Readers' Comments

Tarun Bansal Says:

Looking for assistance as opening a bar in Lucknow

Posted @ November 18, 2013 16:12

Sailesh Agarwal Says:

I am planning to open a Premium Furniture Store in Gurgaon on the lines of finest stores in Europe and we wish to offer Wine & Cheese to our customers on complimentary basis along with freshly-brewed Coffee. As this is a unique & novel concept for India, do we need some kind of statutory license/permission ? Could you kindly advise in the matter ? Thanks and warm regards / Sailesh

Posted @ November 18, 2013 14:00

Subhash Arora Says:

Thanks for pointing it out, Aveek. This is going to be a big issue with vegetarians in India soon as people come to realise that egg whites are often-though not always used for fining. I didn't notice where they mentioned 'vegetarian' wines.I will seek the views of the management of Grover-Zampa too. As you know, I had met Nicholos at that time and I think he did a great job for Zampa. Subhash Arora

Posted @ November 15, 2013 11:20

Aveek Narula Says:

Dear Sir, The recently launched Zampa Chene 2010 is a wine created during the time when Nicholos Van Arde was the winemaker at Vallee De Vin, and the wine was fine tuned with addition of Viognier of 2011 into it. The wine after being taken out of the barrels had been put under egg-white fining along with a chemical deacidification done with Potassium Bicarbonate and then the Viognier was added to bring out its characteristics. If the wine is being mentioned as a vegetarian wine, it would be recommended not to served to vegetarians. This is just a brief of the wine history what the wine originally is. Regards.

Posted @ November 15, 2013 11:00

Subhash Arora Says:

Dear Raju, I have talked to Amit just now. While confirming what you say, he has promised me he is working hard to try and regain that spot this year. he will need help from distributors like you. So please give him more sales this year!!! And help the wine consumption grow !! As you can see, I cheer every one of the Top Ten (or Top Fifty) to run faster and faster and build more stamina. Subhash

Posted @ October 31, 2013 13:00

Dommaraju Krishnamaraju Says:

Hema whom I represent in South, was in 6th position, last year. Has come down to 8th, this year.

Posted @ October 31, 2013 12:30

Dipak Sengupta Says:

If you are interested in Australian Wine, you can contact me for further details. Dipak Sengupta Director ADK Solutions Australia Pty.Ltd. Sydney

Posted @ October 24, 2013 15:50

Sanjay Sheth Says:

Sir plz e-mail me wine exhibition in india venu. date visitiors

Posted @ October 21, 2013 13:30

David Banford Says:

I don't want to detract one little bit from Gerard's phenomenal achievements - but an OBE is not a knighthood. That is a KBE, which entitles you to use the word Sir before your name.

Posted @ October 18, 2013 13:40

Uday Nayak Says:

Wishing Sumedh All the very best ..I wouldnt be suprised if he makes his company the No 1 in India ..Great passion, Dedication and focus. All the very best Sumedh. Uday Nayak

Posted @ October 18, 2013 13:10

Rina chatterjee Says:

Hi I am an indian cityzen currently in France. I am very much interested in selling french wine in India. Do you know any supplier or clubs and pubs who are interested in french wine. Please give me information about prospects of french wine in India

Posted @ October 18, 2013 12:58

Abhilash Paul Says:

I am a wine maker and make homemade wine for my consumption. I would like to start it as a profession. What are the ways in which I can start of as in join a winery or can I make it at home and start selling after purchasing a selling license? Someone please advice.

Posted @ October 18, 2013 12:38

Alok Chandra Says:

I heartily agree with the sentiments expressed, Subhash: wine is worth promoting, whatever the origin. Too, the Indian wine industry will not grow and prosper till reform of state regulatory and tax mechanisms facilitate volumes and profitability, and encourage investments in quality and distribution.

Posted @ October 11, 2013 11:15

David Banford Says:

One of the major drawbacks of blind tasting - even though I strongly believe in this process to select quality wines - is that no sight is possible of the bottle, with its branding, labelling and packaging. Like it or not, these influence the taster's opinion - drinking a wine which is poured out of a plastic bottle means you get a negative connotation of what you are about to taste, and tasting wine from an elegant bottle with attractive packaging puts you in a receptive mood to enjoy the product. That said the more of these Wines of India blind tasting events that are held, the better. Roll-on! David Banford

Posted @ October 11, 2013 11:07

Srikanth Banerjee Says:

DearSir/ma'am this message is to inform you that i have no understanding about wine and what i have heard from my wine drinking friends that its a case of acquired taste which takes a lil time for people to appreciate. As i find myself in need of an experts advise which brand of wine do you suggest me to start of with at the beginning. For your information i am a weekend drinker and mostly have consumed whiskey. Any information from you would be highly regarded and appreciated. Thanking you Srikanth

Posted @ October 11, 2013 10:52

Des Mc Carthy Says:

Hi There, I have a small wine tours company www.cellartours.com. We follow each other on twitter. I was wondering if you were interested in co-operating online, maybe with a guest blog post about a wine tour in Italy or Spain, geared towards Indian tastes and style. If you have any ideas please let me know. All the best and looking forward to hearing from you Kind regards Des

Posted @ September 23, 2013 15:48

Subhash Arora Says:

You should also visit Grovere Zampa, Vallone, and York -they are on the way to Sula/near Sula. if you have time you should also visit Vintage Wines in Niphad- about 40 kms from Nashik. Arora

Posted @ September 18, 2013 17:33

Andrea Hargrave Says:

Hello.....I was hoping you may be able to assist. I am going to be visiting Nashik with a friend in October from England and I was wondering if you could recommend some wineries for us to visit. We already plan to call on Sula but a few more recommendations would be most welcome. With kind regards Andrea Hargrave

Posted @ September 18, 2013 16:00

Subhash Arora Says:

If you wilke to study wine by correspondence .visiting important websites like ours is a good way to start. A lot of what you want to learn is available on such sites. Follow it up with tasting as much as you can. Arora

Posted @ August 24, 2013 11:40

Akanksha Baswant Says:

Hello, I'm very much interested in studying wine but, correspondence because i'm already working. it will be of great help if you assist me for the same.

