Saturday has always been my favourite day of the week because it means lots of wine and not having to get up early the next day. As I drove to the evening's event, I knew this Saturday was definitely more special than others for obvious reasons - a wine dinner at my favourite restaurant in Delhi - Diva. When they told me the dinner was featuring wines from Feudo di San Gregorio, knowing the reputation of their wines, I was even more eager to get there, writes Isheeta Gupta. Left: Ritu Dalmia in her kitchen

The Oberoi, New Delhi never lets you down which is why it remains a 'preferred' hotel with Sommelier India readers. With this in mind, on Wednesday 24th August, Sommelier India hosted a special evening for a select group of 39 guests at The Oberoi, reports B. Singh. Left: The William Pear and Cambozola Napolean Salad was paired with Mauvais Garcon 2007, Saint-Émilion

Bangalore Wine Club members enjoyed a wine dinner with a difference on Saturday, 20 August when they sampled a 4-course Vietnamese dinner called the French Connection at Blue Ginger at the Taj West End, while receiving an understanding about how wine funds function, and the possible joys of investing in something they love - special wines reports Ruma Singh.

Portuguese wines in India have a tough time being taken seriously. Mention Portugal and you immediately think of port, but there is much more to the wines of Portugal than Port. And if it's port, we invariably associate it with the port wine from Goa, which is not a good comparison, notes Reva K Singh. Pictured: Left to right, Kavita Singh, Dora Martins and Maria De Oliveira

During Bordeaux's Vinexpo this June, I enjoyed one of my best wine and dine experiences. Traditionally hosted by a First Growth, the dinner held by the Conseil des Grand Crus Classés en 1855 to welcome the international press to Vinexpo was at Château Haut-Brion this year. And what a grand affair it was, writes Reva K. Singh in her Editor's Note.

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The monsoon season invariably makes one's mood a bit reflective and sombre. However, as we entered the softly lit Chowbella at The Crowne Plaza, Okhla our spirits soared when we set eyes on so many warm, smiling, familiar faces. As we were handed a glass of well-chilled Pere Ventura Tresor, a crisp sparkling Cava from Spain, I knew the evening organised by The Wine Society, Delhi, would be very promising, writes Balesh Jindal.
Nature's Bounty wines served at the dinner

Fred Tibbitts & Associates' second annual event, "A Summer Evening in Mumbai-Pune with Very Special Friends" was held on 28 June 2011 at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park. The evening was well attended by a cross section of members from the hospitality, wine and spirits industry. On arrival, each invitee was announced on the mike, by the striking of a gong, and a personal welcome by Fred Tibbitts Jr, reports Brinda Gill. Fred Tibbitts & Associates is the leading wine, spirits and related services consulting agency for National Account chain hotels and restaurants, based at Menands, New York for the US and in Bangkok for the Asia Pacific.

Gambero Rosso Holding SpA, Italy, is organising a high profile wine road show event on Monday, 24 October 2011 at Taj Lands End Hotel, Mumbai, states a company release. If you are in the wine trade, HoReCa or a wine journalist, mark the date. The Roadshow will feature an exclusive group of about 50 wine producers in Italy, each of them offering for the very first time in Asia a complete range of sparkling, red, white, rosé & dessert wines which they will be bringing with them.

Here's a recommendation for wine lovers on holiday in California.The Ojai Wine Festival makes a wonderful family outing. The Festival is an annual event and a great draw for visitors throughout the Central Coast and Southern California. In the last few years the number of attending wineries has doubled. SI contributor, Ranjan Pal visited Ojai from Los Angeles.

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.

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

The timing of the Torres wine dinner hosted at Caperberry restaurant at Bangalore, might almost have you believe it was a celebratory one. After all, Torres had scored an amazing 19 medals (gold, silver and bronze, plus commendations across categories) at the recently announced Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2011, at the London International Wine Fair, writes Ruma Singh

Wine enthusiasts were in for a treat on Monday, May 2, when Sommelier India Wine magazine organised a special Riesling tasting at the residence of the German Ambassador. Sommelier India Publisher and Editor Reva Singh pulled off a coup of sorts by managing to get as many as 16 superb German Rieslings direct from Frankfurt for an exclusive tasting, writes Soni Sangwan. Pictured left: Wine connoisseurs at the Riesling tasting

It was a perfect pairing: a crisp, minerally, absolutely dry Saumur Chenin Blanc and a plate of tender asparagus anointed with truffle oil. That was the first course at the Sommelier India dinner on Monday, April 25 in honor of Juliette Monmousseau, Deputy Managing Director of the Bouvet-Ladubay winery in the Loire Valley of France, writes wine enthusiast, Jyoti Thottam, who is also Chief of Bureau for Time Magazine in India. Pictured: Juliette Monmousseau, Deputy Managing Director of Bouvet-Ladubay speaking at the dinner at Olive Beach

The 'World's Longest Lunch' actually refers to the table - in the case of the Melbourne affair the table stretches for 320 metres, seating about 1,000 people! reports SI correspondent, Alok Chandra from Melbourne. This is a ticketed event that simultaneously took place on 4th March, between 12 noon and 3 pm in a public space at 25 different locations in Victoria state. The Melbourne event was in the Carlton Gardens outside the Royal Exhibition Building, and cost A$115 per head.