 Mumbai, India
We The Happy High,one of India's leading wine and spirit education co have launched our own certified wine courses , the Wine 101 for beginners and the Wine Pro for the budding Sommelier. "With 300 mn cases of beers and spirits each consumed annually in India, wine at a speculative 3 mn cases hardly makes a difference. However the latter is not just restricted to the high society now as the aspirational who because of their travels and general availability is also exposed to the drinks and are taking a liking to it. And this has prompted us to curate the Wine 101 for consumers or young hotel professionals and bespoke Wine Pro courses for hotels Pan- India" says Ajit Balgi, founder at The Happy High The beginners courses are day long and cover basics of wine, including wine tasting, service temperatures, glassware, food and wine pairing. These courses are planned on a regular basis and come at RS 5500 + GST per head. The Happy High certified Wine Pro course is designed for 4 days and is customized for hotels based on their wine lists and the requirements of their wine program and have been implemented at a Marriott hotel and soon at a Taj property. These wine courses will open the doors to the world of wine for you as a consumer and give you a perspective and connect for professionals who want to make a career in wine as a Sommelier or as a Brand ambassador. Kindly drop a line on contact@thehappyhigh.com if you wish to organize a Wine 101 or a Wine Pro course exclusively for your Office, hotel or a hotel management institute.
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Vienna, Austria What to expect of 2018 vintage Austrian wines?
(Excerpt from a press release)  Mumbai, India After being under development for a couple years, we are proud to officially announce the launch of the York Shiraz Viognier 2017. The York Shiraz Viognier is a new world style wine inspired from the blend commonly made in Cote Rotie in the Northern Rhone Valley. The two grape varieties have been co-fermented together along with the skins for 15 days to achieve flavour integration from the beginning of the process. Post alcoholic and malolactic fermentation, the wine has been aged in French oak for 6 months to supplement the varietal fruit characters and structure of the wine. The blend of the two varieties is 90% Shiraz & 10% Viognier. The floral, spicy & peach flavours that are natural to the Viognier grape add a new dimension to the powerful & peppery Shiraz especially when fermented together. Apart from being an enjoyable drink on its own, this wine is particularly suited to Indian food. This wine is priced at an MRP of Rs.750 in Maharashtra & Delhi. It will first be available at the Tasting Room at York Winery followed by release in rest of Maharashtra & Delhi in the coming month. (Excerpt from a release) Mumbai, India Folonari wines from the house of Gruppo Italiano Vini were showcased over a relaxed lunch in Bandra. Mr Maurizio Bertacchini their Asia rep who was on the Indian market visit waxed eloquent about the wines and said, "Folonari was started in 1825 and the focus was always to make some good quality wine at an affordable price" . The Pinot Grigio was refreshing and was a good start to the Sunday brunch. The Valpolicella and Pinot held forts and showed good value at their price points. Rikshit Parsan of Ace Beveragez the importer of Folonari ensured the glasses were full at all times and the afternoon extended into early evening! (Excerpt from a release)     Mumbai, India Austrian wines are not very known in India, the reasons are many however once you get a taste of Austrian wines, you wouldn't get enough. Recently Michael Moosbrugger of the iconic wine house Schloss Gobelsburg was in Mumbai to enthrall a select group on the wines from their estate. Schloss Gobelsburg is the oldest winery in the Austrian Danube area with a documented history back to the 12th century. Since its establishment the winery has been one of the leading producers in the region and throughout Austria. Located in the Danube area 45 min west of Vienna, the winery’s most important varieties are Grüner Veltliner and Riesling. The estate was run by monks till 1994 before it was taken over by the Moosbruggers in 1996 and since then winery has grown manifolds. Michael who introduced the 'Dynamic celllar' or the 'cellar on wheels' concept was awarded by the Austrian Fine Wine Magazine ‘Falstaff’ ‘Winemaker of the year 2006’, In 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014 the winery was awarded by the American ‘Wine & Spirits’ magazine as ‘Top 100 Winery of the year’. The wines brought to India by Aspri Spirits showcased that evening included Domaine Gobelsburg Kamptal Gruner Veltliner, Schloss Gobelsburg Zweigelt and Schloss Gobelsburg Riesling. The evening was delightful with beautiful wines and conversations with Michael Moosbrugger.  Michael with Jackie Matai of Aspri Spirits  Mumbai, India
