Usually designed a day before Prowine Mumbai takes place, this year on 24-25 November, the wines that are showcased in Mumbai are generally presented by Business France for the French wine lovers of Delhi at the main hall of the Embassy in Chanakyapuri.  The 7th edition saw 200 wines and spirits from 22 participants, to be tasted in 3 hours from 3-6 pm on 22 November in the Main Hall of the embassy.

The place was buzzing with importers, sommeliers, restaurateurs and other wine and spirits professionals, milling around and tasting the offerings.

The event was organized by Business France, the national French agency supporting the international development of the French economy. It was founded on restructuring and merging UBFrance with ‘Invest in France’ Agency in 2015. It has been organizing the event in the French embassy Main Hall for the last 7 years successfully. The event is a must-visit on the calendar of every wine lover in Delhi.

Vianney Meynier, Head of Department for South Asia, Agrotech and Director of Bangalore and Chennai offices of the Business France India, who was based in Bangalore all these years and has shifted to Delhi a week back was at his feet meeting the invitees at the embassy during the 3 hours.

The success of the mission can be gauged from the fact that according to H.E. Mr. Thierry Mathou, French Ambassador to India, the orders for French wines and spirits to India are increasing every year, with imports into India increasing by 23% last year, but drinking better quality wines resulting in 100% growth in terms of value.

Wines of different quality from diverse regions presented a colourful canvas with some very good to excellent wines available generally between €2 to €20 ex cellar (imported wines translate into a 700% price jump in retail due to the duties and profits by the intermediaries.

It is impossible to taste wines from all the producers in such a short time of 3 hours, but I had the privilege of tasting wines from about 10 producers, even as I did not taste any spirits (I am a Vinotaler- meaning I am a teetotaler who drinks wine only!)

I particularly liked the offerings from LGI Wines because of excellent price points. Vignobles Vellas had some wines with excellent packaging (they are already exporting specified labels to Brindco and Hema Connoisseurs). The husband and wine team from Domaine des Marronniers was passionately pouring out their organic offerings from Bourgogne, ranging from €6-11. There were some very good wines from the Loire Valley presented by Celine Tremblay, the export manager of Loire properties.

All in all, a great effort on part of Business France for the ongoing initiative that is sure to give them good returns as the market expands.

To get further details diretly from the participants. Kindly click PARTICIPANTS .

For some of the participants whose wines were tasted, click GALLERY

Subhash Arora