We have been having fun expanding our wine palate over the last decade and recently got the chance to taste the 2010 vintage off-barrel in Bordeaux in the respective chateaux, writes Meenu Kohli, Director, Taste, for Winetage Investment Fund. Her advice for those interested in investing in wine is, go by the taste, as dictated by your own palate.

The next time you crib about the price tag on the imported wine you are drinking, blame the Indian Government. Not only are import duties high, with each state following a different excise policy, the mark-ups ensure that by the time the wine bottle reaches your table, it is considerably more expensive than it should be. SI correspondent Alok Chandra has the low down.

In Bangalore recently to attend the UB Group's Global Conclave, Patrice Monmousseau, president of Loire's Bouvet-Ladubay and his daughter, Juliette Monmousseau, deputy managing director Bouvet-Ladubay, took a little time out to unveil a treat for wine lovers in India, that promises to be very popular, reports SI correspondent, Ruma SinghPictured: Gérard Depardieu

It was a perfect pairing: a crisp, minerally, absolutely dry Saumur Chenin Blanc and a plate of tender asparagus anointed with truffle oil. That was the first course at the Sommelier India dinner on Monday, April 25 in honor of Juliette Monmousseau, Deputy Managing Director of the Bouvet-Ladubay winery in the Loire Valley of France, writes wine enthusiast, Jyoti Thottam, who is also Chief of Bureau for Time Magazine in India. Pictured: Juliette Monmousseau, Deputy Managing Director of Bouvet-Ladubay speaking at the dinner at Olive Beach

It's common knowledge that wine has health benefits as opposed to alcohol in general. This does not mean you can guzzle as much wine as you like! As with all liquor, wine should be consumed in moderation. And watch your salt intake, too, for a healthy heart, say doctors.

Amidst the flurry of news about preparations for the Royal Wedding, we finally know which sparkling wine is going to be served. It's not Nyetimber or Ridgeview or any other English sparkling wine of exceptional quality, writes Reva K. Singh. The official fizz at the Royal Wedding on Friday, April 29th, as reported by Decanter.com, is Pol Roger Champagne.

Having had the quote "the best vintage in my lifetime" splashed across the cover of last June's Decanter magazine, I can only agree with the title above, " Bordeaux 2010 - An Embarrassingly Good Vintage" from Bill Blatch's highly-regarded Vintage Report, and most of the châteaux owners share this view, writes Steven Spurrier in an article in the Tasting Panel Magazine. Keep reading for more on a vintage that is clearly meant for the history books.

Be green and raise a toast to drinking wine with a clear conscience. Organic is the way to go. Award-winning organic wines from Emiliana Adobe in Chile won gold and silver medals at the Challenge Millesime Bio held last November in France - the only international competition for organic wines according to European regulations of organic agriculture.

The 45th edition of Vinitaly, one of the longest running international wine exhibitions, concluded in Verona, Italy, on Monday April 11th. Vinitaly is different from the other big trade exhibitions (Prowein, London International Wine Fair, Vinexpo) in that it is not international in its exhibitor profile and is dedicated almost exclusively to Italian wines, reports Gaurav Anand who makes the most of the opportunity to 'taste Italy'.

In what could come as a piece of good news for consumers and the Indian wine industry, alike, more wine producers will be able to enter the Delhi market if the excise department reduces the existing L-1 license fee on wine. Pictured: Spencer's, Bangalore, one of the few supermarkets in India where wine is retailed.

An early Sunday evening saw Bangalore Wine Club members gather together at the Park Hotel's Oak Room to watch the wine-focused movie, Bottle Shock, over an evening of sparkling wine, popcorn and more wine! writes Ruma Singh.
BWC members, Smita and Sanjoy Roy