Nature’s Bounty Wines and Allied Products launched an array of wines made by Cantine Calatrasi of Sicily at the Tapas restaurant, Vasant Continental Hotel, New Delhi on 14 September 2007. Speaking on the occasion, Amit Burman, chairman, Nature’s Bounty, predicted a bright future for the wine industry in India. “I expect the wine industry to pick up pace and grow even faster than the current growth rate.

As we have seen in other industries, increase in competition leads to high growth of the industry because every industry participant is investing in not only promoting and distributing its products but also in educating the consumer. I believe the wine industry will take off into the high-growth phase in the near future,” Mr. Burman said. Reporting by Malini Sood for Sommelier India. Read more...

Canard Duchêne, a French Champange label was launched at the Hyatt Regency in Delhi last week. It will be joining the existing bouquet of the exclusive 130 labels from Finewinesnmore in India. Sommelier India was invited to the exclusive launch event at which a selection of Canard Duchêne wines were tasted.

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Grover Vineyards recently launched their wines in Ludhiana, Punjab. Their La Reserve and Shiraz Rose will be available in leading retail outlets and restaurants. The wines are priced between Rs. 450 and Rs. 650 with more varieties to be launched soon. Grover Vineyards is targeting sales of 1,500 by the end of their financial year.

In separate news, the Economic Times is reporting that Grover Vineyards is signing a first of its kind deal with a consortium of wine growers in Maharashtra, to put up a new winery in the state. “The farmers will own the winery; we will be in-charge of production,” said director of Grover Vineyards Kapil Grover. The company is investing close to Rs 1 crore on plant and machinery in the new winery, Mr Grover said.

Wine lovers can now buy Nine Hills wine in Delhi. Labeled “Nine Hills” after the hills of Nashik from where the grapes come, Seagram formally launched their new quartet of Indian wines in the capital in early July, comprising two whites (a Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc) and two reds (Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz). At an exclusive walk-around tasting for 75 members of The Wine Society at Dublin at the ITC Maurya hotel, French winemaker Jean-Manual Jacquinot explained his technique and philosophy.

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Have you heard of Big Banyan wine? It’s the new Indian wine from Château de Banyan, a division of John Distilleries Limited, Bangalore and the latest venture from the promoters of Kumarakom Lake Resort. On sale in Goa and Bangalore with five varietals of white and red wine, we reckon we’ll be hearing a great deal more about these wines. So keep a look out for them. Priced betwen Rs 400 and Rs 600 depending on varying state tariffs, Big Banyan wines will be available in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh in August to be followed soon in the capital and other metros. As Indian wines achieve growing recognition in the country, Château de Banyan intends to bring world-class wines to the discerning wine drinker, notes a company press release.

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The latest wines to come to my notice are from Luxembourg. The other night I had a deliciously dry and refreshing Riesling followed by an Auxerrois, one of Luxembourg’s most successful grape varieties. The Grand Duchy grows Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Auxerrois, Riesling, Gewürztraminer and Pinot Noir, all of which are produced as varietal wines.

Well chilled and refreshing, the wines were perfect with paté on toast triangles, cubed pineapple, cheese and cherries on toothpicks, and cucumber sticks, not to mention some moist dhokla! Not one person asked for a beer, a nimbu pani or a diet coke. That says something… about the wines and our changing beverage preferences. Pictured above is Moselle Vineyards in Luxembourg. Read more...

Somrus Wines of Australia held a wine tasting on March 14th, 2007 at the Grand Intercontinental, Barakhramba Road, New Delhi. They source wines from McLaren Vale, Barossa Valley, King Valley, Goulburn Valley, as well as the Cowra region, in addition to their existing Hunter Valley vineyards.

Kyndal india has introduced a new wine brand - 30 Latt into the Indian market. The grapes for this wine is sourced from Holkar Estate in Nashik. But why call the brand 30th Latt? The reason being that historically some of the best wine making grapes have come from 30 degrees latitude or between the 30th and 50th parallels in the northern and southern hemisphere.

The wines are already available in Goa, Chandigarh, Punjab, Pune and Kolkata and are now being introduced in Mumbai and Delhi. The Kyndal wine portfolio currently includes Trinity, Flamingo and now the flagship brand, 30th Latt which contains a Sauvignon Blanc, a Shiraz and a Cabernet Sauvignon. The wines retail at around Rs. 450 depending upon the city you live in.

Sommelier India tasted these wines and felt that their Cabernet Sauvignon showed the most promise with its silkiness and long finish. Try them and let us know what you think.

Whom did we meet earlier this week? None other than the distinguished and indefatigable Angelo Gaja who was in India on a whirlwind three-city tour of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. Pictured to the left is Angelo Gaja at the Ca Marcanda vineyards in Tuscany, Italy.

During the meeting he spoke about his family’s history in wine, the growing profile of Italian wines on the international market, the tension between tradition and modernity and the importance of maintaining both. Ca Marcanda means "endless negotiations" in Italian and that's what he named the vineyard after negotiating with his brothers for it. Gaja wines are imported by Brindco Ltd. Read more...

Recently, Sommelier India attended a special wine dinner to launch Angove in India. The dinner was hosted by the Hyatt Regency's speciality Indian restaurant. Angove is the 10th largest winery in Australia and the 8th largest Australian wine exporter by volume. In 2006, the company crushed a record of 21,000 tonnes of fruit. The wines are imported by Sanjiv K singh of TT&G Trading. On the right is Victoria Angove posing with her wines just after the wine dinner.

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Watson Wines Group (WWG) from the Coonawarra region of Australia has for the first time launched four of its wines in Bangalore. These wines - Unwooded Chardonnay and Cabernet Merlot Shiraz under the Coonawarra Premium Vineyards label, and Unwooded Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon under the Gum Bear Coonawarra label - will be marketed by M&C Marketing and priced between Rs 750 and Rs 1,050.

Pio Cesare, one of the finest wineries in Piedmont, was founded in 1881. The winery is recognized for its elegant, big, traditionally styled red wines, and for its more modern, refined whites. Barolo 2002, Barbaresco 2002, and Gavi 2005 are being introduced in Mumbai and Delhi.

Nasik produced Miazma, owned by Globus-Wines target the Indian restaurant market in London, Mumbai and Delhi. Launched by entrepreneur Karan Jain, these wines aim to be the perfect match for ethnic Indian food. The wines are being launched in Mumbai in December and in Delhi in early 2007. At launch you'll find a Cabernet Sauvignon, a Shiraz, a Chenin Blanc and a Sauvignon Blanc in their portfolio. Try them and let us know what you think. Also, don't forget to tell us what food you paired the wines with!

Tittarelli Wines have been launched in India by Jagdeep Chowgule of Best Foods & Wine Impex of Goa, a company focused on bringing in the best wines from Argentina into the Indian market. Says Chowgule, “Argentina is renowned worldwide for its great varieties and delicious wines. Thanks to its vast, unique land and exceptional weather, the production of wine has always been one of the most active sectors of Argentina’s economy.

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Warburn Estate from Australia is entering the Indian domestic wine market. Warburn is one of New South Wales' largest wine producers with more than 1000 hectares under vine, a crush capacity of 40,000 tonnes and an annual turnover of $40 million. They are participating in the India Food Exhibition 2006 and will be at the Australian pavalion.