Posted @ August 24, 2013 11:40

Sachin Singh Says:

It gives me immense pleasure to see the overwhelming response that Champy Bourgogne Chardonnay received at the wine Dinner. Looks like the brand Champy is getting its due recognition now. @Sujata Patil: Its nice to know that you worked so closely with Champy wine house. A huge like for your comment.

Posted @ July 30, 2013 13:40

Baron nicolas kondratovitch Says:

dear sirs, we have a project to open in india a wine bar and gastronomy ( French) can you help us we have many references but not in India waiting your negative or positive reply , god bless you Baron nicolas Kondratovitch.

Posted @ July 30, 2013 12:06

Sujata Patil Says:

I have interned with Maison Champy when I studied wines in France and am a big fan of all their wines, especially the regional appellations, both red and white, but more so of the relatively lesser known Beaune appellation from Burgundy. Dimitri Bazas, their wine maker, works to produce some really fine expressions of the Beaune 1er Cru appellations. Since the time I worked with them (back in 2006), the company has grown in the size of estate they own. So I am sure they have several other additions to their portfolio, which are equally good as the wines I tasted or even better. I really, really understood the Burgundy wine-making philosophy thanks to my stint at Maison Champy. Here is to great success for one of my favourite Burgundy houses! :)

Posted @ July 30, 2013 12:03

Remie Law Says:

Please extend my warmest wishes & congratulations to Violet for her passion and persistence in wine production in India. We met rather briefly in Singapore, when she attended one of the trade shows, there.

Posted @ July 29, 2013 18:15

Violet Says:

Hi CAV. Subhash, It is an honour to know that you do remember me in your very busy schedule. It is only people like you (or should I say the only one) who are impartial and include the smaller wineries too with respect to our industry. Kind regards, Violet

Posted @ July 29, 2013 18:07

Anjeel Babbar Says:

Very informative article. Thanks. If I have to setup a wine making facility what are the legal formalities to complete. Could you please guide me. Thanks in advance

Posted @ July 26, 2013 12:40

Subhash Arora Says:

Thank you Brian for your comments. Coming from the CEO of such a prestigious insitute, I feel honoured. I take it as a compliment that you found the article to be excellent and in most respects an accurate commentary on the Court of Master Sommeliers and its MS Diploma. Being a holder of an MBA and an MS degree holder of another kind (Master of Science in Industrial Engineering from the University of Minnesota, USA) I respect and uphold the high traditions of such a title. Regarding Master Alpana Singh MS, I would like to clarify that I mentioned she was the youngest WOMAN to have received the MS. I had got this info from Wikipedia which says, and I quote 'In 2003, she passed the final exam to become the youngest woman ever to achieve the rank of Master Sommelier.' Indian Wine Academy prides to catalyse the wine culture in India and in fact the world, through education at several levels-none of which are formal, at least so far. But we have counselled several youngsters who have gone on to Adelaide, UC DAvis, Bordeaux and advised many to pursue the tough goals of MW or MS or at least pursue the Advanced certificates whenever we find them suitable. Regards, Subhash Arora. President -Indian Wine Academy

Posted @ June 25, 2013 15:41

Brian Julyan Says:

Dear Sir I read your article on the Court of Master Sommeliers with interest and would like my comment to be added to your excellent article. In most respects this artical is an accurate commentary on the Court of Master Sommeliers and its MS Diploma but I would like to add one or two comments. One fact which is incorrect is that Xavier Rousset who passed in 2002 was the youngest person to pass the Master Sommelier Diploma, not Alpana Singh. Additional information is that out of 23 candidates who sat the MS exams in London 2012, none passed, but a number passed one or two parts as was the case in Dallas. Candidates have three years to pass the three papers before starting over again. As has been stated the pass rate fluctuates from exam to exam, partly due to candidates having one, two or three papers to complete, so one exam may have zero passes, the next one may have six. The Tasting and Theory papers are considered by most candidates to be the most difficult but unless the candidates have had good experience working on the floor of a restaurant, they will find the Practical test equally difficult. Regarding the suggestion that the theory paper is more difficult now than in previous years, all the papers are moderated by the UK and the USA examination committees ensuring they are fair and of a consistent standard from examination to examination. FOUR people have passed both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier qualifications, Ronn Wiegand, Gerard Basset, Doug Frost and Eric Hemer. With Regards, Brian Julyan CEO Court of Master Sommeliers Europe 1 Seaway Close Torquay, TQ2 6PY Devon, UK Tel/Fax (0)1803 605031

Posted @ June 25, 2013 12:56

Anju Chhatwal Says:

Hi i like to know about the wine expert course .i am from delhi the details of the course. Thanks anju chhatwal

Posted @ June 25, 2013 11:35

Nagendran & Vidhya Says:

Hi It is good to see your academy. We are based in London and looking to explore import wines to India. Can you help us where to get the preliminary information to Import to India ? Best Regards NV

Posted @ June 24, 2013 14:28

Subhash Arora Says:

Dear Aeisha, The precise purpose of my talking the leadership role in WOW is to highlight women who have established themselves in the wine industry in various capacities. You’d be surprised how the industry has been male dominated in other countries as well. I have talked to women in Italy, Spain and Chile etc. where they have been discriminated by their own families! The men looked down upon them as not-so-competent. It’s a few women like Madame Clicquot of VCP Champagne and Baroness Philippine de Rothschild on whom the leadership was thrust upon and they came up with flying colours. But the wine world has changed decidedly for the better so far as women are concerned during the last few decades and I would like to see women get a fair share of the pie in India as well. Rather than me writing, I am asking these women to be the shining examples and be a motivation. I will come out with an article later taking various facets of women of wine in India. Thanks for the comment and keep on pushing the Big B and exhorting the winemakers to give you better product and variety to penetrate the wine market deeper. Subhash

Posted @ June 22, 2013 15:58

Aeisha Sahni Says:

Great to see that your writing about this topic, Subhash. It would be nice if you could mention a few points in your future article on why women should work in the wine industry and some of the benefits. Hopefully this would inspire more and more women to be a part of this trade,and put an end to the fact that it is currently a male dominated industry.

