The prospect of spending an afternoon tasting with with one of the most famous palates of the wine world - Steven Spurrier - the man behind the famous Judgement of Paris in 1976, is something few wine lovers would pass up. This afternoon was extra special - for not only was Spurrier in town to lead a tasting of Four Season wines, but later that evening he was officiating at an exclusive dinner of wine paired with Indian food hosted by the Wine Society of India, writes Ruma Singh.

There was much good cheer at the Bandra Wine Tasting Festival held at D'Monte Park Recreation Centre last weekend. With more than 60 Indian and International wines from 12 wineries to sample, there wasn't a dull moment for the steady stream of visitors reports Suneeta Sodhi Kanga

The Wine Society of India, in association with Sommelier India WINE Magazine, is about to hold its 2010 Gala Wine Tasting and Celebration Dinner in honour of its Most-Preferred and Founding Members. This unique event will be hosted by Steven Spurrier - Chairman, Board of Wine Advisors of The Wine Society of India - who will be flying in from his home in London, and Reva K Singh - Publisher and Editor of Sommelier India WINE Magazine - at the Oberoi Hotel on Friday, the 12th of November.

Riona Wines together with The Club, Mumbai, presented wine enthusiasts the essence of Italy's Marche (pronounced as Mahr-kay) region in September 2010. Andrea Angeletti, a Michelin Star Chef, was specially flown to India by Riona Wines to showcase wine and cuisine from the Marche region of Italy at an exclusive wine dinner for its members and guests. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga of Sommelier India was present.

Kangan, the Indian restaurant at The Westin Pune Koregaon Park, is hosting the Grand Trunk Road Food Festival from 8th to 24th October. The special festival menu will feature a variety of special preparations, reports Brinda Gill
Pictured Tangri Kebab

The first ever International Grenache Day was variously celebrated in India, in Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi. Jyoti Thottam South Asia Bureau Chief for Time Inc attended the Grenache wine tasting and dinner at the home of the publisher of Sommelier India WINE magazine in Delhi.

Discover cutting edge Indian, Australian and Italian wines. From home grown Sicilian varietals such as Nero d'Avola & Grillo to Spanish Tempranillo, from American oak aged Merlots and Cabernet Sauvignons to French oaked Chardonnays, wine aficionados will be spoilt for choice at the Bandra Wine Tasting Festival.

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