Organised for the third time in Delhi with Rodolphe (Rod) Lameyse, CEO of Vinexposium in Paris, attending in person, the Show had an air of internationality, with the EU pavilion being a Show stopper, with crowds keeping the organisers on their toes with about 40 labels seducing the visitors to Vinexpo India, visit again and again to not only taste different wines and possibly look for exporting partners but also to soak in the small group conferences organised with guided tasting. There was a Masterclass organized in which 5 labels from Portugal, France, Italy, Austria and Germany showcased the diversity of grapes and the terroir in these old world countries.

The attendance was equally impressive at various stands under the aegis of the EU pavilion where one could sample several gourmet foods including pastas and the fast increasing in popularity the Pizza Napolitana, and truffle pizzas enriched by black truffle paste and fresh mozzarella being the crowd favourite. Ingredients like cheese, ham, tomatoes and olive oil were all there to entice the gourmets by an array of celebrity chefs trying to please the crowds who kept on asking for more and getting it.

The individual wine producers from Portugal, Chile, USA, Canada, and France and of course India, had the products tasted by wine lovers. Fratelli had showcased their Gold Medal winner Sette 2021 at MundusVini International Wine Competition 2023 a couple of months ago. The Keynote Speaker, Alessio Secci, Director took the attendees through the journey of the Indian wine industry with shades of Tuscany incorporated in his Address. There were also other beverages, like whisky, sake, fruit wines and mead (honey wine) for diversified palates. Meghalaya pavilion sounded the bugle, with Mr. B.K Sohilya declaring it aspired to become the fruit wine capital of India; it certainly has the fruit quantity and variety to do so. Wines from Good Drop Cellars near Nashik, were an indicator of how Indian wines had evolved beautifully just in the past couple of years. Z’NOON red wine from Fratelli was also present to showcase the premiumisation of Indian wines.

Masterclasses at the Show continued to impress (voluntary disclosure- Subhash Arora has been the Conference Chairman since inception, and even hosted most of them, and even presented a couple of them-including the one on wine and alcohol benefits and harmful effects on health). Caballo Loco, the iconic wine of Chile was there with its colourful labels but the historical launch of Caballo Loco Blanco No. 1 by the Ambassador of Chile, H.E. Juan Angulo and his charming wife Mrs. Patricia Vrij was a high point of the Masterclasses which also featured Wines of Bordeaux, Fruit wines of Meghalaya-from farm to bottle and the fascinating meads from Cerana Meads and Arka. A lively discussion moderated by Chinmaya Arjun Raja brought into fore the difficulties faced by the industry.

Another interesting feature was Presentation of Hungarian wines by the Hungarian Embassy; Tamas Duzsi, the winemaker of the family winery Duzsi had traveled from Hungary all the way to present several wines along with Mariann Erdő, Head of Liszt- the Hungarian Cultural Center. If the response of the attendees is an indication of market trends, time is not far when these wines will soon enthrall the evolved Indian palates.

Châteauneuf-du-Pape (CDP0 has been a bit of an underdog in India though it offers a fantastic PQR as a French wine. It was presented in all its finery with the French Sommelier Charles Donnadieu, Corporate Sommelier for the Lalit Group of Hotels, conducting the guided tasting after Subhash Arora had made the Presentation about the Appellation in detail.

The new venue- Yashobhoomi was universally acclaimed as an excellent venue, especially for out-of-towners though many of the locals shunned it, thanks to the ongoing work-in- progress delaying the time taken to reach the venue and the Metro not as lucrative as one was made to believe. The road infrastructure is excellent but the snarling traffic was a nightmare for many visitors, especially those coming from Gurgaon, East Delhi and Noida.

Lameyse was a happy man after the Show that saw the presence of 20 Ambassadors and participation by 30 countries. He said “The exhibition was the platform of passion, innovation, and the artistry of fine wines and spirits. In the heart of India, where tradition meets modernity, we gathered to toast to the richness of the wine cultures and boundless possibilities that Vinexpo India offers. It was not merely an event but a journey into the realms of taste, elegance, and the shared joy that comes from the perfect encounter.”

The next edition of Vinexpo India takes place on 19-21 September, 2024 in Mumbai.

Subhash Arora