Nebbiolo Prima Musings
2014 was a big year for me, especially when it came to exploring wine regions. And my trip to the lovely city of Alba (famous for the truffles) in Northern Italy involved a tasting exercise like never before. I don’t…
Know your Prosecco
There is something to be said about fizzy wines – the way they seem to appeal to a clear majority, the way they don’t have any fixed time of day to be had, and the way they leave you in…
Revisiting the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles
This year marked my second appearance at the reputed international wine competition – Concours Mondial de Bruxelles. (Read all about the jitters I felt and my experience at the 2013 edition here and here) One of the largest competitions of…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…