Indian Wines Commended at Decanter World Wine Awards
At the recently concluded Decanter World Wine Awards 2008, Chateau Indage was commended for five of its wines namely the Indage Merlot 2006, Indage Chantilli Chardonnay 2007, Indage Chantilli Chenin Blanc 2007, Indage Ivy Merlot 2006 and the Indage Marquise de Pompadour NV. Mercury was also commended for the Mercury Winery Aryaa - Chenin Blanc 2007.
The Independent from the UK ran a story on how Indian wines are slowly getting more accepted in UK restaurants. First it was just in the Indian restaurants in London but now others too are starting to carry Indian wine. The article also includes an interesting "Beginner's Guide" box that describes popular grapes grown in India. For more on the grapes in India, visit the National Research Center for Grapes.
Central Government considers uniform tax structure for wine
LiveMint is reporting that the Indian government is considering a uniform and rational duty structure across India. This would mean that wine would cost exactly the same across the country in retail shops. The excise duty on wine ranges from Rs70 a litre to a high of 200% of the base price of the wine. Sommelier India contributor is quoted as saying that this will lower prices in some states too. Read the full story.
May 26, 2008
Château Indage recognized at International Wine Challenge
At the International Wine Challenge, Château Indage won three commendations for its Chantilli Chenin Blanc, Ivy Brut and Marquise de Pompadour. No other Indian wines received recognition though we do not know which others participated. In other news, Indage gained access to UK supermarkets through its acquisition of Darlington Wines.
BT More Wine Competition Results. Nine Hills Wins Again
BT More announced the winners of its wine competition this week. Taking top honors among the whites was the Nine Hills Chenin Blanc 2007 (12.8/20) and the Reveilo Chenin Blanc 2006 followed by the Indus Chenin Blanc 2006 (12.1/20).
Hurry and sign up for this very special wine trip organised by the folks at Amfora Wine, Nanda and Ranjit Gupta, who are importers of Italian wines and very familiar with the region. They are organising a vineyard and gastronomique tour of Italian vineyards and fine dining restaurants in the first week of September 2008, for a select group of 12 couples ( 24 people). Eat and drink the best at Michelin starred restaurants and buy wine at vineyard prices.
Cost: approximately Rs. 1,50,000/- (Plus taxes). Contact: + (91 11) 2923 2823 ext: 22 Miss Manailu. Email: manailu@amfora.com
Château Indage announces third Australian acquisition
India's oldest and largest winemaker, Château Indage announced its third Australian acquisition today. It has bought over Australia’s VineCrest, a premium boutique winery in an all cash transaction. VineCrest is situated in the Barossa Valley which is 60km northeast of Adelaide. VineCrest has one over 100 awards, commendations and medals in the past five years. The winery specializes in premium quality Barossa Shiraz, Sparkling Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Semillon and Late Harvest (desert wine). It also has a sweet red, ruby and white ports.
Last week Sommelier India published the ratings of the white wines from Steven Spurrier. This week the ratings of the Reds are being published. Among the Cabernet Sauvignons Vins & Vouloir 2007 came in first followed by Sula Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz 2007 and Seagrams Nine Hills 2007. Seagrams Nine Hills was the winning red at the Indian Wine Challenge. Read on for the results.
India's Heavy Duties on Alcohol Under Attack Again
The saga over alcohol tariffs in India continues with the Scottish Whiskey Assocation (SWA) complaining to Indian officials over the duties levied on imported spirits across India. Last year the Scottish industry, won a 20-year battle against the tariff system forcing the central government to lower taxes from 550 percent to 150 percent.
The SWA is complaining that the ruling is being flouted by new levies being imposed by individual states reports the Times of London.
Read more...
Maharashtra wine production jumps
Maharashtra has recorded a 60% growth in its wine production over the last year. The state continues to dominate the country's wine industry, producing 94% of India's grape wine. According to the Times of India which reported the story, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation's (MIDC) department of wine production show that 2.11 crore litres of wine were produced across the state's 57 wineries this year, as compared to the 1.32 crore litres produced last year. This represents an annual growth rate of 40%.
The state's total investment in wine-making is around Rs. 328 crore and close to 8,000 acres of land are now under cultivation for wine production. Read the Times of India story for more information.
Alcohol Atlas of India Released
Releasing the manual “Alcohol Atlas of India” prepared by the Indian Alcohol Policy Alliance (IAPA), the Union Minister for Health & Family Welfare, Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss asked the media to create awareness about the adverse social, economic and medical effects of alcohol abuse among the masses. He said the reach of media has multiplied manifold and this issue should form an important agenda of the media.
Some of the highlights - women are catching up with men in alcohol consumption and Indians have an average of five drinks per sitting. The Health Minister's speech is published in its entirety after the jump.
Read more...
May 03, 2008
Indian Wines Rated by Steven Spurrier
At a tasting of over 40 wines from 11 wineries organized by Rajeev Samant of Sula, Indian wines were rated in a first ever tasting by the famous British wine writer and taster, Steven Spurrier. “It was a unique experience for me,” writes Spurrier in the latest issue of Sommelier India, May/June 2008.
Read the whole story in print. SI is available by subscription and at select locations, including Oberoi Hotel bookshops country wide and at select Taj Hotel bookshops. Meanwhile, given below are the scores on a 20 point scale and Spurrier’s tasting notes for the white wines: 10 = bad; 11 = poor; 12 = mediocre; 13 = acceptable; 14 = fair; 15 = good; 16 = good+; 17 = very good; 18 = very good+; 19 = excellent; 20 = superb.
Watch the blog for tasting notes and scores for the red and rose wines to be published next week. Below are the tasting notes for the whites with Sula's Chenin Blanc doing the best.
Indigo receives Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator
Indigo, a standalone restaurant in Mumbai has been listed among the top five best restaurants in India, as part of San Pellegrino’s World’s Best restaurants 2008 New Regional Recommendations. It also won an Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator, for the 8th year in a row.
KBR School of Wine conducts the first of WSET Examinations
Seventeen wine enthusiasts sat for an examination on Saturday, the 29th of March ’08 in Mumbai. The Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) of UK offers the world’s most comprehensive and contemporary Wine Education Programmes. The good news is that KBR School of Wine is the only wine school in the country to be affiliated and associated with WSET and they offer these courses nation wide. Currently, KBR offers two levels of the WSET courses: Foundation Level I and Intermediate Level II.
Globus Wines to manage Haiko Supermarket's liquor category
Globus Wines, Part of Globus Vision Group has taken over Haiko Supermarket’s liquor category and entered into an agreement with Hiranandani Constructions, a leading developer in India to open further such exclusive high-end Wine stores across all its locations in India.
Wine Spectator explains that Allegrini is withdrawing Wine from DOC over Screw Cap. Marilisa Allegrini says, "We think a $14 to $15 non-Classico Valpolicella with a screw cap has a better chance on the market than a Valpolicella Classico, with a cork, costing 20 percent more."
Wine Spectator also ranks its top ten wines of 2007. At the top of the list is the Clos des Papes Châteauneuf-du-Pape 2005 which gets 90 points and costs $80. That's not a bad price for such a highly rated wine.
Decanter Magazine reports that Brunello is stepping up controls following the shocking fraud investigation in which hundreds of thousands of bottles of top Brunello were impounded - and the sale of the 2003 vintage suspended.
a