​Beverage News from India & the World

Mumbai, India
The 10th of December, 2017 will  the first ever International Aszú Day. Tokaj Aszú one of the greatest sweet wines of the world comes from the Tokaj wine region is situated in North East Hungary at the foothills of the Zemplén
Mountains, along the rivers Bodrog and Tisza; the world’s first delimited wine region since 1737.

How is the sweet wine made?
Thanks to the special microclimate of the wine region the onset of Botrytis cinerea or noble rot responsible for the shrivelling of berries is an almost certain occurrence each year though admittedly with varying degrees of intensity.Once the liquid matter has evaporated the aszú berries are macerated in the fermenting juice or base wine of the same vintage for 24-48 hours with regular stirring for proper extraction. Once the maceration is done the aszú paste is removed, pressed and the resulting must is fermented to arrive at Tokaj Aszú. Post-fermentation residual sugar content must reach at least 120 gram/liter. Properly stored Tokaj Aszús can be enjoyed for several decades. A properly stored 20 year old Aszú is still magnificent with slightly transformed flavours, added complexity; it’s easy to see why they are so highly regarded by connoisseurs. However tasting younger Aszús with their more springlike, fresher and brighter profile provides just as much pleasure.

Daniel Kezdy , the Man! 
The idea of the International Aszú Day came from Dániel Kézdy, an avid fan and great expert of Tokaj. Mr. Kézdy has published a book on the wine region in 2014 with the title Tokaj – People and Vineyards which is available both in Hungarian and English. He was also the initiator and organizer of Furmint Február an annual event since 2010, and Hárslevelűk Éjszakája since 2014. The two events are designed to highlight these important Hungarian varieties. It was also Mr. Kézdy who came up with the idea of the International Furmint Day to be celebrated on the 1st of February.
"Tokaj wines have been the focus of my interest for 15 years now, I have tasted them alongside their major international rivals and Tokaj Aszús have always been among the leaders of the pack often finishing head and shoulders above the rest. If one takes a closer look at the often neglected category of sweet wines then to my mind there can only be one outcome as far as the winner is concerned. You might say I am biased but I am convinced
that it would be a hell of a task to refute me, so I’m not afraid to declare that Tokaj Aszú is the greatest sweet wine in the world and it deserves to be put in the limelight worldwide”, says  Kézdy.

( Excerpt from a press release)

​Mumbai, India
Grover Zampa Vineyards, the most prestigious and longest-standing wine producer of India, held a party to celebrate its remarkable journey of 25 years of wine making topped off with the launch of Auriga - India’s first ever sparkling wine with eye-catching, 24 carat gold flakes. 
 
This new gold edition makes the perfect drink for ceremonial moments, mainly created for those who appreciate an extravagant addition to indulgence and celebration. This gently aged wine with an extravagant dusting of gold embodies craftsmanship and finesse. With its golden straw hues, the wine has a fresh nose revealing citrus and floral aromas. The palate is intense with a pleasant sensation of fruit and creaminess.
 
A journey which began in the late 80s, Grover Zampa launched their first vintage in 1992. Today the company is a pioneer in the Indian wine industry and has established a significant presence on the global wine scene. A remarkable combination formed as a result of a merger between Grover Vineyards and Vallée de Vin, Grover Zampa Vineyards is also India’s most awarded wine producer. It has won 93 international grand awards since 2013 including the Decanter Awards, Decanter Asia Wine Awards and the New York International Wine and Spirits Competition. Riding on the back of their award spree, the brand has made steady inroads into the export market and currently exports about 20% of its volume to more than 30 countries, with top markets being France, Japan and UK.

Key milestones that have made the brand as magnificent as it stands today include:
 
- The launch of India’s first reserve wine Grover Zampa La Réserve in 1998
- Working with noted Bordeaux-based oenologist Michel Rolland from 1995
- The launch of Chêne, India’s first Tempranillo Grand Réserve in 2013
- The introduction of the Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection in 2014 in partnership with the legend himself
- The recent launch of Insignia, single vineyard and estate bottled, this is one of India’s most premium wines sold only by invitation through the cellar door.
 
Mr Kapil Grover, Chairman, Grover Zampa Vineyards proudly states “For most, journey is about traveling from one place to another. For us, it is about reaching a higher ground as we grow. It has been 25 years since we produced our first wine in 1992, a dream envisioned by my father. Today, we boast the most impressive pedigree in the Indian wine industry. This year, in keeping with our traditions of excellence and innovation, we have taken it a notch higher: we proudly present to you Auriga. With this launch, we have added more breadth to our portfolio with a wine that provides the perfect accompaniment for life’s ceremonial moments.”
 
From humble beginnings, Grover Zampa Vineyards now stands for heritage, rich culture and exceptional craftsmanship as well as wines that have been created with great passion and reverence for tradition.

(Excerpt from a press release)