The Chronicles of Chianti
History has the exceptional ability to tell many a fascinating tale by effortlessly transcending the barriers of time and nowhere is this more evident than in the idyllic region of Chianti. A good wine is a lot about the story. If we…
Barrel-Aged Cocktails: hit or miss?
My introduction to barrel-aged cocktails came early last year. The process, I was told, involved pre-mixing a cocktail in large quantities and ageing it in an oak barrel (like the ones used for whiskies and wine). Once out, the cocktails would…
New in the market: Chêne Grande Reserve 2010
Last night was the launch of a new red wine reserve from Grover Zampa Vineyards – the Chêne Grande Reserve 2010. The wine is a blend of Tempranillo (60%) and Syrah (40%) grapes grown on the slopes of the winery’s Igatpuri (in…
Chandon Estate – Now in India!
This has been a long time coming and it’s finally here. The world’s ‘go-to’ Champagne, Moët & Chandon, is listed right on top of the most prestigious wine lists around the world as also in India. So when you have…
For a little sweet something
Looking to buy an Indian dessert wine? This might help. Most people may be inclined to think that it is easier to evaluate a dessert wine – to extract notes and nuances in something sweet –, but not too long…
Blind tasting the Wines of India
Recently The Westin Pune Koregaon Park organised a wine event called Wines of India. The purpose was to bring together, on a common platform, all the Indian wineries and to blind taste their wines. 11 wineries – Sula, Grover Zampa,…
#GiggleOnOz: Win a 6 pack of Oz beer
If you follow the blog, you’ll know that I recently attended an Australian beer masterclass in Delhi (read here). Since there was so much interest around the Coopers Sparkling Ale (a very Australian notion, I’m told), I’ve been working on…
Oz Beer Master Class
Good beer should not be hard to find. In India, however, good beer is a luxury. So when there’s a beer event with craft brews, no effort is too great to make sure I’m there, even if it means flying…
Looking back at CMB 2013
It’s been a while since I got back from jurying at the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles 2013 in Bratislava, Slovakia. Reading my last post about CMB (read here) I’m reminded once again about all the jitters I felt before the competition. …
Sicily: A Continent of Wine
Earlier this year a group of journalists and industry men gathered in Mumbai for a Master class on Sicilian wines. The workshop, organised by Subhash Arora, President of the Indian Wine Academy, in association with the Sicilian Institute of Wine…
Argentinean Malbecs with Wine Park
It is always a pleasure to be invited to a Wine Park tasting. It is often an opportunity to learn from and interact with wine makers and owners. On other occasions it breeds discussions on wine trends in the Indian…
Welcoming the SETTE 2010
A few days ago I was at a wine tasting different from the usual. I’ve come to hate any event that claims to be a ‘wine and food pairing’. In the many I’ve attended in Mumbai over the last few…
At the beginning: CMB 2013
As fancy as judging international wine competitions may sound, I’m now realizing that there’s a lot more to it than see-sip-spit. Tomorrow will be my first experience on the jury of an international wine award. The Concours Mondial de Bruxelles…
World Malbec Day
So it’s World Malbec Day today and I asked Sommelier Magandeep Singh for a quick introduction to the purple grape. Here it is: Malbec is one of my favourite grapes and I sincerely believe that it needs to find its…
What’s Brewing in Mumbai?
I’ve been asking that question for long, and now there’s reason to be excited. As of a week ago, Mumbai’s first commercial craft brewers finally acquired permission to brew. How awesome is that! Get familiar with the trio behind the…