Robert Joseph, Chairman of the India Wine Challenge, and a team of international wine tasters who will be judging at the Delhi round of the Challenge, visited Nasik at the invitation of Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Vineyards. The Sommelier India team were special invitees.

Pictured above are Rajeev Samant with Rukn Luthra and Jean-Manual Jacquinot of Nine Hills. Read more...

In a rather sudden reversal, Tamil Nadu has opened its doors to imported wine brands. The move comes just a week before an EU team visits India to kick off WTO proceedings against the country. The EU team's efforts were to focus on what they considered to be "discriminatory trade practices" in Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Shiv Singh comments on the never ending saga.

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Sommelier India - The Wine Magazine is now also available in Landmark Bookstores across the country. Landmark has retail outlets in Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Lucknow, Pune and Ahmedabad. The Wine Magazine is available in most hotel shops and high-end bookstores across the country now. And of course, easiest is to subscribe online, that way you're guaranteed not to miss an issue.

The import duties saga continues with the Economic Times reporting that the Australian government is in negotiations with India to reduce the import duties on wine. Currently, 1,80,000 cases are imported annually of which Australia has a 25% market share.

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The World Trade Organization appeals panel has issued a ruling in the U.S - India dispute over tariffs on American wine and spirits. The ruling however is inclusive. It gives the Indian government an opportunity to walk away from the allegations while still providing the U.S with fodder for a new case. Shiv Singh reports.

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Globus Wines has just announced the release of its Super-Premium brand Miazma "Fine Wine of India." The company has launched the wine in three varietals, Miazma Chenin Blanc, Miazma Shiraz and Miazma Pink Rose. Aiming to establish the brand as an exclusive one, only 3,000 bottles have been produced. Of these only 500 are available in retail with the rest 'on request to ship basis' only.

The company is planning to sell first 1,000 bottles in hand-crafted wooden cases, laser engraved with the company logo, which will ideally be used for gifting or personal collection around the festive corner. At Rs.1,200 a bottle, these are some of the most expensive Indian wines available. Tell us if they're worth the cost and you like them.

It looks like Champagne Indage's purchase of Loxton Winery in Australia is being put on hold according to press reports in Australia. Loxton is owned by Australian Vintage Limited which is Australia's third largest winemaker. The company has said that Champagne Indage had failed to get the financing in place to complete the deal that was first announced back in March. According to press reports, Indage is seeking to raise 1.2 billion rupees ($37.5 million) in new shares to make the purchase.

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The Wine Society of India kicked off its Delhi Launch with a grand reception at the Imperial Hotel. Avininder Singh was there to record the event. Date: Friday 10th October 2008. Venue: The Grand Ballroom, Imperial Hotel. Time: 7.33pm. Location of self: Corner seat, 2nd row from back, in a section of the hall seating about 120.

Status of self: Shock & awe!! Nobody but nobody, in Delhi, reaches anywhere in time but what do we have here – three minutes past the designated start and the place is already overflowing. Read more...

Sujan Mukherjee, executive chef of the Taj Bengal, Kolkata, was the first Indian chef to be selected to participate at the 2008 Cakebread Cellars American Harvest Workshop, an annual celebration of wine and food, hosted by the acclaimed Cakebread Cellars in its vineyards, cellar and kitchen. It took place this year from 6 - 10 September.

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Dr Ariff Jamal was formerly associated with the Bichot family as Export Director living in Beaune, Burgundy. Soon after Maison Albert Bichot, an eminent Burgundy wine producer, received the Pinot Noir Best Red Wine Maker award in 2004, he took a break and then decided to become a consultant, leaving for California to work in the wine industry there. Dr Jamal (who is also a long time contributor and advisor to Sommelier India) subsequently joined Brindco Sales Limited in Delhi.

With the rumour mill working overtime about his departure, we decided to find out the facts. Shivani Dogra spoke to Dr Jamal and discovered that far from leaving the country, he has chosen to devote more of his experience and time to India.

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The Nashik based Sommelier Group has planned to open five wine bars in Pune, Nashik, Bangalore and Jaipur over the next two years. The new formed group will invest around 6 crore to setup these multi-brand wine bars. Already one Sommelier wine bar is operational in Nashik with the next coming up in Pune. The group with Vinod Deokar as CEO has tied up with a number of producers to source wine. Business Standard has the story. Business Standard has the story.

Old world wines are looking with hope for new markets in India. The latest to scout around is Lombard, one of the distinctive brands of vintage wines from Champagne, writes Suneeta Sodhi Kanga. When I heard that Paul-Henri, Lombard’s emissary from Epernay, was visiting Mumbai, I made it a point to meet him.

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As many expected, the Karnataka government has notified a new excise rule on wines imported from other states. The new duty applies to all wines made outside of Karnataka and is seen by wine companies as a direct response to Maharashtra's seven-year-old wine policy that exempts locally made wines from a 150% duty that all other wines have to pay. The new duty is Rs. 300 a bulk litre up from Rs. 10.

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Port has always been a favourite with me, writes Reva K. Singh. In the days when wine imports were virtually non existent in India, family and friends returned from trips abroad bearing a bottle of Scotch for the house and, for me, a bottle of sherry or port. However, wine lovers in India no longer have to rely on frequent travellers to keep them supplied with their favourite tipple.

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The India-EU Wine spat came to life once again in the last week with the European Union launching new dispute proceedings against India at the World Trade Organization on Monday over taxes and restrictions on European wine and spirits imposed by Goa, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu. For some of the best coverage on the topic, read this Financial Times article, the Wall Street Journal coverage and India's response covered in Business Standard.

For some historical context, visit the Indian Wine Industry section of the blog, and read Additional Custom Duties Scrapped. Who will benefit? post and the accompanying reader comments.