Posted @ June 22, 2013 14:00

dkraju Says:

Subhash, Amit has given me an opportunity to market these wines in Tamil Nadu. First customer is Madras Club.

Posted @ July 18, 2013 10:39

Cedric Segal Says:

When one just wants 1 glass of good wine and has no need for a bottle, it allows to drink (good) wine more often, change wines during a meal... share different wines. It is targeted at a younger audience, and to new territories (Asia, South America...) With such a good quality in a small and convenient package, this is the opportunity to drive wine sales and improve the wine quality globally. Not to mention the ecological advantages of the aluminum cans (lighter, recyclable, lower carbon footprint...)

Posted @ July 18, 2013 10:12

Subhash Arora Says:

Unfortunately, it is correct, Diego Urra. But it will be applicable about 1-2 years after the FTA is signed. Also, it will be applicable for wines costing over $3.5 and that is still under negotiation-anything can happen. But Chile also has an FTA-like half FTA they called it then. Maybe, the Chilean government will take up the issue once again after this FTA is signed. Cheers, my friend. I hope the estate is as beautiful as when I visited it and the wines as great! Subhash

Posted @ July 03, 2013 15:27

Diego Urra Gosselin Says:

Hi Subhash! This is Diego Urra from Lapostolle winery. so this drop on taxes will be only for european wines, right? no drop on taxes for chilean?? cheers, Diego

Posted @ July 03, 2013 15:20

Subhash Arora Says:

Thanks for your comments David. I agree with you wholeheartedly. He is one of the finest persons I have come across in the wine world. As I noted in my article,'Steven, who seems to be soft spoken, unassuming and humble in real life...,' he did not deserve the treatment he got in the movie. I do hope this movie takes off in September and his character is more true to life in it. Cheers. Subhash

Posted @ July 02, 2013 16:50

David Banford Says:

Having known Steven for over 25 years, and having worked with him on helping to develop the wine culture in India, I can reassure readers that Steven is anything but an 'elitist snob'. I know of no-one who is happier to roll up his sleeves and engage with wine enthusiasts at all levels discussing the merits of any and all wines, answering questions on an individual basis, however naive, until the wee small hours of the night - and relishing each and every interaction. If the movie is entitled Judgement of Paris, and his name is used, then surely he has the right to ask for some historical accuracy? His brand is at stake.

Posted @ July 02, 2013 16:35

Subhash Arora Says:

Aeisha, thanks for your comments. I believe in telling it like it is. But also, I am a great supporter of such Shows-for long term interests of good wine companies they are extremely important to participate in. The government (IGPB/APEDA) are very supportive of the industry. Fortunately, the two gentlemen at the top -Capt Gahlot and Sunil Kumar are very pro-active. Keep in touch with them to get the best out of the system. Good luck and hope to see your wines at such shows (decided where to take part, obviously) and international wine competitions. Subhash Arora

Posted @ June 17, 2013 12:54

Aeisha Sahni Says:

Great article Subhash, extremely informative. Gives us a better incite on whats happening at these shows for Indian producers. Thanks for sharing it.

Posted @ June 17, 2013 12:54

Yegas Naidoo Says:

Reported with your usual erudite insights Subhash and your critical comments are validated. Your clever conclusion of canning the spirits is spot on. I am pleased SAA continues with unfailing commitment to serve, across all Classes, interesting and objectively selected wines on board.

Posted @ June 13, 2013 09:57

Subhash Arora Says:

Rioja wines are fine higher-ended wines that merit bigger presence in India. Obviously, due to the high duties they don't find the right platform. Crianzas are still a possibility. You need to find an importer unless you want to get in the import business yourself-not recommended with your backgraound and resources as you tell me. License is no problem- that is where your problems would start! Shipping Crianza or even Reserve or maybe Joven would have a good potential. But shipping them alone in small quantities may not be physically feasible. Subhash Arora

Posted @ June 07, 2013 13:00

Inderjeet Hora Says:

Hi , I am looking to start sourcing Rioja wine from Spain and exporting it to India. Is it easy to find partners in India who can import this officially and supply it to the wine traders or restaurants ? Is it difficult to get import license for this trade in India and are the duties quite high ? Do you think there would be demand for fine Rioja in India? Your help would be much appreciated.

Posted @ June 07, 2013 12:40

Subhash Arora Says:

Thanks for the comment, Girish. Yes, by top I meant big (size). I already clarified that to a reader in UK earlier. You are right about the volumes produced by the Fortified wine producers. I am not even sure if they qualify as wine but until the wine laws are in place in India, there is nothing you and i can do about it. But I do not include those in my 'top' producers -either in size or certainly quality. I openly detest and abhor these wines being called Port wines as it is an insult to the real 'Port' wines but hopefuly the GI law will soon catch up with them. However, I think cheap fortified wines made from indegenous grapes are here to stay since they do have a huge domestic market. I appreciate your feedback. Subhash Arora

Posted @ June 04, 2013 10:48

Girish M Says:

I would like to ask the Writed to clarify that Top wineries are the ones who sell volumes ! As I am always told winery in Europe done compete who are on TOP by volumes but by QUALITY wines. The TOP wineries in India are today producing the mostly PORT wines which are of POOREST NON DRINKABLE LIQUID. Unfortunately wine experts comments Top by volumes making wine sound like selling cases of whiskey n Beer!

