Alok Chandra (a Sommelier India contributor) has written a piece for Business Standard on Robert Parker, the king of wine. If you want to learn about Robert Parker, read his article or better still buy the book "The Emperor of Wine".

According to Decanter Magazine, a century and a half of tradition is to be swept aside as Christie's takes over the running of the Burgundy barrel auctions. The auction takes place this weekend, and for the first time since it started in 1859, private buyers will be able to bid directly, when previously the only way they could buy would be to contact a negociant and instruct them to bid. Read the full article at Decanter Magazine.

Here in India we may seem to be a long way from barrels of wines being auctioned off by Christie's. But our wine industry is growing at a frantic pace and hopefully bulk purchasing and distribution will continue to get easier. It is needed for the industry to grow and mature.

Wine is known to release flavours in food that would otherwise not be experienced. Chef Alok Anand of The Imperial, New Delhi, offers a simple recipe for duck breasts with red wine.

(Editor's Note: Each issue of Sommelier India includes a recipe from an Indian Chef. A few weeks after the print publication is distributed the recipes are also archived on the Sommelier India Blog)

In India, the per capita consumption of wine is as low as 4.5ml per person per year. In contrast to this, France consumes 42 litres per person per year, Italy 50 litres and China 375 ml.

The Indian market for wine is estimated to grow at a rate of 30% each year. Curerntly around 5.4 million bottles are produced of which roughly 500,000 are exported to countries like France and Italy. India imports around 780,000 bottles each year. This could be higher if the taxation was lower.

It is obvious that the Indian wine market is going to go dramatically and as a consumer you're going to have a lot more variety to choose from. Here at Sommelier India we hope to help you understand and navigate this exciting world of wine.

Dr. Jorge Heine, who is the Ambassador of Chile to India sat down with Subash Arora of the Delhi Wine club to talk about the Chilean wine industry recently. You can find the in depth article here.

The ambassador who is a friend of Sommelier India, spoke very highly of the latest Sommelier India issue when giving his opening remarks at a recent wine event at his residence in Delhi.

In an interesting article for Business Standard, Alok Chandra talks about the different types of wine drinkers namely the enthusiasts, the traditionalists, the image seekers, savvy shoppers, satisfied sippers, and the overwhelmed drinkers. He explains that most Indians fall into the last category picking up whatever wine is pushed or catches their eye.

Read the article at Business Standard. Alok Chandra is also a Sommelier India contributor. For more information on the different types of wine drinkers learn about the original study at Decanter.

The quest for the perfect wine glass has become the wine connoisseur’s holy grail. It is no longer a matter only of aesthetic discernment or social snobbery but it must also be a serious means of enhancing the wine experience.

In September I visited the Chianti Colli Fiorentini area which literally means Chianti of the Florentine Hills which covers 11 per cent of the overall Chianti area. “Vinum Florentinum, known since the first centuries of the Christian era was produced on these hills.

“Read and taste; taste and read. Better still, join or start a tasting group; compare impressions. This is the best way to learn the many types of wine.

Did you know the British Government wine cellar holds 39,000 bottles of wine worth an amazing £700,000? But only 1,950 bottles – one in 20 – are made in England or Wales. The majority come from France, Italy and Australia.

A small but significant change has come about in Americans’ drinking habits – wine has overtaken
beer as the nation’s favourite alcoholic drink. The annual Gallup Consumption Habits poll in the US says that 39% of Americans drink wine more often than any other alcoholic beverage.

“Keep it simple,” says world-renowned wine writer Hugh Johnson. “Unless you are ready for in-depth study, don’t complicate things by mixing elaborate food with ambitious wine.

French vintners are seeking an end to advertising restrictions as part of an effort to build sales. They are working towards convincing the nation that wine is a food with nutritional value.

Your choice of wine and how you drink it is a matter of personal taste. This is what the French-born, English writer, Hillaire Belloc, had to say, “All – or nearly all – Red wine is better for having just one or two drops of water poured into the first glass only.

Wine Spectator European bureau chief James Suckling is conducting a Wine Spectator School class on Bordeaux wine that explores its history, vineyards and important chateaus. This class is being conducted online. Visit www.winespectator.com to learn more.