The beautifully laid tables and upbeat salsa music made for the perfect ambience for the launch of Cono Sur, Chile's second-largest wine producer, exporter and one of its most recognized wineries, writes Suneeta Sodhi Kanga, who was present at the launch. Cono Sur's wines are exclusively imported by Sula Selections, the import arm of Sula Vineyards. A degustation dinner was hosted to launch these wines in India at Pali Village Café, Bandra, Mumbai last November.

Rajeev Samant, Founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards pictured at the launch of Cono Sur Wines in India

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

If you're enjoying a glass of Sensi wine, it's almost unfair to ignore its illustrious past. Because how they came to be is quite a remarkable story, one that only a fourth-generation owner can appreciate, writes Naina Hiranandani.

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

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

Fratelli Wines launched their second vintage over a relaxed evening of food, wine and conversation at the Hyatt Regency Pune on 4th October 2011, writes Brinda Gill. Having entered the market with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon last winter, Fratelli introduced their new Classic White, Classic Red and Chardonnay, developed as fresh, approachable and reasonably priced wines.

Ginestet, a well-known French wine house founded in 1897 in Bordeaux, launched two more wines, Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Blanc and Mascaron de Ginestet Bordeaux Rouge, at a wine dinner at La Terrazza, the Italian restaurant at Hyatt Regency Pune, on May 31, 2011, writes Brinda Gill. Thibault Delpech, Chief Representative, Ginestet, introduced guests to the wines from the century-old wine house and shared details of the five wines that were served in the course of the evening.
Pictured, Mascaron de Ginestet wines

June 4, 2011: After the successful launch of Grillo and Nero D'Avola in 2010, Reveilo completed its Italian trilogy this year with the launch of Sangiovese. Reveilo's Yatin Patil, his wife, Kiran and winemaker Andrea Valentinuzzi launched this wine at Escobar in Bandra, Mumbai last week. Suneeta Sodhi Kanga from Sommelier India was present. Pictured: Kiran Patil, winemaker Andrea Valentinuzzi, and Yatin Patil

In Bangalore recently to attend the UB Group's Global Conclave, Patrice Monmousseau, president of Loire's Bouvet-Ladubay and his daughter, Juliette Monmousseau, deputy managing director Bouvet-Ladubay, took a little time out to unveil a treat for wine lovers in India, that promises to be very popular, reports SI correspondent, Ruma SinghPictured: Gérard Depardieu

Aspri Spirits recently introduced a new single vineyard range of wines from the Casa Vinicola Zonin group from Italy in the Indian market. Lorenzo Zonin - Marketing Manager, Zonin, who was in India for this occasion said, "Wine drinkers in India have grown more discerning and the Indian wine market has undergone tremendous growth in the last five years, hence we have introduced a new range of premium wines in India. We are very pleased with the acceptance of our wines here."
Left: Lorenzo Zonin, Marketing Manager, Zonin

An iPhone application on French wines especially created for the Indian Market has been launched by Sopexa, on behalf of the French Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Fisheries. "UncorkFrance is a fun, interactive application that unravels the sophisticated world of French wines for budding wine enthusiasts and gives them quick, easy answers to their wine needs," states a company release.

I love books almost as much I love wine. A book I'm looking forward to adding to my library is the Swedish wine book, "The Creation of a Wine", which has won the "World's Best Wine Book for Professionals 2010" prize in the international book competition, "Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2011". Trouble is it's not in English as yet!
Pictured: Cover of the Swedish edition

Gruaud Larose is famous for its Bordeaux. But next month, when connoisseurs at the Bordeaux en Primeurs week talk about, "A Fabulous Year at Château Gruaud Larose", they will be talking about something other than the wine. The subject of discussion is likely to be the eponymous novel that will be available from March 15. Left: Author Guillaume Jourdan

Alberic Bichot who belongs to the 6th generation of the Bichot family and is the CEO of Maison Albert Bichot Wines was in Mumbai on a brief visit to introduce what was descried as the world's oldest, finest quality and most awarded wine brand, Maison Albert Bichot in India writes Suneeta Sodhi Kanga
Left: Alberic Bichot

Napa Valley today represents a haven of good wines being produced by owners and winemakers with aggressive desires to make a name for themselves in this most noble of pursuits, writes Sonal Holland. On one hand you have the old timer, large scale, prominent wineries such as the Robert Mondavi, Trefethen and Sterling Vineyards. On the other, is the small artisan model, producing minute quantities of superlative quality with utmost care and passion. Pictured: Staglin Family Vineyard Wines