Posted @ June 04, 2013 10:30

Rifaquat Mirza Says:

True that !!Its always the case of "More the merrier" haha...and never about too many marys!!...Very factual article

Posted @ May 31, 2013 10:45

Subhash Arora Says:

That is very interesting and encouraging.But you will have to approach the excise department that looks after licensing andiscuss with them. Only they have he authority to give you the license. Good luck. Arora

Posted @ May 25, 2013 11:30

Shibu George Says:

dear sir, I am from kerala.i just started to make wine in my house, for my personal use. but now my friends and relatives they are asking to give to them like bulk quantities. so I am just thinking about it seriously.so I need to know how I can get the license to sell my homemade wine? thanks @ regards- shibu

Posted @ May 25, 2013 11:29

Helnut Brunner Says:

Dear Sir or Madame, Hereby I would like to introduce our company TEGEL-INVEST Ltd, headoffice in Madrid. Wie are a group of bankers and economists and cooperate with spanish companies who are in difficulties due to the finacial problems in Spain. I am in charge of the section of agriculture products, particulary of wine producers. Several wineries are in a situation of foreclosure, therefor obliged to sell their stock of high quality of red and white wines in part up to 650.000 bottles with discount, agree in some cases to a partnership with a investor / wine-importor or to sell his manifactory and wineyards. In case you are interested in any kind of cooperation, please contact me for further information. With kind regards, Helmut Brunner

Posted @ May 23, 2013 13:44

Sumita Nandi Says:

sir,i want to open wine manufacture industry home based small at tripura.i have no large capital.how to start it.know me the procedure of wine manufacture registration/lic. at Dharmanagar,Tripura:M.No.09436479565. With thanks Sumita nandi South Nayapara P.O.Dharmanagar Tripura(N.) Pin:-799250 '

Posted @ May 20, 2013 13:23

Robert David Says:

I like to Import wine an sale in India...

Posted @ May 06, 2013 12:14

VP Rajesh Says:

Congrats, Subhash! look forward to many more years of commentary, knowledge and fun! VP

Posted @ April 29, 2013 11:47

Rohit Arora Says:

SULPHUR-fuss is a MYTH !

Posted @ April 29, 2013 10:30

Niladri Dhar Says:

Agree with Wes & Rohit. Like many other myths in the wine world, it is also a myth that sulfites are the cause of red wine headaches. Anyone dealing with wine science will confirm that. In addition to histamines, as already mentioned by Wes, scientists are also looking at tannins and the way the are absorbed in the human body, as one of the causes. It is a complex topic which is being reserched upon as we speak.

Posted @ April 29, 2011 10:20

Anurag Mehrotra Says:

What a significant milestone and achievement. Congratulations Subhash!

Posted @ April 26, 2013 16:35

Remie Law Says:

Congratulations! May you continue to journey for many more decades to come.

Posted @ April 26, 2013 10:45

Rajeev Samant Says:

Congrats Subhash! Have enjoyed all the shared convivial moments on your amazing wine journey! Many more to come I'm sure..

Posted @ April 26, 2013 10:40

Sidd Banerji Says:

Congratulations Sir!! The huge followers of yours and your academy most sincerely wish you all the best and many many more years to have your extraordinary treatment of the wine world....all to our benefit.Regards.

Posted @ April 26, 2013 10:38

Mariagrazia Icardi Says:

Dear Sir, thank you for the news that we receive from you We kindly ask you if you can inform us about some wine exhibition in India We are looking for an importer for our wines. Could you kindly help us Warm regards mariagrazia Icardi

Posted @ April 25, 2013 15:32

Sharad Phadnis Says:

Highly appreciate your passion for wine and work you are doing for Delhi Wine Club, Indian Wine Academy and Delwine Enews Letter.

Posted @ April 25, 2013 15:26

kskarnic Says:

A fantastic journey indeed. Keep going

Posted @ April 25, 2013 15:20

David Rowe Says:

Dear Subhash Congratulations on this auspicious anniversary. Please keep up the good work! Kind regards David Rowe

Posted @ April 25, 2013 11:03

Wes Barton Says:

It should be easy enough for individuals to determine if their problem is due to sulfites. Many foods, as well as white wine, have a significantly higher level of sulfites than red wine. A reaction to sulfite cannot be allergic, by the way. One thing to keep in mind is dehydration. Beer drinkers don't need to worry about that too much. Drinking wine the guideline is to drink a glass of water of each glass of wine. I'll drink some water before, then again later when I feel the need. Dehydration and impurities are what cause hangovers with moderate consumption. Back to real red wine specific reactions, this is an area still being studied, so there's still some dispute, but it's fair to say there are many causes. Wine is extremely complex. I've had a reaction to a wine in from one vintage, but not the same wine the next vintage. One study I saw claimed 70% of reactions were from amines (half being histamines). A lot of people will take an antihistamine before they drink wine, which seems to work. Here's a relevant article: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/11/121107101717.htm Google is your friend. It seems each new study or article on this complex subject has a new facet.

Posted @ April 23, 2013 11:05

Subhash Arora Says:

Thanks for your comments Wes. If you check our website indianwineacademy.com, I often propogate against the myth that only Sulphites create headaches. After all, they are present in many other food items as well. But I don't need studies to tell me that in India most people who get headaches with wine-especially red wine, seem to be allergic to sulphur when I ask them. Perhaps, you could be kind enough to tell me the reasons and the remedy. I know headache is one of the significant causes of wine culture being stifled in India.It is a FACT that many more Indians don't drink wine as it gives them headaches. It would be really great if we could have them drink wine and not get headache. P.S.- I also have discovered that most of them drink low-end cheaper wines available. I suspect these wines use too much sulphites. Mostly, when they drink better wuality or organic wine headaches are lower. What inference would you draw? Subhash Arora

Posted @ April 22, 2011 13:57

Wes Barton Says:

You might want to do some research before propagating the myth that sulfites are the cause of red wine headache. There are many different causes, and sulfites are responsible for a very small percentage of them.

