Aspri Spirits recently introduced a new single vineyard range of wines from the Casa Vinicola Zonin group from Italy in the Indian market. Lorenzo Zonin - Marketing Manager, Zonin, who was in India for this occasion said, "Wine drinkers in India have grown more discerning and the Indian wine market has undergone tremendous growth in the last five years, hence we have introduced a new range of premium wines in India. We are very pleased with the acceptance of our wines here."
Left: Lorenzo Zonin, Marketing Manager, Zonin

If the world market share of Austrian wines is steadily increasing, it is largely due to the efforts of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, writes Soni Sangwan. Recognition for the work being done by the AWMB has come from German publishers Meininger in the form of the "Award for Outstanding Achievement".
Left: Willi Klinger with the Meininger Award 2011

The Indian Grape Processing Board puts Indian winemakers on centre stage. The Indian wines' showing at ProWein in Dusseldorf - the world's Number One wine trade show - was literally something to write home about. Among 3,600 exhibitors from 50 countries, the Indian exhibitors succeeded in impressing many of the record 38,000 visitors during the three-day event from 27 to 29 March. This was a test of sorts for the Indian Grape Processing Board, which had taken several Indian vintners to the show, where they seem to have made an impression.

The first thing that strikes you about Prowein is the sheer size. The 3-day show kicked off in Düsseldorf, Germany, on 27th of March with 3,600 exhibitors from 50 countries. In an exhibition of this size the main challenge for the visitor is to decide how to focus their time, reports Gaurav Anand from ProWein.

Good Earth Winery wines have been selected by the Indian embassy in Washington DC, to be served at official embassy functions. "Not only is the embassy selection a massive vote of confidence in our product, but it will also provide major visibility to the entire Indian wine industry", says Girish Mhatre, Founder Good Earth Winery, of the recognition.
Pictutred, a bottle of Antaraa Cabernet Shiraz

An iPhone application on French wines especially created for the Indian Market has been launched by Sopexa, on behalf of the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. "UncorkFrance is a fun, interactive application that unravels the sophisticated world of French wines for budding wine enthusiasts and gives them quick, easy answers to their wine needs," states a company release.

Wine holidays are popular abroad, but get prepared to experience them right here in India, says Shivani Dogra. The web portal, www.thewineclub.com organises guided wine tours in Nashik, known as the wine capital of India because of its vineyards. The tour is called the Vineyard Discovery Programme. After a long walk through picturesque vineyards you get to try some of the wine produced at them at a wine tasting session that's also been factored into the tour. Vineyard Discovery's packages offer a one night, two-day tour at Rs.9,500 per person and Rs.17,000 per couple and this includes the pickup and drop back from Mumbai, stay and food.However, unlike it's other cousins around the world, this tour doesn't have trained wine educators that guide people around but people that work in the winery.
Pictured above: A view of Nashik Vineyards from Sula's Tasting Room

On the 7th of March,The Drinks Business, a prestigious British Magazine presented the Lifetime Achievement 2011 Award to the President of Bodegas Torres, Miguel A. Torres for his career spent supporting sustainable environmental practices in the wine and spirit industry. Setting itself firmly as a winery committed to the environmental cause, Bodegas Torres received the same award in 2010 for being 'The Green Company of the Year' as well as in 2009 when it was featured in the publication's 'Green List'. Pictured: Miguel A. Torres on one of his visits to India

Two great days of wine, food and fun that should definitely be marked on your calendar. For far too long, wine in India has been placed on a pedestal and seen as an aspirational beverage, only drunk by Page 3 folks or wine clubs you can never join. The Pune Wine Festival, now in its fourth year, is a tribute to ordinary folk. According to a wine company executive, 80% are first time wine drinkers, reports Vikram Achanta for Sommelier India.
Pictured, the Army Marching Band

I love books almost as much I love wine. A book I'm looking forward to adding to my library is the Swedish wine book, "The Creation of a Wine", which has won the "World's Best Wine Book for Professionals 2010" prize in the international book competition, "Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2011". Trouble is it's not in English as yet!
Pictured: Cover of the Swedish edition

We all knew that wine can be big business. But exactly how big can be gauged from the fact that the owner of Château Cheval Blanc and Château d'Yquem is the world's fourth richest man according to Forbes magazine's Rich List. Bernard Arnault's fortune stands at a whopping US$ 41 billion.
Pictured, left: Bernard Arnault

I was sceptical before visiting Chez Vous (which means, At Your Home) the only French restaurant in the city of Mumbai. Reason being that the restaurant which has now been in operation for the last three months, has received very mixed reviews. However, I decided to go with an open mind and was pleasantly surprised, writes Sonal Holland

As I write this, I'm remembering dining under the stars, in the light of a crescent moon, says Anna Hughes, a recent visitor in Delhi. "This was our experience the evening we visited Sevilla restaurant at the Claridges hotel for supper during the current Spanish food promotion. To quote the hotel's executive chef, Neeraj Tyagi, 'The Spanish don't just eat food, they love food,' and certainly it was a wonderful experience."
Left: Tapas selection with a jug of Sangria

Gruaud Larose is famous for its Bordeaux. But next month, when connoisseurs at the Bordeaux en Primeurs week talk about, "A Fabulous Year at Château Gruaud Larose", they will be talking about something other than the wine. The subject of discussion is likely to be the eponymous novel that will be available from March 15. Left: Author Guillaume Jourdan

If you happen to be taking a flight out of Dubai, head for the fine wine store, Le Clos in Terminal 3 near gate 214 or the Emirates First Class lounge. Le Clos offers customers a selection of the finest, rarest and most exclusive wines and spirits across the globe, at duty free prices. Over and above that, spend 1,000 dirhams at the store and you get a free raffle ticket with the chance of winning fabulous wine prizes. There's no time to waste because the draw takes place on April 1, 2011 in the store.

The 'World's Longest Lunch' actually refers to the table - in the case of the Melbourne affair the table stretches for 320 metres, seating about 1,000 people! reports SI correspondent, Alok Chandra from Melbourne. This is a ticketed event that simultaneously took place on 4th March, between 12 noon and 3 pm in a public space at 25 different locations in Victoria state. The Melbourne event was in the Carlton Gardens outside the Royal Exhibition Building, and cost A$115 per head.

You usually read about the health benefits of wine in Sommelier India, but here's an interesting report about how our common spice, haldi or turmeric may protect us from disease. U.S. researchers say that haldi may help treat cancer in combination with an arthritis drug, writes Reva K. Singh.

Wine and fashion are natural partners, so it should please both fashionistas and wine lovers that Global Wines & Spirits and Kimaya have joined forces to sell a premium range of Australian wines under the Kimaya brand. The wine is to be produced in Australia and then imported to India. It is crafted by Australian winemaker Ben Riggs in partnership with Galvanized Wine Group and are priced between Rs 1200 and Rs 1500. The prices will vary from state to state. We look forward to tasting Kimaya!

If you have been considering entering the Louis Roederer International Wine Writers' Awards and haven't done so yet, the deadline has been extended by one week. The Awards, now in their 7th year, have become the premier wine writers' award around the world. If you are a published wine writer either in print or online or an artist/photographer with published work with wine as the subject we urge you to enter.