Delhi Wine Club is a prestigious wine club known beyond Indian borders for its role in promoting wine culture and any country keen to promote its wines in India, for 22 years. We have hosted several Ambassadors and other dignitaries at our wine dinners, serving wines from diverse countries. We have been hosted by the Ambassadors from Italy, Austria and the High commissioner of South Africa at exclusive events. We have also been hosted by the Chilean Ambassador Jorge Heine, at his residence when the Indian Wine Academy had curated and organised a ‘Best of Chile’ wine event in collaboration with Hotel Hyatt Regency about 15 years back.

But nothing was as special as this Dinner #325. For the uninitiated, Arora had curated 300 wine dinners for Delhi Wine Club from 2002-2020, before passing on the baton. H.E. Angulo has been involved in various events as an Ambassador for 5 years-many of them hosted by the Embassy where select members of the Club have also been invited. But this was a dinner he hosted personally where 40 members were invited due to space constraints.

This 325th event had its own personality: not only Chilean wines but home-cooked food like veg and non-veg Empanadas was served at his sitting room. Grilled Chilean Salmon, Ceviche, Chilean salad, Humitas (Chilean corn cake), Eggplants with Quinoa, along with several salads, condiments and accompaniments (including the omnipresent Indian Dal Makhani) were served from his dining table. Desserts included Torta de Mil Hojas, Chilean Walnut Tartlets (did you know that above 80% imported walnuts that we eat in India are from Chile?!), Alfajores, besides the Fruit Salad.

Planning for the Dinner

Wines were available in plenty at the tables with beautiful table settings and under the watchful eyes of his wife Patrizia who spent the whole day looking at all the arrangements, as the perfect hostess. There was Valdivieso Rosé Central Valley 2021 (pity their signature sparkling wine has been withdrawn from the market by the importer Agnetta International)  and Viu Manent Chardonnay Reserva Colchagua Valley 2022 as white wines. Two of their Classic wines, Valdivieso Valley Selection Carmenère Gran Reserva Rapel Valley 2020 and Montes Alpha Cabernet Sauvignon Colchagua Valley 2021 were the red wines. There was a divided house on which of these two wines was the Wine of the Evening.

The excellent food, wine and arrangements were not the only reasons that made it a very special and memorable evening for the Club. The heart and soul that the Angulos put into the event, were the differentiation factor. When the Ambassador H.E. Juan Angulo offered to have a wine dinner for the Club, I assumed it would be in the embassy. In fact, we met with him about a month earlier in the embassy basement-the proposed venue. A few Tastings have been already organised and the last one I attended –the Chile Indian Summit Wine Tasting, would be an adequate venue for our dinner.

But it did not sound very exciting to me. Reading my thoughts, the Ambassador suggested his residence as the venue. It was a fantastic offer that we accepted immediately subject to his wife’s positive reaction. Meeting again at a later date was difficult to visualize and we agreed to visit his residence right then so we drove to his residence. After spending a couple of hours of discussion we agreed to change the venue to his residence. This was the time for him to start planning. It was amazing to see him personally going over the table setting, crockery, cutlery, glasses, waiters, the bar manager and all the small details which surely would keep his wife on toes for several days.

THE Dinner  

The arrangements on the Day were almost surrealist. The Lawn on our left as we entered looked beautiful with black table cloth, matching chairs and Spiegelau wine glasses and the table settings looked inviting. We were escorted to the sitting room and welcomed by the Ambassador and his wife. By the time we came out to the dining area on the lawn after a couple of Proseccos with snacks, ice had been firmly broken and there was a lot of bonhomie and banter.

Dinner was outside where 4 wines were served at the table. Ambassador Angulo was kind enough to describe wines in detail with a little interjection from Arora. He also went around from table to table, conversing with the members and sharing their thoughts about food and wine. No wonder people stayed back well after the dinner and were in no mood to leave!

Our Newest Member

There were special gift packs containing dry Chilean Prunes, Cherries and Walnut that were offered to all members by His Excellency and Patrizia as gifts. An excellent send off and closure to a historic and memorable evening where we took a spontaneous decision to induct him as Honorary Member of the Club.

Jai Ho to Ambassador Juan Angulo and his supporting wife Patrizia, who made the evening an Affair to Remember.

Subhash Arora