The 16th International Grape and Wine Film Festival is taking place on May 8-10, 2009 in Nuit-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France. Oenovideo is the world’s oldest and only festival dedicated to the valorization of the image of grape and wine through documentary films and cinema.

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Four Seasons Wines Ltd. (FSWL) from the UB Group has started production and distribution of five varieties of wines from the Baramati Vineyard. The annual production target is 7 lakh cases. The company also produces Zinzi which was launched last year and has sold 10,000 cases to date. The wine will now enter Delhi, Karnataka and Kerala in the next few months.

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In a move to abide by the intellectual property rights of the Champagne region, Champagne Indage has changed its name to Indage Vintners.

Over 40 product brands fall under Indage Vintners with the two main brand cateogories being Indage Vineyards and Chateau Indage. “The new logo for Indage Vintners is synonymous with insignia of quality indicating our exclusivity, uniqueness and customisation,” Indage Vintners Managing Director, Ranjit S Chougule, said. Their wines can also be bought online.

It is a common perception that Indian wines have ‘come a long way, baby’ but they still have some way to go before they measure up to international winemaking. Rajeev Samant invited seven leading international winemakers and wine experts for the first and biggest-ever international tasting of Indian wines in early November at his Sula Vineyards.

He was seeking an international perspective on what Indian wines are really like. Alok Chandra joined them for the tastings. Read more...

Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine, January/February 2009, has just hit the news stands. With a special winemaker section for those with a more serious interest in wine including articles such as the Closure debate on corks and screwcaps by Jamie Goode, Indian Wines - the Road Ahead where Alok Chandra reports on a wine tasting in Nasik organised by Sula, and Where Viticulture is a Labour of Love by Michele Shah, this issue reflects the level of wine information that our readers now expect. Elsewhere in the issue, Jancis Robinson explains why it's not all doom and gloom for wine lovers during this economic meltdown and Steven Spurrier discusses the role of wine competitions.

And there's still more, Harshal Shah encourages us to look at fortified wines and Ruma Singh discovers Burgundy. Don't miss the issue! Subscribe now if you aren't a subscriber already.

With a Hindu priest chanting prayers and a Muslim cleric reading from the Quran, the Trident Hotel at the Oberoi complex reopened amid tight security on Sunday three weeks after it was targeted by the militants. Share your thoughts at the end of the article and view reader responses to our earlier coverage here and here. Also contribute to the Oberoi Care Fund.

Shiv Singh reports. Read more...

Mark the dates - June 21 to 25, 2009
The next Vinexpo will take place in Bordeaux 
from 21 to 25 June 2009 where all the major industry players will be there. Details about the exhibition are available at www.vinexpo.com 
and market information on the Vinexpo Blog.

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The Government of India has not acceded to the request of private broadcasters to withdraw its notification prohibiting surrogate advertising on television. The driving reason behind the government's refusal to change the law is the widespread violations of the advertising code. The government also believes that these advertisements have a negative impression on minors.

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We are all still recovering from the tragic events of 26/11. Our wounds will not heal overnight. Those terrorist attacks were personal and as Indians we all feel the pain. But coverage of the attacks would not be complete without drawing attention to the human courage, selfless service, endurance and professionalism of the staff at the hotels and restaurants affected by the tragedy. Shiv Singh reflects on the supreme courage of the hospitality staff and what it means.

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The horrific tragedy of 26/11 is still fresh in our minds. And outside of the victims and their families, no one is probably suffering more than the hospitality industry. The wine business in India is going to take an obvious hit too. But how much will businesses suffer and how quickly will it bounce back? We asked five of India's leading wine importers for their opinions.

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Sommelier India extends its deepest condolences to the friends and family of those affected by the atrocious terrorist attacks in Mumbai. We hope that the hotels and restaurants and their brave personnel are able to recover quickly. The hospitality industry plays an important role in serving as an ambassador for the country.

By targeting it, the terrorists tried to strike in places where it would really hurt India and its place in the global economy. Our prayers are with the friends and families of those affected. We have the utmost confidence in the hospitality business and its ability to recover quickly, provide spectacular service to its guests and keep them safe from any kind of attack in the future. Share your thoughts about the tragedy with other readers here.

It's not too late to pick up a copy of the November/December issue of Sommelier India from the newsstands. You can also subscribe online. This is our largest issue yet, overflowing with interesting information and features! Included is Jancis Robinson discussing sweet wines, Ruma Singh on Bouvet Ladubay's associations with an upscale lifestyle, cookery schools in Italy by Michele Shah, Asha Bhatia and Avininder Singh on two Delhi restaurants, while Harshal Shah gives us the lowdown on Syrah and Sanjay Menon shares his Cape capers on his return from South Africa. Aman Sharma tells Brinda Gill about his passion for wine, plus the art of drinking wine explained and the Delhi launch of The Wine Society of India captured in a photo essay.

Finally, don't miss the special section on Champagne. You'll learn everything you need to know to impress your friends and family in time for the holidays!

You often hear it said that Indian wines have come a long way, which they have indeed when I think of the plonk we used to drink in the 70s and 80s, when there was not much else available. However, Indian wines still have a long way to go before they can be rated among the best in the international arena. Left: International experts taste Indian wine at Nine Hills Winery, Nashik

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Tulleeho India is organising an amateur bar tending workshop in Poona on November 30th 2008. Their experts promise to teach you to 'plan a party, choose the most happening spirits in town, set up a bar, and lots more - down to the last detail . Tulleeho has also launched it's bar tending academy in Bangalore and plans to take in its first batch in Januray 2009.Compiled by Shivani Dogra

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You've heard of Salvatore Ferragamo, a world leader in designer fashion and luxury goods. And if you've been reading Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine (July/August 2008), you know that Ferragamo produces some wonderful wines and offers splendid accommodation for wine tourists. The agriturismo is a project which took off in 1993 and is personally directed by Salvatore Ferragamo. Left: Ferruccio and Salvatore Ferragamo in the underground cellar of IL Borro.

What's new is that Ferragamo wines are now coming into the country courtesy Finewinesmmore (FWM), a leading importer of luxury wines and food products, under the dynamic direction of founder and CEO, Dharti Desai.

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Kumarakom Lake Resort is a Paul John Enterprise, a group that understands both hospitality and wines. This is clearly attested by the recent recognition Kumarakom Lake Resort has received in the Conde Nast Reader Choice Awards 2008 as one of Asia’s top 25. Kumarakom Lake Resort is the only Kerala resort to feature in the list.

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