Posted: Friday, 15 April 2011 15:52

Indian Wine Academy Website Awarded at Vinitaly

The award held even a greater significance since the other finalists in the race were eRobertParker.com and Wine Spectator, two media giants in the wine industry. It came as a pleasant surprise for Subhash Arora, President of the Indian Wine Academy and editor of delWine, who was present at the Gala Dinner and had been also nominated for the second year in the ‘Best International Journalist’ category.

Not disappointed for not winning the coveted Award in the latter category, he said, ‘it is a great honour for our website to be recognised by such a prestigious association of wine producers. Pitted against world’s top journalists like Antonio Galloni and Michele Bettane, I would be surprised if I won the Top Journalist Award. It has been a great honour to be recognised by getting even the nomination. But since I provide most of the content of the website besides editing delWine which links the newsletter to this website, I am really thrilled. I feel it is really recognition for India.’

Accolades were plenty in coming for Arora at the dinner. Federico Castellucci, Director General of Paris-based international organisation of Vines and Wines, OIV said he was always impressed by the accurate and timely reporting of the happenings at OIV on this website, particularly with respect to the imminent entry of the Indian government into the prestigious organisation and several other news items relating to the Italian wine industry.

Dinesh Changela, MD of Berkmann Cellars in London with a subsidiary in India said he was an avid reader of the Indian Wine Academy website and depended on it for news about the wine market in India. Gianni Zonin, President of the Veneto-based multi-million euro wine company complimented Arora for the work done by him and the website for the promotion of Italian wines by creating awareness and educating the Indian consumers.

Another Indian present at the Dinner, Rajiv Malhotra, who is the MD of the JV between  Veronafiere and his company LEMS, admitted he did not completely agree with the contents of some of the news reports, but considered the website as a highly respected magazine for the industry –known for its no-nonsense, precise reporting.

The Award was given by Vittorio Frescobaldi, President of Comitato Grandi Cru d’Italia and Paolo Panerai, the Vice President at a Grand Dinner hosted by the Association at Palazzo della Ragione, Cortile Mercato Vecchio, in Piazza Bra-the center of town. It was attended by about 400 national and international journalists, member producers and importers and other special guests invited for the occasion.

Based on the voting by the members which include the produces present or known in India- Allegrini, Antinori (Piero Antinori was the previous President), Barone Ricasoli, Bertani, Ca del Bosco, Castello di Volpaia, Ceretto, Col d’Orcia, Donnafugata, Ferrari, Feudi di San Gregorio, Fontodi, Livio Felluga, Marco Felluga, Lungarotti, Marchesi Frescobaldi, Mastroberardino, Michele Chiarlo, Pio Cesare, Planeta, Tasca d’Almerita, Tenute San Guido, Folonari, Umani Ronchi, Altesino, Banfi, Dei, Cusumano, Donna Olga, Duca di Salaputra, Felsina, Garofoli, Marchesi di Barolo, Ornellaia, Tedeschi, S. Michele Appiano, Spadafora and Zenato, the following were award a momento in the shape of a vine cast in silver:

Best Italian Journalist-Antonio Galloni, Italian writer for Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Best International Journalist- Bettane and Desseauve-Editors if French Wine Guide
Best Italian Journalist for an Italian Wine Guide-Gianni Fabrizio (Gambero Rosso)
Best Italian guide/programme- Decanter (Radio)
Best International magazine- Wine Magazine, Canton, China
Best International Guide- Top 100 wines in China Isacs Guide
Best Website- Indian Wine Academy
Best international Retailer – Eataly- Watson Wine Cellar

Lifetime Achievement Award – Cesare Pillon

The Comitato Grandi Cru d’Italia was formed in 2005, in line with the 1855 Classification of Bordeaux wines in order to uphold the tradition of quality wines in Italy. The members are screened before admission, based on their consistent performance by the critics and the market. Originally charted with 12 members and co-opting of 36 more members as charter members, the Association currently boasts of 130 members.

For details on the organisation, please visit http://www.grandicruditalia.it/

Subhash Arora

GrandiCru Moments