If you’ve been reading Sommelier India – The Wine Magazine (November/December 2008), you know what makes Champagne unique. The articles and interviews in our special Champagne section make interesting reading. However, while Champagne only comes from Champagne, it isn’t the only sparkling wine. (India produces some fine examples, such as Château Indage’s Marquise de Pompadour and Sula Brut.)

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For those of us well acquainted with the famous Portuguese wine, Mateus rosé (pictured right), it comes as a pleasant surprise that there is a much more palatable choice of still wines emanating from Portugal, writes Harshal Shah. For decades, nay centuries, Portugal has been synonymous with the production of high quality fortified wines in tawny and ruby ports as well as late-bottled vintage port. These have been best produced in the Duoro Valley, in the northeast of the country.

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The long drawn call of the tutari, a traditional trumpet blown to herald the arrival of guests, and a tilak applied on the forehead welcomed guests to a wine, food and fashion evening at Fort Jadhavgadh, Maharashtra’s first heritage fort-hotel, near Pune.

The evening was hosted by Ajay Upadhayay, General Manager, Fort Jadhavgadh, and Jyoti Balani, Pune-based food and wine enthusiast, on 25th October 2008, reports Brinda Gill. Read more...

What is being dubbed as the Biggest Portuguese Wine Tasting in India, 18 producers (including 3 of the largest) are coming to Delhi on November 10th, Goa on November 11th and Mumbai on November 13th for tastings. They will personally pour 130 different wines with Ambassador of Portugal, Mr. Luis Filipe Mendes hosting these tastings for the wine industry and the trade press.

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India, you are the next best thing in the world wine market, but you can spoil it with unrealistically high wine prices, warned Stefan Gerber originally published in an article that appeared in Sommelier India-The Wine Magazine, September/October 2008. Gerber is a Sommelier India columnist.

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United Vintners, the South African Embassy along with the ITC Sheraton, New Delhi introduced "The 10 Chapters of South Africa – the Ultimate Wine Trail" to a select audience at a walk around tasting of their wines on 24 October. Explaining the concept of 10 Chapters, Stefan Gerber the visionary winemaker who is also a Sommelier India columnist, said, "It is the first time that a country has been explained in the form of wine."Rahoul Singh reports.

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Days 2 and 3: MP Asia, the Organisers of Wine for Asia have put together a lunch for some of their partners to thank them and discuss their plans for 2009. I gather that the current ogranisers jumped into the picture for the 2008 show fairly late and hope now to have enough lead time to make a grand success of the 2009 show which is expected to be far bigger.

Vikram Achanta, reports from Singapore for Sommelier India. Read more...

They say cricket is a religion in India, and cricketers are found everywhere – on ramps, in ads and just about everywhere else. Maybe it was just a matter of time before cricket entered the exclusive indian wine scene too, says Ruma Singh . And so the wine tasting held at the Grand Ashok, Bangalore on Monday, 20 October was certainly different.

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Here’s welcome news for wine drinkers who've acquired a taste for Guinness, reports Sandra Westbrooke. The world's best-selling dark beer will be celebrating its 250th anniversary in 2009, and a year of festivities is being planned. Many will centre on the company's headquarters in Dublin, where visitors can watch the whole brewing process, from grain to bottle, and sample the result in the rooftop bar.

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Beam Global Spirits and Wine, the 4th largest spirits company in the world, recently announced its nominations for the 8th Edition of the Teacher’s Achievement Awards. Avininder Singh was there to cover the event. When you hear of “Awards” linked to a Liquor Company the first cynical reaction is bound to be “surrogate advertising”.

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Day 1:Tulleeho is flying a lonely flag at Wine for Asia, Suntec, Singapore, as the sole Indian stall, reports Vikram Achanta. Visitors are disappointed to find no Indian Wine, for quite a few have heard of Sula and Grover's. There are just as many people who are equally amazed to hear of wine produced in India. Bollywood, however, is known to everyone and some visitors ask us to bring Bollywood stars the next time. "Which ones?," I ask, and they decline to reply, although our taxi driver informs us that Shahrukh Khan was in Suntec City yesterday.

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On October 10th, the Wine Society of India will be holding a launch event at the Imperial Hotel in Delhi. Read about The Wine Society of India and its Bangalore and Mumbai launches. Also read about the Judgment of Bangalore. Sommelier India has some exclusive invitations for its subscribers. If you would like to attend email us immediately. These invitations are going fast. Keep reading for further details.

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Cape Wine 2008 was South Africa's fifth biennial industry show. I thought it was very well organized with social events, seminars and wine tastings at producer stands plus individual vineyard visits smoothly orchestrated for a large number of trade visitors from around the world and the international press. The group from India included importers, wine writers and consultants. SI editor, Reva K Singh was there.

Pictured above is an aerial view of Meerlust Estate. Read more...

Never mind apprehensions of rain clouds filling the sky and continuous rain in the previous days. The weather gods obliged on the day itself and it was warm and clear as the preparations for the Chantilli Challenge, hosted by Champagne Indage Ltd., got underway with a wine brunch held at the Race Course, Pune, on Sunday, 21 September 2008, reports Brinda Gill.

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`I support the four basic food groups – Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot and Champagne' read the words on the apron B. Shankaranarayan donned as he welcomed members of the Pune Gourmet Club and guests to celebrate the club's second anniversary. The Pune Gourmet Club is an informal group of food and wine lovers, who enjoy cooking and sharing their efforts with each other. Brinda Gill was present.

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