A toast to Port Wine Day
Long before Bordeaux was a demarcated entity, or before the first vine had even been planned in Australia or California, the region of Douro in Portugal was already a clearly defined appellation! The year was 1756 and Marquis de Pombal,…
New in the market: York Sparkling Cuvée Brut
There’s a new bubbly in town folks. And this one’s from York. I’ve always liked the personality of York’s wines. Clean and well-made, they convey honesty and hard work. The Gurnani brothers – Kailash (winemaker) and Ravi, run the…
Let’s Talk Bourbon
‘Single Malt’ seems to be the buzz term when it comes to whisky nowadays. But how much do we really know about whiskies from around the world? Like American Bourbon for instance. So here are a few things you really…
New in the market: Myra Reserve Wines
It is always a treat to taste a wine for the first time. (Well, almost always.) There is suspense, apprehensions, expectations, and most of all, curiosity. I must admit that I’ve had my share of times when tasting Indian wines…
The Legend of Château Angélus
The time I tasted one of the most prestigious wines in the world He picks up the bottle, refills their wine glasses and sets it back on the table. If it were any other man in any other film it…
Nocturne: The Party Champagne
I’m not one for flowers, chocolates, or diamonds, but Champagne I can rarely say no to. Okay, make that never. So despite being slightly under the weather, I headed to the JW Marriott Aerocity in New Delhi for an evening…
On the Indian microbrewery trail
Inasmuch as I enjoy writing about malts and wines, I am shamelessly proud of being an ardent beer-lover. After a long day of wine tasting there’s usually nothing I want more than a nice cold fresh brew, one where the hops…
New in the market: KRSMA Wines
The Indian wine scene is agog with activity right now and each passing year sees the inauguration of a bevy of new wineries. The most recent one to impress me was KRSMA. Although not exactly a new winery, it has…
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…
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…
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…
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…
Inside Asia’s Largest Whisky Bar
(Read the article at Luxpresso.com here) A few months ago Singapore saw the opening of the Quaich Bar at Resorts World Sentosa. The two-storey bar is spread over 8,000 square feet and has the title of ‘Asia’s Largest Whisky Bar’…
