Photos By:  Adil Arora

The traditional New Year wine event of the Delhi Wine Club organised in every January with a bubbly, like Champagne had a different fervor and flavour last Sunday this year. The free-flowing Champagne with the heavy taxes in Delhi, would have been rather far-fetched to serve at a regular wine event. Therefore, the club innovated and chose the two popular variants of Prosecco Il Concerto Brut from San Simone and Il Concerto Rose Brut from North-Eastern Friuli region. The frothy wines paired extremely well with the super-delicious Vietnamese snacks streaming piping hot in the closed verandah of the CHO Restaurant. Known for its excellent cuisine, it did not disappoint members for the snacks/small plates.

You do not need to write a treatise on these wines, nor compose paeans but you can bet on these workhorses- both the Brut Prosecco and the relatively new Rose Prosecco (introduced in 2020 after the Rosé variant was allowed by the Consortium of DOC Prosecco in 2019.  Incidentally, the consortium for DOCG Prosecco has still not allowed the pink version.  Both these variants are a good match for most foods, certainly the Vietnamese cuisine dished out by Cho.

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San Simone Il Concerto Prosecco

Prosecco Brut has been served at various events before, but Rosé Prosecco was offered as an accompaniment for the first time.  Chiara, Anna and Antonio Brisotto, the 4th generation sibling entrepreneurs of Gino Brisotto who founded the winery with his wife Olga in 1915, are at the helm of affairs with several labels, steering the company to the modern era quite well, while keeping the tradition. Il Concerto has penetrated the Indian market very well through the importer, Hema Connoisseurs and is a popular DOC Prosecco which is known not only for its beautiful bottles and inviting packaging but affordable prices and delicious flavours.

Food matching with wine is an important feature of any wine event. But as Arora pointed out while introducing the wines, Prosecco and sparkling wine can be a good go-to wine for Indian and Asian food- particularly the small delicious plates served at Cho. He pointed out from his experience at the Hong Kong International Wine Competition where has been a judge for several editions, which include food and wine pairing too. He shared with members that it’s been evidenced that wines do not have to be expensive to match with good food on several occasions over the years at the competition. The event validated that paradigm once again-with each small plate, being an excellent match.

Il Concerto Rosé Prosecco has a bubbly personality and an excellent drinkability. The brilliant delicate fresh pink has an elegant bouquet, with intense hints of small red fruits, especially raspberry and floral notes of wild rose and wildflower honey. Bubbles are very fine and persistent. It cries for a place in your wine cooler as an all-purpose, all-weather wine as was seen by the speed at which it was consumed. One must have another bottle ready to open as the first one can leave you craving for another bottle and serve it chilled at about 6°C for optimum flavours.

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Change of Guard

The stars for the afternoon were Col. Mukul Manku (Retd.) and his wife Sarbjit (Rosy) Manku. He was installed as the 4th President of the Delhi Wine Club by Subhash Arora, Founder of the Club and now Chairman Emeritus, for a term of 2 years (2024-2025). Founded in 2002, the club saw the second President in Sourish Bhattacharyya in January 2020 at the 300the event of the Club at Hotel Pullman, for a period of 2 years (2020-21).

Unfortunately, Sourish developed some serious health issues and had to withdraw from the active club assignments, and Ranganathan Parthiban (Parthi) was induced as the interim President. He took charge as the 3rd President in 2022 for 2 years (2022-23). Manku has great plans to revive the club to its past glory during his 2-year term.

There was plenty of bonhomie of yesteryears. A few members led by Dr. Mrs. Balesh Jindal, a Founder Member of 22- year standing, shared her wine journey through the club since it was formed in 2022. The members also appreciated the efforts put in by Parthi during the rough Post-Covid years. He was presented a token gift of appreciation by Subhash Arora and Mukul Manku on behalf of the Club as members came forward to get to know Rosie Manku better. She is expected to be very active in the club affairs and assist her husband.

We wish the new team great success and pray for the long-life of the club which has been very popular not only in India but has earned a premium brand status overseas, being a highly successful not-for-profit wine club.

Subhash Arora