Wine enthusiasts of the city have a reason to rejoice as The Leela Mumbai gets the Great Indian Wine Buffet at Citrus. This All – You – Can Drink Wine Buffet will feature over thirty Indian wine labels at a very special price of Rs 1090 ++ per person. On display will be a selection of some of the finest Indian wines from esteemed wineries like Grovers, York, Turning Point, Fratelli, Reveilo and Zampa. If you fancy red wine, take your pick from blends or single varietals of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Cabernet Franc , Merlot and the more obscure Sangiovese and Nero D Avola. White wine lovers can choose from Viognier, Sangiovese Bianco, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Grillo and more. The promotion goes on till 30th September 2017 and is available 7 pm onward. ( Excerpt from a press release)  Nashik, India
York a family run winery is proud to officially announce the launch of the York Sparkling Rose Brut Vintage 2015. 'Its been years in the making but as with every other wine of York, we prefer to put our best foot forward and release a product without any compromises. And compromise we have not!' said the young winemaker and owner Kailash Gurnani. The York Sparkling Rose is a 100% Shiraz sparkling wine. Made in the Traditional Method, this batch has been aged on lees for 18 months and 4 months on cork. A small component of the blend has been matured in oak barrels & it has a residual sugar of 10g/l. Being the first, its a small batch and vintage wine. This wine is priced at an MRP of Rs.1300 in Maharashtra. 'As always, we have stuck to our philosophy of providing the best possible value wine to our consumers in both price & quality.' added Gurnani The wine will currently go on sale at the Tasting Room of the winery only. Mumbai launch will follow in a months time whilst Delhi will have to wait.  Mumbai, India Chandon India announces the launch of Délice – a new sparkling wine variant crafted at the brand’s state-of-the-art winery in Dindori, Nashik. Made with locally-sourced Chenin Blanc and Chardonnay grapes, Délice is an irreverent expression that is set to change the manner in which India enjoys its wines. Presenting a sweeter, flavourful taste-profile, Délice can be enjoyed straight up (chilled), on the rocks or with a slice of orange. Speaking about the launch, Stéphane de Meurville – Managing Director, Moët Hennessy India said, “At Chandon India, our endeavour has been not only to gain share of heart, but also to introduce new consumers to the Chandon world. One way in which we will do this is by reaching out to consumers who currently shy away from the traditional Brut and Rose style of drinking. Délice is our next step towards consolidating this vision. While the Indian market loves its bubbles, there is still a strong affinity for sweeter drinks and cocktails. Délice is the result of 2 years of extensive research and development by our team of winemakers led by Gustavo Agostini. We are very proud of this new product from the house of Chandon India which we believe will resonate with the Indian consumer.” Delice is available in Mumbai at Rs 1500 and soon will be available in Delhi, Gurugram, Bengaluru and Srilanka  Excerpt from a press release
 Nashik, India The country’s most gorgeously situated Gourmet World Music Festival went several notches higher in its 10th edition! The event saw festival goers from across the country at a weekend to remember and this year was an even grander production with even more amazing memories. The festival this year being a 3 day affair – adding Friday dedicated to Indian artists had also added one more stage – The ‘Tropical Stage’. Friday’s highlights were Nucleya at the Atmasphere Stage and Indian Ocean at the Amphitheatre Stage. Sula’s all new musician talent hunt competition “Rise and Shine” contest winner performed to a thrilled audience at the Tropical Stage.The Bloc Party from the UK made their India debut and rocked the Amphitheatre stage on Day 2, Saturday – while Loco & Jam from Germany performed to a haven of fest-goers at the Atmasphere Stage. The Tropical Stage highlight this day was Peter Schumann’s performance. Amphitheatre Sunday headliner – Infected Mushroom from Israel set the stage on fire! German Jan Blomqvist & Band created magic at the Atmasphere Stage located amidst the vineyards.  Another new addition to the festival this year was the ‘Globe in a Glass’ stall where fest-goers had the opportunity to meet and taste with the people behind various brands from the Sula Selections portfolio. The renowned wine profile Robert Joseph was attending the festival for the first time showcasing his brand Le Grand Noir. Brightening up the weekend even further was the SulaFest Bazaar with a selection of fun and funky items for sales.