Posted @ April 22, 2013 13:54

Subhash Arora Says:

I doubt it. If that were the case, the importers should not be selling wine during these 9 days-it would be much more offensive to Mata Vaisho Devi to see people profiting from selling alcohol during Navratras. I think it is the lack of empathy and a real passion for wine that is lacking in India. Perhaps, as Magandeep said, the Argentina embassy was too sure and almost cocky of the people attending and there might have been a we-couldn't- care- less- attitude on the part of the organisers. I KNOW no one really cared whether I attended or not. It is my own passion and commitment that I went anyway. Subhash Arora

Posted @ April 22, 2011 13:55

Gurpreet Says:

Well Navratras could be one of the reason for low attendance...

Posted @ April 22, 2013 13:50

Subhash Arora Says:

I am not sure if there is a specific law against it; the laws are specific about making and selling wine-that is to say, you may not make wine at home and sell it. Several people make wine at home for their own consumption-there does not seem to be any problem with that. Arora

Posted @ April 22, 2011 13:45

Sanjeev Kumar Says:

Is wine making at home for personal consumption legal in India ?

Posted @ April 22, 2011 13:40

Subhash Arora Says:

To the best of my knowledge no company is importing 5L boxes yet. It may have been tried on an experimental basis but one has not seen its regular use so far. Arora

Posted @ April 22, 2013 13:38

Gary Spivak Says:

Do you know any Indian wine company that sells in 5 L bags?

Posted @ April 22, 2013 13:30

Rajko Says:

Greetings! From Slovenia we offer high quality red and white wines.We offer quality and we are confident that you will be pleased to ordering our wine.We want to make themselves known to us customers who value it.We will offer the best.Send your offer red and white premium wines for which we are sure you will want to order quite.Large range of high quality top red and white wines originating from Slovenia (Europe).All wines are certified. White wines: Pinot Blanc, Pinot Grigio, Malvasia, Ribolla, Sauvignon ... Red wines: Barbera, Cabernet Sauvignon, Refosco, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Teran ... For more information, write please. HER-MES Rajko Zaman SpA

Posted @ April 12, 2013 16:14

Tarsillo Says:

An Italian say, it that Ancient folks use to eat the skin and threw figs away. (Fai come gli Antichi: mangiavano la buccia e gettavano i fichi"I never found out the origin of such say! I just fear that Indian wine producers, may now throw their wine away and sell us Pomace wine (wait, may be they are already doing so, sending the nectar abroad and selling us the Pomace wine, or at least it tastes so!)

Posted @ April 03, 2013 11:33

Robert Withers Says:

Hi Arora, We are interested in promoting our Californian wines. We are a Californian exporter specializing in export to India. I have been receiving DelWine for two years and love it! Robert Withers, Co-Founder | Cali Beverage Group

Posted @ April 03, 2013 11:17

Michele Shah Says:

Dear Subhash, An interesting preview of Vinitaly. Yes, Sicilians are being very active during this edition. You may not be aware that Decanter has organised a very interesting tasting on 9th April at 11 am at Sala Iris where I will be conducting a comparative tasting of Nerello Mascalese, the principal grapes of the red blend of the volcanic Etna with the Pinot Noir from New Zealand. There will be 12 wines to be tasted. Though we won’t be comparing the two varietals strictly, my inspiration for the selection is from Jancis Robinson MW who once described Etna Rosso, as the ‘Burgundy of Etna’. This tasting focuses on ‘old world structure and elegance- meets new world power and intensity’. I will also have on the panel 3 producers from Etna and NZ. The tickets are €20 each but I invite you to join us as a guest-this is one of the several interesting events happening in Vinitaly, besides the ones you have mentioned in your article. Michele Shah

Posted @ April 03, 2013 11:04

Bruce Cakebread Says:

Health Watch: Napa Valley Wines Increase Your I.Q.
As will be reported in the upcoming issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, a groundbreaking epidemiological study by UC Davis confirms what NVV members may already know: people who enjoy Napa Valley wines experience a measurable increase in cognitive function. In other words, they are smarter! The UCD Department of Viticulture and Enology will release the results of its 27-year research project later today which shows a direct correlation between consumption of Napa Valley wine and higher cognitive brain functions. This multigenerational longitudinal meta-analysis of wine consumption is unprecedented in the world of wine research and was done without collaboration with other educational institutions.

According to the research, the phenolic compounds in wines made from grapes grown in the renowned winegrowing region interact directly with nerve cells, improve communication between synapses and encourage nerves to carry regenerative electrical signals to the brain. “We’ve been able to isolate the unique attributes of the Napa Valley geology, climatology, and adaptive phenology that contribute to these observations,” said UCD Professor David Block.

The data show that Americans who consume five or more glasses of Napa Valley wine per week had a statistically significant increase in their observed I.Q. over the control group that drank wine from an appellation immediately to the west of Napa Valley. The perceivable difference occurred within one to three hours of consumption and was directly correlated with the number of doses administered. “Millions of years of tectonic activity as well as some darned smart winemakers have paid off,” said Bruce Cakebread, NVV board president, noting “this is why Napa Valley rocks.”

The NVV was unaware of this university research project but confirmed no animals were harmed in the study. (With dure permission to reproduce from- Bruce Cakebread-CEO of Cakebread Cellars, Napa Valley and President Napa Valley Vintners)

Posted @ April 03, 2013 10:47

Subhash Arora Says:

I hope you are right, and it IS a joke, Alok. But they wont be asking $875 if it were a joke. Subhash Arora

Posted @ April 02, 2013 17:02

Alok Chandra Says:

Spot-on, Subhash - the DBR report seems to either be an April Fool's joke, or else someone is playing the fool. I estimate that total wine sales in India in 2012/13 were 2.35 million cases (23% growth) - this included 330,000 cs of imports, 926,000 cs of domestic premium wines, and 1.1 million cases of 'cheap' ad-mix wines. Volumes are forecast to grow to 5.7 million cases by 2017-18 - a CAGR of 19%.

