Rahoul B Singh is an architect and wine enthusiast. He was first introduced to wine while at architecture school and has since then indulged equally in both pursuits
vineyard in Burgundy
“What I drink ….. ?! I drink a lot, but always in moderation. In fact, when my doctor asked me, “Mr. Singh, are you a social drinker?” I replied emphatically, “Of course I am, the more I drink, the more social I get, isn’t that the case with you too, Doctor?”
On a more serious note, I drink a reasonable amount of wine because I find it a very versatile drink that sees me through the seasons for different occasions. With the onset of summer, I have packed away my whiskies and taken out the gins, but it’s the brilliant, chilled rosé (Shiraz Rosé, Fratelli, India) that made the perfect accompaniment to an afternoon of Holi romping, for example. Later in the evening a 2012 Cloudy Bay (Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand) was both aromatic and complex (another great summer wine). I have to admit it came off the back of a fine Château La Lagune (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot) which was my 2021 winter evening staple!
I was fortunate to visit Château La Lagune in 2019. When I heard that over the years they had established viticultural practices based on organic and biodynamic agriculture, it struck a chord with my own professional interest in environmentally sensitive and sustainable architecture. During that trip tasting wine from their renowned vineyards in Bordeaux, Burgundy and the Rhône Valley I was introduced not only to some of the exorbitantly priced First Growths but also to other highly enjoyable and palatable wines from less known wineries. I’ve come a long from my first bottle of wine in college, which was aptly labelled, Cheap Red Wine!
After all these years of drinking – in moderation of course – all I can say is just as you don’t judge a book by its cover, don’t judge a wine by its label!”