The Istituto Regionale della Vite e del Vino (IRVV) organized a master class titled "Sicily - Soil, Terroir and Wines" at the Hyatt Regency Pune on January 14, 2012 reports Brinda Gill who was at the tasting. Pictured left: Michèle Shah, wine consultant and Sommelier India's correspondent for Italy

Bordeaux. The name itself evokes images of grand châteaus, vast expanses of vineyards, expensive vintages and, of course, a beautiful city that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its "outstanding urban and architectural ensemble", writes Rohan Jelkie who was there recently on a wine course at École du Vin. Pictured: LaBRI, Université Bordeaux

Napa Valley produces some great wines by owners and winemakers with a strong desire to make a name for themselves. On the one hand you have the old-timer large scale investment-intensive prominent wineries such as the Robert Mondavi, Trefethen and Sterling Vinyards and on the other, the small artisan model producing minute quantities of superlative wines with utmost care and passion, writes SI contributor, Sonal Holland, who met one such producer couple - Shari and Garen Staglin of the Staglin Family Vineyard Estate. Pictured: Shari and Garen in the Staglin Family Vineyard. Photo: Eric Risberg

Boisset Family Estates, a major wine player in Burgundy, the Rhône and California, has closed a deal to buy Languedoc-based Skalli Family Wines, a pioneer in southern France. Although the price is not known, the deal adds 1.5 million cases of annual production and over 6,000 acres' worth of grower contracts to the Boisset portfolio, which will now produce 7.5 million cases a year from its 25 wineries, writes Ben O'Donnell in the Wine Spectator.

"Sales of Burgundy have been on the rise for several years in Asia," Louis-Fabrice Latour, Chairman of the Union of Burgundy Wine Markets (FNEB) told Marisa D'Vari from Sommelier India after a press conference given by the BIVB before the 151st Hospices de Beaune auction.

November 19, 2011 - America's premier wine auction house, Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is conducting an exciting auction of Finest and Rarest wines on December 10th at the award-winning restaurant TRU, at 676 North St. Clair Street in Chicago. You can also make long-distance bids.

One of the most exciting areas for wines today is the area around the slopes of Mount Etna, the active volcano in Sicily. Although Etna DOC is the oldest/first demarcated wine region in Italy (1968), it is only in the last 15 years or so that top quality wine has been produced here, writes Harshal Shah, who was in Sicily recently reporting for Sommelier India

Hong Kong is many things: a modern city steeped in history, a gateway to greater China, a free port, a trading hub, and a culinary destination. Its aspiration though is to be the 'wine hub' of Asia. Is it already there? That depends on how a wine hub is defined, says Gaurav Anand.

In early September, I was invited to Shanghai for the launch of Möet & Chandon's Grand Vintage Collection 1911 champagne, a century-old treasure that I had the rare pleasure to taste. Belying its age, the wine was a lovely golden yellow and drank superbly. Now Christie's is offering six limited edition bottles in a luxurious black leather chest with elegant brass fittings, as the star attraction of its Fine and Rare Wines Sale in New York, on 19th November 2011. By Reva K. Singh

Gambero Rosso is an Italian food and wine magazine and publishing group founded in 1986. Its name literally translates as "red prawn" and comes from a tavern in the fairy tale - Pinocchio, where the Fox and the Cat dine together, writes SI correspondent, Suneeta Sodhi Kanga from Mumbai

Hart Davis Hart Wine Co. is offering its clients free shipping to Hong Kong. All auction and retail purchases will be eligible for free shipment to Hong Kong with immediate effect, states a company news release. Hart Davis Hart is the No.1 auction house in the US and the Asian market has been a driving factor in its rise to this position.

Every year, Veuve Clicquot honours women from around the world for their achievements in business. This year for the first time an Indian woman was chosen. Indian author and journalist, Shobhaa De was honoured by Veuve Clicquot for 'her remarkable accomplishments in writing and her contributions to India's cultural landscape'. Pictured above is Shobhaa De with Stephane Baschiera, President of Veuve Clicquot & Sabina Belli, General Manager. Click the photograph to enlarge.

The October/November issue of Sommelier India is being mailed out to subscribers as we speak. This issue clocks in at 78 pages as a food and wine special. Brinda Gill interviews Camellia Punjabi of Taj Hotels, Sommelier Lindsay Groves offers guidelines for food and wine pairings while Raghu Bahadur comments on pairing wine with Indian food. Also, don't miss Soni Sangwan's chat with Executive Chef Manisha Bhasin of the ITC Maurya as she comes away with some valuable insights. Restaurants reviewed include Graze (Bangalore), Dum Pukht (New Delhi), Sen5es (Pune) and Le Cirque (New Delhi).

Also in the pipeline is a booklet on Austrian wine paired with Indian cuisine. Pick up the latest issue at Nature's Basket and Landmark stores for these stories and lots more (including a deep analysis of what's wrong with the Indian wine industry). Or better still subscribe to Sommelier India to receive the issue at your doorstep and pay less. View the Table of Contents here.

Bill Hardy, Chief Winemaker & International Brand Ambassador, Hardys Wines, Australia, on his first trip to India co hosted a wine dinner along with Rajeev Samant, the quintessential man- about- town, CEO & Founder, Sula Vineyards on the 28th Sept, 2011 at Pali Village Café, Bandra, Mumbai. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga tells us all

Champagne Louis de Sacy, a small grower among Champagne's big names, is proud of its well-priced, high-achieving range of niche cuvées. After exporting around the world, they are now looking towards India, says Ruma Singh