Posted @ April 02, 2013 16:35

Sarah Yuan Says:

Distinguished India Wine Academy, We are organizer of Vinexpo China 2013, Zhejiang Int'l Wine and Spirits Exhibition to be held in September 26-28 in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China. We hope sincerely to cooperate with you and want to regard you as one of our media partners. we would like to discuss with you about detailed procedures of cooperation. For more information about Foodex China, please click: www.vinexpo.com/en I look forward to your positive reply. Best Regards! Sarah Yuan

Posted @ March 28, 2013 13:00

Sidd Banerji Says:

Being inspired by you,your studies,reports and comments all these 3 years,I with my absolute little knowledge got into Chianti region of Tuscany and had an enormous experience of the core of Italian wine industry.Not only their skill,heritage and immense hard work but also had a very close look into their warmth and passion on wines.Additionally, what startled me was their acute sense of hospitality,batter no eye lid acceptance and assistance exhibited to me by individuals,organizations and producers involved in the wine industry.This report of Subhash takes me to a higher height of understanding,describing and reporting. My 3rd trip to Italian wine industry starting 4th April shall be enormously helped by the article.Regards,Subhash.

Posted @ March 21, 2013 10:44

Sidd Banerji Says:

Congratulations Sir!!!!Nothing could be a better news than this for me,this morning.I shall probably be present at the event on 8th at Vinitaly this year as I am attending the event again this year with my Italian associates.Regards.

Posted @ March 21, 2013 10:35

R B KHARE Says:

Congratulations: Cav Arora

Posted @ March 21, 2013 10:30

kskarnic Says:

We are proud of U sir. Pl accept our congratulations

Posted @ March 20, 2013 13:35

Raghunath Setty Says:

Dear Subhash Arora, Congratulations’ sir, and many more rewards & awards come your way, may god bless you. Regards, Raghunath Setty

Posted @ March 20, 2013 10:30

Mayukh Dewan Says:

Congratulations Cav Arora. well deserved. on another note, how do we get in touch with you. please do email me on my personal email attached. Mayukh Dewan

Posted @ March 20, 2013 10:25

kskarnic Says:

My heartiest congratulations to Dr Adsule. His contribution to viticulture in general and post harvest management in particular has brought in positive change in the lives of grape growers. Congrats mr Adsule

Posted @ March 20, 2013 10:14

Monica Larner Says:

Me too! Congratulations to all the nominees! Best, Monica

Posted @ March 20, 2013 10:00

Sidd Banerji Says:

So timely and so exhaustive.Every man in country,involved in wines shall have a solid benefit.An article to be kept for reference.

Posted @ March 14, 2013 15:50

Rajesh Swarnakar, AIWS Says:

This is a great news Subhashji. I am glad that WSET has expanded its wings to Chianti in Italy. way to go .

Posted @ March 07, 2013 13:44

Munish Kumar Says:

Dear Sir, I would like to start my small scale wine cultivation in Haryana. Please guide me to take production licenses or which govt bodies we need to approach. What will be the approximate fee. I will be appreciate if you can help us.

Posted @ February 05, 2013 13:00

Dhaval Desai Says:

Hello...I m Dhaval Desai from Gujarat i am pursuing my hotel management from Jindal School of Hotel Management i m am much interested to know more and learn about Wines and i wanna make it as my passion so ill u help me by guiding me what are the specification or academies in India. By which i can be a good wine sommelier. Thank you

Posted @ January 19, 2013 11:40

Kartik Sharma Says:

Wonderful article ! Truly depicting the spirit of the Mumbai wine festival for peeps who weren't able to make it ! And Thank you once again Mr. Subhash Arora for your appreciation and kind words for the Georgian wines ! It means a lot to us ! Gamajos..

Posted @ January 15, 2013 11:34

Christopher Gronbeck Says:

Hi...I own a wine bar and retail shop in Seattle, Washington, USA, and we're looking for Indian wines to feature at an upcoming event. Do you know any distributors of Indian wines in the USA that I can contact? Thanks!

Posted @ January 11, 2012 17:18

Benjamin Ward Says:

Dear Sirs, I am writing an article about the availability of alcohol-free and non-alcoholic wines available at this time in India. I would very much appreciate it if you could shed some light on this topic. I look forward to hearing from you. My best wishes, Benjamin Ward

Posted @ January 09, 2013 17:20

Kanchan Madnani Says:

Hi, i would like to enquire if you all have any course regarding wine tasting and same subject....

Posted @ January 03, 2012 11:47

Subhash Arora Says:

Dear Mr Solomons, It was nice talking to you this morning. I have seen your mail. Firstly, we do not make any wine or sell any-so we cannot help you. You cannot blend coconut wine with anything else. Only grape wines are usually blended. You could import grape juice and make wines. Generally, it is a good habit to say fermentation of wine and winery rather than brewing or wine brewery. I am putting your name for delWine subscription-which is free and gives a lot of info

Posted @ January 02, 2013 13:57

Anura Solomons Says:

i am going to start a small scale wine brewery. how can you help me? my base will be king coconut juice since grapes is not cultivated in Sri Lanka. How can i blend my wine with yours ?how can i import your wine in small quantities?

Posted @ January 02, 2013 13:15

Dr Ramchurn Says:

I am an international ago-industrial consultant and with an interest in the evaluation and quality control of indian wine industry.Grateful for latest data from your end.Thanks a lot.Regards.

