Did you know that there are about 400 species of oak, but only about 20 are used in making oak barrels in the wine world. Of the trees that are used, only 5% is suitable for making high grade wine barrels. The average age of a French oak tree harvested for use in wine barrels is 170 years! Oak was first used to store wine during the Roman empire when it was seen to soften the wines and in some cases even make the wines better tasting.

Subhash Arora, President of the Indian Wine Academy was honoured recently with the "OlV Merit" award by the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), Paris, at its 34th World Conference held in Porto, Portugal. The presentation took place at the 9th General Assembly of the OIV and the 34th World Conference on Vine and Wine in Porto, Portugal on Friday 24 June, 2011.

Among the handful of chefs you can trust in Delhi for authentic Italian food, Chef Ritu Dalmia (pictured left) is one of the best. The key to her food she says is 'great ingredients and simple cooking'. EAT (European Art of Taste) kicked off a series of events in India with a dinner at her restaurant Diva, on June 20, to showcase their products and celebrate the launch of the EAT cookbook by Ritu, writes Isheeta Gupta who was present on behalf of Sommelier India.

The June/July edition of Sommelier India was released a few weeks ago and is in circulation. If you haven't received your copy, do let us know. This issue covers Winery Design and discusses Spain's modern temples to Bacchus. A special Sommelier India Riesling Masterclass is highlighted and biodynamic wine is demystified while the Royal Afghan, Bangalore and Two One Two Bar & Grill, Mumbai are reviewed. The issue also features columns by Jancis Robinson, CH'NG Poh Tiong, Raghu Bahadur and Steven Spurrier. Pick up the latest issue for these stories and lots more. You can also subscribe to Sommelier India and receive the issue at your doorstep as soon as it's out. View the Table of Contents here.

SI was at the Sixth Edition of Fenavin 2011, Spain's largest wine fair held every two years in Ciudad Real earlier in May. The fair which attracts winemakers from all the 69 wine producing regions of the country brings together not only buyers and producers from within Spain but numerous importers from across the world, from the Americas to East Asia.
Pictured, from left: Carolina Gimeno of Inquave with other members of the Indian delegation at Fenavin 2011

The question of high taxes and import duties on wine is a vexed one. The labyrinthine ways of the Indian excise department are a mystery to most people, not least for wine and spirits importers who are closely affected. Ultimately, it is the hapless consumer who suffers the most. Sommelier India Wine magazine keeps the issue alive with regular comments and reports. Isheeta Gupta brings us some salient facts.

As part of its ongoing campaign to support and promote British produce, British Airways will be the first airline to serve an English sparkling wine. Balfour Brut Rosé 2007, from the Hush Heath Estate in Kent, will be part of an existing array of Champagnes served in First Class and in the BA lounge at Heathrow Terminal 5 between July and September.

I had the opportunity of meeting, Jean-Michel Garcion, technical director of De Mour and discussing the wines in his portfolio when he visited Delhi earlier this year. Subsequently he sent me some wine samples to taste. It wasn't until recently, however, that I got the opportunity to pour the wines in the company of four wine connoisseurs. Pictured: Château Haut Breton.

Globus Wines forms a separate division focusing on customised Wine Cellars and Wine Investments, reports Bunny Suraiya. Globus Wines was established in 2004. It has production facilities as well as collaborative partnerships in India and France and offices in India and the UK. Its new Liquid Asset Management division allows wine lovers to take advantage of a range of services designed specifically for them.

Ginestet, a well-known French wine house founded in 1897 in Bordeaux, launched two more wines, Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc and Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge, at a wine dinner at La Terrazza, the Italian restaurant at Hyatt Regency Pune, on May 31, 2011, writes Brinda Gill. Thibault Delpech, Chief Representative, Ginestet, introduced guests to the wines from the century-old wine house and shared details of the five wines that were served in the course of the evening.
Pictured, Mascaron de Ginestet wines

Vivanta by Taj- Blue Diamond, Pune has re-opened its coffee shop, a popular haunt in the city's first five star hotel, in an all-new avatar after extensive renovation. Now called Latitude, the all-day dining restaurant presents a contemporary look and a new multi-cuisine menu writes Brinda Gill. Pictured: New full-height wine cabinets

June 4, 2011: After the successful launch of Grillo and Nero D'Avola in 2010, Reveilo completed its Italian trilogy this year with the launch of Sangiovese. Reveilo's Yatin Patil, his wife, Kiran and winemaker Andrea Valentinuzzi launched this wine at Escobar in Bandra, Mumbai last week. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga from Sommelier India was present. Pictured: Kiran Patil, winemaker Andrea Valentinuzzi, and Yatin Patil

Suneeta Sodhi Kanga meets the brand ambassador and head sommelier of Torres and samples some of their wines that are on offer in India. A warm May evening at The Olive at Mahalaxmi, Mumbai was the perfect backdrop for a stimulating conversation with Anna Manchon.
(pictured, left)

Wineessentially, FineWinesnMore's exclusive wine platform for American Express Platinum Charge members, hosted a dinner on Juhu Beach in the fabulous surrounds of the JW Marriott on Friday, May 13th, celebrating Arte Della Tavola or The Art of the Table, writes Akhilesh Sharma from Mumbai.Left: FWNM wine consultant, Craig W.Wedge entertains guests at a Winessentially dinner at the JW Marriott, Mumbai

Under the aegis of The Indian Grape Processing Board,Indian wines made a great showing at the London International Wine Fair for the second year in a row. Wine producers that exhibited at the Indian stand, which was strategically located near the Press Office were, in alphabetical order, Château D'Ori, Four Seasons Wines, Fratelli Wines, Good Earth Winery, Grover Vineyards, Indage Vintners, Mercury Winery (Aryaa), Nirvana Biosys (Luca), Surahi Wines, Vallée de Vin (Zampa), Vintage Wines (Reveilo) and York Winery.
Pictured: S.G. Chougule, Reva Singh and Dr. U.Venkateswarlu