Speaking about SulaFest 2017, Cecilia Oldne, Global Brand Ambassador and Vice President - Marketing, Sula says, “Cheers to 10 years! What a beautiful weekend and what an amazing crowd! See you all next year!”  JACOB'S CREEK, the iconic Australian wine brand and India’s highest selling imported wine has been voted Australia’s Most Trusted Wine Brand 2016 by Reader’s Digest in their annual Trusted Brands survey. For the past 16 years, the survey has investigated which brands in Australia have the best reputation among consumers.This year, JACOB'S CREEK has been awarded the winner of the Trusted Brands Survey in the Australian Wine Category, outranking competitors including Penfolds and Wolf Blass.
A well-established independent market research agency is commissioned by Reader’s Digest each year to survey a representative sample of people in Australia. The research investigates their most trusted brands in 65 categories of products and services across a wide range of industries, with over 2,400 people surveyed across Australia annually.Participants communicated what influences their buying decisions and which brands they believe consistently deliver on promises to satisfy their needs, make their lives easier and offer value for money. Ben Bryant, Chief Winemaker, JACOB’S CREEK, said: “Our wines are crafted to be fresh, elegant and great-tasting with true varietal expression. Being awarded the Most Trusted Australian Wine Brand is testament to the fact that our wines can be trusted to deliver consistent, exceptional quality and we’re very pleased that this has been recognized independently.”  Mumbai, India
Sula Selections the import arm of Sula vineyards and the renowned wine clan, Hardys, are all set to, together, announce the launch of the William Hardy wine range in India, the Limestone Coast Chardonnay and the Langhorne Creek Shiraz. For over 160 years, the Hardy family has been known for its expertise in winemaking world over. Pioneered in the family by William Hardy’s great grandfather, Thomas Hardy, throughout five generations and to this day, the Hardy family has maintained their passion as William remains actively involved in the business. William Hardy beamed, “The Hardys name is synonymous with South Australian winemaking, dating back to 1853, and we wanted this new range to recognise and celebrate the pivotal role the family has played in developing the premium wine regions of the state”. On the occasion of the launch, Glenn McGrath, Australia’s celebrated cricketer and brand ambassador of Hardys Wines will tour India and launch the wines across Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai. The Limestone Coast Chardonnay and the Langhorne Creek Shiraz are priced in Maharashtra for Rs 2300 each for a 750 ml bottle.  London, UK English wine producers Chapel Down and Ridgeview have been chosen to be the official suppliers for Downing Street receptions it has been announced. This confirms the Government's commitment to supporting the growth and success of the burgeoning UK food and drink industry. Ridgeview from Sussex and Chapel Down from Kent were present at the Food is GREAT launch event at No 10 Downing Street earlier this month, which showcased and celebrated the very best food and drink that Britain has to offer. Mark Harvey, Chapel Down Managing Director of Wines, added: "We are thrilled that Chapel Down will now be served at UK government functions. This valuable support from No 10 comes at an incredibly exciting time for a dynamic and ambitious English Wine industry" A spokesman for No 10 said: "The Government is proud to celebrate Britain's excellent produce and that includes at events hosted here at No 10. From Cornish pasties to Stilton cheese, from Welsh lamb to Scottish salmon, the UK is home to many iconic food and drink products recognised and enjoyed across Europe. Now English sparkling wine - which has beaten Champagne in competitions - is amongst them." (Excerpt from a Press release)   The Day of Austrian Sekt 2015 brought with it a cause for celebration. The three levels of the Austrian Sekt quality-pyramid are to be henceforth identified with the designations Klassik, Reserve and Große Reserve (Grand Reserve). With this comes not only the guarantee that in purchasing an Austrian Sekt with protected designation of origin the consumer is receiving a wine with a documented pedigree, but also official assurance that the most stringent standards have been observed during production. In this process, the level of quality will be raised appreciably. And if Austria’s wines have attracted more and more international attention in the last couple decades by virtue of their typicity and distinctive nature, Sekt from Austria has set itself a steady course that promises continued success in the future.