Posted @ December 26, 2012 16:00

Ranvir Singh Says:

Sir, i would like to know the existing subsidy schemes by Govt of India-MOFPI for establishing a small scale apple cider & perry unit in HImachal Pradesh. please also inform about the source of information. thanks in anticipation

Posted @ December 21, 2012 16:41

Siyamalan Says:

Thanks for the insights Subhash That's quite a shock after blindly believing in that TOI report. I am going to be quite happy, even if the cut-off levels were to be $10. But how much truth is there about year 2017 where the duties might be lowered to 30%. While Cravinho is hopeful that FTA could be signed by early next year, what exactly is the reason that the lowering of duties be postponed till 2017!! Given that 5 year is very long duration considering Indian politics, It makes me to think that these things will never pan out Siyamalan wineindia.in (one of the blogger who blindly followed and reported :P)

Posted @ December 19, 2012 12:39

Jatinder Taneja Says:

How can i attend this wine tasting sesssion in Delhi. Will be thankful for the info. Jatin

Posted @ December 19, 2012 11:24

Subhash Arora Says:

Hi Shruti
I am glad you got motivated by the article and that you like reading the editorials and are now moving in the direction of wine. Wish you all the best in wine as a career and as a beverage of preference. Go for UC Davies or Adelaide! Cheers, Subhash Arora

Posted @ November 30, 2012 11:53

Shruti Mehrotra Says:

Hi, I'm a 21 year old girl from Delhi and I absolutely love going through the editorials of this website. I read the article on Priyanka Dhar and found it o inspiring. I am a wine buff myself. As an exchange student to California in class 11th, I had a chance to visit napa and it left quite an impact so I came back and pursued biotechnology. This summer I visited Adelaide University and had quite an experience working in the wine microbiology lab. I'm in the final year of my B.tech here in Delhi and am planning to apply for my MS in viticulture and enology. keep these inspiring stories coming! :) Sincerely, Shruti Mehrotra

Posted @ November 30, 2012 11:52

Sahil Dev Singh Slathia Says:

Please give me some tips if somebody have an interest in wines how can he start their business in wines if he donot have the knowledge abt the wines , can he get the training from Indian wine academy , or is there any course from wines , if yes then please send the complete information the procedure. Thank you

Posted @ November 19, 2012 17:46

Niladri Dhar Says:

The study makes a lot of sense and confirms what is already known - that tannin elements in wine (or even tea) act as binders of grease and broken meat proteins. In food & wine pairing this acts perfectly as a palate cleanser, a reason small sips of wine throughout a meal makes the dining experience much more enjoyable. Try having a heavy dish like a rich Bolognaise or even our own Mutton Dum Biryani with and without wine and you will notice the difference. Cheers, Niladri

Posted @ October 13, 2012 13:10

Andrea A Johnson Says:

Thanks for all of your work on this web page. I am looking forward to reading more of your posts in the future.

Posted @ October 11, 2012 14:09

Remie Says:

It happens in most emerging wine-drinking countries, including Singapore. However, nowadays, the writer on a wine-themed article will consult a known REAL expert before the final copy.

Posted @ October 04, 2012 11:50

Anurag Mehrotra Says:

The following quote comes to my mind after reading this article: "Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces." Basically, knowledge should not be put in front of people who do not appreciate their value.

Posted @ October 04, 2012 11:48

Anurag Mehrotra Says:

I missed tasting this cocktail!

Posted @ October 04, 2012 11:42

Silvia Costantini Says:

Caro Subhash, ancora mille ringraziamenti per la magnifica serata ieri. E complimenti speciali a te: sei un vero Ambasciatore del vino e della grande qualità di vita che lo circonda. A presto, Silvia

Posted @ September 28, 2012 16:32

Kumar Shobhan Says:

Great article and congratulations on 200th dinner and 10th anniversary. Many more to come.

Posted @ September 28, 2012 15:14

Subhash Arora Says:

Thanks Pramod. Missed you here. Nashik was an official function. Ours was a purely wine connoisseurs' event with 250 guests enjoying a fine dining experience with 10 super premium wines. But I am glad you were able to meet Mr Castellucci who had come specially for the dinner to be a part of the celebration. Subhash

Posted @ September 28, 2012 14:58

Pramod Krishna Says:

Well done Subhash ! Congratulations. I missed the event but attended the one at Nashik , the next day at Sula Vineyards. Pramod Krishna www.pramodkrishna.in

Posted @ September 28, 2012 14:40

Pramod Krishna Says:

I have been speaking to the importers about the issues of labeling, sampling & standards now required under the new fssa law which will create huge problems. Ciabc has gone to court on this issue. Regards Pramod Krishna

Posted @ September 28, 2012 14:34

Ravi Khanna Says:

Congrats. Lovely evening. Thanks. For all efforts made. Look after your health. Back to Golf Course more often and relax. Cheers,

Posted @ September 28, 2012 11:55

(Mrs.) Vinod Kotwal Says:

Dear Subhashji, I learnt from Kacker Sir, Secretary, Ministry of Food Processing Industries that the dinner part yesterday was a rocking affair and there was a huge gathering. Congratulations for the same. Regards, (Mrs.) Vinod Kotwal

Posted @ September 27, 2012 17:50

Marc Perelló Colomer - MPO Says:

Dear Subhash, Back in Barcelona, let me congratulate to you for the excellent venue you hosted on Friday. It was superb! All the best and you can be proud of yourself! With my best regards.Marc. PS: Pity is I wasn't the winner of the Rolex watch, anyway will keep trying!

Posted @ September 27, 2012 17:35

Dipti Chopra Says:

Thank you for a wonderful evening. Big kudo for you for single handed doing so much for the club

Posted @ September 27, 2012 16:50

Suprio Says:

congrats on pulling off such a grand event. heard it was a roaring success

Posted @ September 27, 2012 16:15

Rajeev Samant Says:

Subhash – it was a real pleasure. What a great job you've done. The food and wine service was impeccable. See you soon! Rajeev Rajeev Samant CEO - Sula Vineyards

Posted @ September 27, 2012 14:00

Fred Hernandez Says:

GREETINGS- It is so wonderful to hear from you. We have such fond memories of the Delhi Wine Club and all the people we met while involved with the group. We are back in Miami but working on international projects for Brasil and Singapore. We miss India and hope to visit in the near future. Please accept our sincere congratulations on this great milestone. You should be very proud of all the progress. Best regards to the entire group. Fred and Carmen Hernandez

Posted @ September 27, 2012 11:42

Padma Iyer Says:

