A select guest list of wine lovers in Bangalore enjoyed a Riesling treat recently with a tasting of nine wines from MO-RHE-NA Wine Exports from Germany, led by well-known winemaker Ulrich Langguth and his son, Patrick, writes Ruma Singh. Guests savoured every sip of a remarkable selection of wines from boutique German wineries. Pictured above, from left to right: Anna Minocher, Patrick Langguth, Ruma Singh, Ulrich Langguth and Rishad Minocher

"In the old days royalty travelled long distances with great fanfare and style. We would like to carry on the tradition and invite you to a luxurious afternoon in Mandwa (Alibaug). Ocean Blue will whisk you across the harbor to Ccaza Ccomodore for a lavish Miazma BBQ brunch." Sommelier India's Suneeta Sodhi Kanga found this invitation irresistible

Wine tastings in themselves can be, after a tipping point, a heady experience. Swirl, sniff, sip and smile, reports Rahoul B Singh. The much practiced routine is followed either by an inconsequential opinion or a much valued insight even in the Indian wine scene. Left to right: Gildas d'Ollone of Ch Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, Reva K Singh of Sommelier India WINE magazine, Aman Dhall of Brindco and Al Portney of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates

The knights of von Kesselstatt may have first arrived in the region as early as the 14th century, but this time around we had double Michelin star chef, Gerhard Gartner and his wife Annegret Reh-Gartner, who together run one of the most prestigious Riesling estates in the Mosel, Reichsgraf von Kesselstatt, visit us in India. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga attended a wine dinner in Mumbai which showcased their excellent culinary and winemaking skills. Pictured are Chef Gerhartd Gartner, Suneeta Kanga of Sommelier India, Annegret Reh-Gartner and Chef Enrico Luise.

Over 450 wine enthusiasts welcomed the upcoming harvest season on the 31st January in Zampa Vineyards in Nasik. 'Do the Twist and crush the grapes to the music!' - was the mantra that was chanted at the Zampa Crush festival as visitors celebrated the grape crushing, writes Jyoti Balani.

UB's formal launch of the Four Seasons Reserve range of wines took place in great style in Bangalore on 11 January 2010, writes Ruma Singh.
Left:Guests raising a toast to SIWC award winner Four Seasons Viognier

The members of Terrior One, Delhi Wine Club - Mumbai chapter, were floored by a visit from the king of wine-making from Spain at the JW Marriot Hotel, Juhu. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga from Sommelier India WINE magazine was a special invitee.
Right: Miguel Torres with Suneeta Kanga

The Bangalore Wine Club crowned a year full of wine events with a glittering Christmas Gala on the Prince of Wales lawns at the Taj West End, Bangalore, in December, writes Ruma Singh. The lawns looked magical, lit up with fairy lights, Christmas wreaths, white damask and gold. Left: Bangalore Wine Club members enjoying the Christmas Gala

Here in India few of us drink, let alone think of, ice wine. In fact, relatively small amounts of ice wine are produced in the world each year. But on January 5, the Canadian Embassy hosted an ice wine tasting led by Professor Ramesh Srinivasan of Humber College Institute of Technology & Advanced Learning giving us an excuse to talk about these fascinating but not so well known wines.

Buy the Sommelier India Wine Competition poster commemorating the inaugural event for only Rs. 250 plus delivery charges. Limited quantities available so purchase your poster quickly. Email ao@indianwinemagazine.com or call (11) 24331013 to place your order. Click on the image to view a larger version of it.

Sunshine, cheer, wine, food, music and art warmed the lawns of Rohi Villa Palace, Koregaon Park, Pune, as the third Pune Wine Tasting Festival progressed over the weekend of 19th and 20th December 2009, reports Brinda Gill. As in the previous two years, the festival was hosted by the Pune Gourmet Club, an informal group of food and wine lovers, who enjoy cooking and sharing their efforts with each other and guests.

In the midst of a heavy year-end work schedule and the exhausting social whirl that Delhi is at this time of the year, one afternoon stands apart. The tutored tasting of German wines hosted at his residence by the German Ambassador to India, Mr Thomas Matussek, in early December. By Reva K.Singh

Sommelier India, the Wine Magazine, organized an exclusive wine dinner recently in conjunction with the Opera Consortium (a cooperative of Italian wine and agricultural products) to introduce a selection of fine Italian wines to Delhi's oenophiles. Pictured right are Roberto Toscano, the Ambassador of Italy to India, and Mrs Toscano with members of the consortium.

It is only in India that sometimes regulations can seriously get in the way of commerce as was the case at the recently held International Food and Drinks Expo at Pragati Maidan in Delhi. The Delhi Excise Department issued new norms preventing wines and alcoholic beverages registered in Delhi in the current excise year from being displaced in exhibitions. Nevertheless, visitors found the exhibition valuable.

Everyone knows of Verona as the home of Romeo and Juliet; the next time you read the bard, remember Verona is also home to some of the finest Valpolicella wines, says Suneeta Sodhi Kanga. Valpolicella, the "Pearl of Verona" or "The Valley of Cellars", is a hilly agricultural and marble-quarrying region famous for wine production. From Roman times, its hillsides have been known for the production of excellent wine.