played a significant role in creating the market for cult cabernets like Screaming Eagle, Bryant Family and Harlan Estate,

Bruce Cakebread, President and COO of Cakebread Cellars, one of Napa Valley's most famous stars in the winemaking firmament, returned to bring a selection of some of his very exclusive wines to Bangalore to share with wine lovers over a five-course Indian meal, writes Ruma Singh. Left: Bruce Cakebread with Vishvapreet Cheema, GM of Ista Hotels

What better occasion to drink pink champagne than Valentine's Day? But which one will it be? If I could have my way, says Reva K Singh, it's Rosé Champagne from the venerable house of Bollinger that I'd be drinking. Given all the rosé champagnes now available, the nonvintage Bollinger Rosé is in a class apart.

Vandals kill 500-year-old 'parent' of gru-vee wine
VIENNA Police say vandals have destroyed a 500-year-old grapevine that is believed to have been a direct ancestor of the popular gruner veltliner wine, notes a report in Business Week. Police were called in on Thursday after vintners in the southeastern village of St. Georgen discovered that the vine on an outlying hillside was chopped into pieces. Scientists who have examined the so-called "St. Georgen" vine believe it was crossed centuries ago with a variety of traminer grapes to produce the first drops of the acidic and tangy gruner veltliner, known as gru-vee in the US.