Dear sir This is padma iyer from nagpur and i am a Bcom student,i am intreasted in wine industry and would like to make a career in this tasteing ar any other dept could you plz guide me with this. Thanking you sir, hope to hear soonest from you Regards padma iyer

Posted @ September 27, 2012 17:48

Nitin Sharma Says:

Do you have a professional wine tasting program's as well, if yes, do let me know, will be interested.... Regds -Nitin

Posted @ September 25, 2012 12:30

Jeffrey Slater Says:

Thank you for this informative article. Full disclosure, I work for Nomacorc, the global leader in synthetic wine closures. Over 90% of the world’s wines are bottled and consumed within 1 year. Hence by definition as the second largest closure company in the world selling over 2.4 billion closures per year, a significant percentage of our products are used in wines that shorter term in nature. However, we think the issue of aging is really a more complex question based on the research we have been doing. Varietal, wine style, bottling equipment performance, level of SO2, consistent headspace, micro-ox, storage and transport conditions and many more factors can affect how well a wine will age irrespective of closure. It is our belief that the right closure can be selected but it is important to understand multiple inputs to the winemaking decisions first. Many people don’t realize it but winemaking continues even after bottling so managing oxygen post bottling is critical and we are on the cutting edge of this science. Our newest closure series, Select, provides a unique and innovative engineered approach to managing oxygen transfer rates. I would note that our products are designed with wine maker intention and preservation requirements in mind. We have products that are intended for wines that are consumed quickly. At the same time, we have products that are designed to preserve wines for extended aging. Of particular note are our latest generation offerings which are intended for wines that could experience aging in excess of 10 years. Finally, we have software called NomaSelector that can guide a winemaker to choose the right closure to meet a wine maker’s intention. By leveraging our expertise in oxygen management, we can recommend a closure that will provide the optimized oxygen transfer required based on up to 20 different inputs. More information is available at our website: www.nomacorc.com including a short video about our software called NomaSelector. Thank you for the chance to share some comments and insights. Jeffrey Slater

Posted @ September 25, 2012 12:27

Subhash Arora Says:

And Hail Chilean wines!

Posted @ September 06, 2012 14:05

Emily Lau Says:

All hail the Chilean Navy, which puts up the majestic Esmeralda, its officers and crew, for such a delightful event, a first for Chile in India.

Posted @ September 06, 2012 13:10

Prasad Says:

I want to export wine to UK. What is the easiest way to do that. Does it require any license? Should i do it directly from Indian wine manufacturer ? What is cost involved ?

Posted @ September 05, 2012 14:28

Niladri Dhar Says:

I read this article too and once again felt that at least the national dailies can do better with the quality of their content. Apart from the Chardonnay and Beaujolais difference, one more piece caught my attention. Consider this statement "Guests often turn down the sommelier’s combination" - this in my view is both irresponsible and a bit contradictory to the very premise of the story. If a professional sommelier's recommendation is 'often' turned down, why highlight their skills at first place? Seems the comment is only meant to spice-up a sommelier's specialist but 'difficult' role! Cheers, Niladri

Posted @ September 04, 2012 13:53

Subhash Arora Says:

Sure, Jatin. We organise such tastings regularly. Will let you know. Arora

Posted @ August 17, 2012 11:29

Jatinder Taneja Says:

Dear Mr. Arora, I am an avid reader of your Delwine mails every week. I also happen to be an avid wine lover in my own way. I would love to be on your mailing list for information on the the wine tasting sessions's locations, where ever they happen in the Delhi/NCR region. Will be grateful. Jatin, Gurgaon.

Posted @ August 17, 2012 11:22

Makoto Says:

Congratulations on the unveiling of your new and imveoprd web site! It is very easy to navigate and contains lots of great information. I look forward to following the blog posts on different wines since I enjoy good wines not necessarily expensive wines. I also look forward to following your different tastings schedules, in order to stop in the WineSeller to determine what my next purchases will be, as I have many times before. Cheers! Keep up the great work on the new site!

Posted @ August 11, 2012 10:48

dkraju Says:

One notable myth is putting wine in the same league of alcoholic beverages. Is there a wine drinker who has become a alcoholic, in the story of mankind?

Posted @ August 11, 2012 10:29

Niladri Dhar Says:

Thanks Alok. I feel that the myths associated with our industry offer many opportunities (not challenges) to ultimately make India a wine-friendly country...at least we know what is limiting the fast and unstoppable growth. Cheers, Niladri

Posted @ August 09, 2012 11:32

B.Shankaranarayan Says:

Close interaction with wineries and consumers over the past 5 years at our 12 wine festivals indicates that wine consumption can be driven by reinventing Indian cuisine.The day a diner calls for a glass of wine to accompany his thali is the day the cash registers will begin ringing. 96K, a small restaurant in Pune owned by a wine enthusiast serves only Maratha food with wine. Both the food and wine are priced reasonably enough to attract the middle class. That's the way to increase wine sales. I hope more such restaurants will open up across the nation.

Posted @ August 08, 2012 14:47

GS Bedi Says:

hello, i would like to joing the wine club and the academy. please let me know how ... thanks GS

Posted @ August 07, 2012 11:18

Dass Apanah Says:

I am a Business Consultant from Australia (Perth) involved in wine business. I read about APEDA recent news about Indian wine export. I am currently involved with two major Australian wineries who are interset to develop a collaborative relationship with a view with production increase with serious local wineries which are committed to export. I appreciate a list of serious wineries from India to progress the project.Thank you Dass Apanah M.Director Advance Consultancy Services

Posted @ August 07, 2012 11:15

Alok Chandra Says:

Hey Niladri - good insights all, spot on. I must admit to being guilty of pumping for the 'booming wine market in India' - fact is, sales in the Metro cities are growing at nominal rates, with much coming from pipeline-filling upcountry. However, I wish more hospitality professionals shared your views about Indian wines, and ordered their wine lists accordingly - it is a scandal that most star hotels make no effort to support Indian wines.

Posted @ August 06, 2012 17:57