The launch of York wines in Le Royce Hotel, Pune, on August 6, 2010, was an eclectic mix of live band playing Jazz and Sufi music along with some great food and wines. Adarsh Hegde, Managing Director Le Royce, Ravi Gurnani, Director York Winery (pictured) and food writer Jyoti Balani played hosts to guests such as Amrita Thapar, Ashwin Deo, Sandhya Gokhale, Gauri and Hemant Naiknavare.

The other day I had the opportunity to taste what was in effect the first introduction of Mexican wines to India at the residence of Ambassador Jaime Nualart of Mexico. And if these examples are anything to go by, I hope we'll see more of them in future, says Reva K. Singh.

The Bangalore Wine Club kick started its post-summer programme of wine events in June with a very well attended brunch event, the Indian Wine Village. The BWC holds this Indian wine-centric event every year, usually over a Sunday brunch, in a bid to encourage wine lovers to taste and try the best of Indian wine available each year reports Ruma Singh. Left: Four Seasons table at the Wine Village

Donnafugata is the name of a leading winemaker from Sicily. A family enterprise since 1851, they are rapidly finding markets for their wines all over the world. In India they have appointed Aspri Spirits and
distribute in Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi through them, reports IP Singh who tasted the wines at a recent wine dinner organised by the Wine Society of Delhi. Left: A bottle of Donnafugata Anthilia

It was time for Bangalore's wine lovers to taste some of the best from Sicily. Donnafugata wines, owned by the Rallo family and distributed in India by Aspri, came to Bangalore and showcased four of their labels at the Park Hotel's well-known iTalia restaurant at an exclusive wine dinner for 30 wine lovers and Ruma Singh was one of them.
Left: Bottles of Donnafugata wines served

In what was one of the most elegant and well put together wine evenings the city of Bangalore has seen, Marilisa Allegrini of Italy's famous Allegrini family introduced a handpicked range of Allegrini wines to the city's wine cognoscenti, writes Ruma Singh. The summer evening, all the more memorable for its lovely serene setting at the Manwaring home on the outskirts of the city, was an exclusive one, co-hosted by Olive Beach's Chef de Cuisine Manu Chandra.

Targetting wine enthusiasts and industry professionals, alike, Vinexpo, Asia-Pacific's International Wine and Spirits Exhibition, takes place in Hong Kong on May 25 to 27, 2010. Vinexpo Asia-Pacific is held every two years, with Hong Kong selected as the venue for the third consecutive time.
Left: Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC) along the the magnificent Victoria Harbour

Recently Gurgaon opened its doors to a new wine club. Promoted by Deepak Jain, Ajay Taneja, Vandanaa Taneja and Ragini Jain, the Gurgaon Wine club was launched in May at Crowne Plaza Hotel, Gurgaon, states a media release. Right: Founders Deepak Jain and Ajay Taneja

Arte della Tavola, they called it, and artistic it really was. Dharti Desai, Founder FineWinesnMore and Anil Chadha, general manager, ITC Windsor, Bangalore hosted wine connoisseurs in the city to an April evening of wonderful food paired with some of the best wines Tuscany has to offer, reports Ruma Singh. Left: Vir Sanghvi and Dharti Desai

Last Friday witnessed the end of an Australian wine odyssey for the New Delhi wine trade. The end, that is, until at least September of October this year. Since September 2009, the Australian Trade Commission and the unofficial ambassador for Australian wine in India, sommelier Harshal Shah have presented a series of tastings for the trade, showcasing regional Australian wine.

Talk about shattering preconceptions about wine. "Steven Spurrier's take on the current wine scenario is that the French are drinking less wine, the Chinese can't get enough and that India is the next big market," writes Parvathi Nayar. The setting was the wine dinner held at the Sheraton Park, Chennai.

Right: Steven Spurrier with the Terroir Chronicle 2009

Italy met New Zealand with great success at the latest Bangalore Wine Club event, A Taste of Italy, a sit-down dinner held on Friday 19th March. Hosted at Bangalore's well-known Italian restaurant, Via Milano, reports Ruma Singh, SI correspondent in Bangalore. The restaurant was filled to capacity at the dinner where a range of Montana wines from New Zealand were paired with Italian cuisine by Chef Paolo Nonino.

Can it be possible for International Women's Day to go by without a splendid celebration by W3 - a wine club that proudly welcomes only women to be members, wherein events may be open to male partners and spouses. Sonal Holland, wine consultant and patron member of W3, highlights this special evening where women and only women gathered together for an evening soiree.

Staged between March 21 to 23 in Dusseldorf, Germany, ProWein 2010 ended with record visitor and exhibitor figures, reports Reva K. Singh. Dusseldorf is a multi faceted cosmopolitan city and a well-known centre for trade fairs. It is the capital of North Rhine-Westphalia which is Germany's most densely populated state with a population of 30 million within a radius of 150 km. The city's top notch facilities and infrastructure are well geared for prominent international events.

The Bangalore International Wine Festival is going to be held between 10th and 11th April, 2010 and will run from 12:00pm till 10:00pm at White Petals, Palace Grounds, Bangalore. The event will showcase wines from all over the world and allow wine drinkers and novices to experience and understand the vast world of wine. Speakers include Sommelier India columnist Alok Chandra and Dr. Krishana from the Karnataka Wine Board. Find more information here.