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.

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.

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.

The Excise department has done it yet again. It seems the Rs 5 lakh (Rs 500,000) licence fee wasn't enough of an expense for importers, but the department wants more! Isheeta Gupta comments.

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.

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!)

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,

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.

Australian wine drinkers are thumbing their noses at pricey wines and reaching for the discounted bottles available as part of price promotions in the retail sector. Even though Australians are willing to spend more per bottle than their German or British counterparts, there is likely to be a price deflation. Soni Sangwan reports.

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.

The fact that wine, an alcoholic beverage, is also an agricultural product distinct from white spirits is not always clearly understood. Graham Nutter's detailed harvest report of the 2010 vintage at Château St Jacques d'Albas shows the extent to which wine producers are dependent on weather and the quality of the harvest to make good wine. The report is fascinating, especially for Sommelier India readers interested in viticulture.

Marimar Torres and her daughter Cristina mixed business with pleasure on their recent trip to India. After holding an event in Delhi and a visit to Agra, the lovely Torres ladies stopped by at the Oberoi Nariman Point, Mumbai, to chat about Marimar Estate wines, says SI contributing writer, Lindsay Groves.. The daughter of Don Miguel and Doña Margarita Torres, Marimar was born into the wine business.

It seems there is time for a last spurt of travel before Christmas and the festive season kick off. SI Publisher Reva Singh is in Christchurch for the Wine Discovery New Zealand 2010: Great Wine Capitals Global Network International Conference where unbeknown to the Kiwis, their country's wines are performing superbly at the 2nd Annual Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirits Competition, reports Harshal Shah.

Three auctions of German fine wines and rarities are taking place on 24-26 September 2010 as part of the Centenary Celebrations of Verband Deutscher Prädikatsweingüter or VDP, the oldest national winegrower's association in the world. In all these years, their tradition of wine auctions has retained its function as a benchmark of the market for top German wines.