After concluding a two-year process of quality calibrations, Austria’s Sekt producers have agreed on a stringent regulatory code,no easy fix, since it was necessary to acknowledge the interests of the big Sekt houses as well as those of individual, small artisanal producers. A new legal basis for high-quality Austrian Sekt analogous to that of Qualitätswein has been created by the Austrian Sekt Commission and a committee of Sekt-producing wine-growers, working together with the Austrian Wine Marketing Board, experts of the Chambers of Industry and Commerce and experts from the Austrian Ministry of Agriculture. Out of the former floodtide of undistinguished sparkling wine has evolved Austrian Sekt with Protected Provenance. These are wines capable of telling the tale of their origins, regardless of whether they are stamped with the freshness of Poysdorf or the minerality of Langelois, the Pannonian depth of Gols or the vivid aromatics of Gamlitz – there are distinctive sparkling characters to be found in all of Austria’s wine-growing regions. And Sekt is ready to launch itself upon a great career. Read more about it here (Excerpt from a press release)  Nyetimber, West Sussex . Pic Credits: English Wine Producers Leicestershire, England
The production figures for the 2014 harvest in the UK have just been released and reveal a significant growth in volume, breaking all industry production records. 47,433 hectolitres were produced last year - the equivalent of 6.3 million bottles (75cl). This represents an increase of 42% in volume over 2013 – itself a record-breaking figure of 4.45m bottles.The figures are compiled by the Wine Standards Branch (Food Standards Agency) from records submitted by all producers post-harvest. Whilst there is currently no official detailed breakdown of styles produced, English Wine Producers (EWP) and United Kingdom Vineyards Association (UKVA) estimate that at least two-thirds of production is now sparkling wine, pointing to a production level of some 4m bottles of sparkling wine from the 2014 harvest. UK vineyards enjoyed a long warm spring and summer in 2014, bringing both quality and quantity. Although the autumn proved cooler than hoped, the grapes came in clean and healthy and in large volumes. Viticultural Consultant Stephen Skelton MW commented: “The last two years have provided excellent growing conditions for our grapes – great flowering weather and a warm summer. The vineyards have produced some very good quality grapes and volumes of still and sparkling wines.” The UK Vineyard area has doubled in seven years and now stands at in excess of 2000ha (4,900 acres), the majority of which is mostly planted for the production of sparkling wine. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are now the most popular varieties, with plantings of these two alone increasing by over 230% in the last 8 years. Production of sparkling wines has increased by nearly 150% in the last 5 years and more volumes are now coming on to the market, from established producers to new English wine brands.Still wine production also continues to thrive and 2013 and 2014 vintage white, rosé and red wines are prominently available. Bacchus is the most popular aromatic grape variety in the UK and has been enjoying a steady growth in plantings. It is the third most widely planted grape variety. Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of EWP said: “Over the last years we seem to be continually breaking our own records, and the 2014 figures surpass everything. There’s no doubt about it – English wines really are on an upward trajectory.We are noticing the uptake in English wine through the entire retail sector and the on trade. Export is another growing market. There is now a close collaboration between a number of producers already working on export initiatives. As volumes continue to grow, so will our efforts to develop markets both here and abroad.” (Excerpt from a press release) P.S: We just hope the path leads them to India soon London, England New Zealand may have thrashed England on the cricket pitch earlier but yesterday the two countries went head to head with a strong team of sparkling wines each in Wellington and London, as eleven ‘players’ plus a twelfth man from each displayed a more even set of results. Hosted by New Zealand Winegrowers, Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, the ‘Battle of the Bubbles’ was played out in Wellington, with Team Captains Oz Clarke for England and Master of Wine Jane Skilton for New Zealand participating in a blind tasting of the two countries’ wines. The wines were tasted in pairs. The results were a comfortable dead heat between the two – six wines from both sides each winning their round. An English wine, Wyfold Brut 2010 from Oxfordshire, owned by Barbara Laithwaite, was crowned ‘Player of the Match’. Julia Trustram Eve, Marketing Director of English Wine Producers, added: “England can hold its head up high after this particular encounter with New Zealand. I’m really proud that in both tastings, the ‘Player of the Match’ was an English sparkling wine – congratulations to Wyfold and Hambledon!” Over in London a ‘friendly’ match between the same two teams was played out, hosted at New Zealand House. The event captured the attention of a good mix of wine writers, sommeliers and industry professionals, who tasted all the wines blind and were asked to vote for their best team and top wine (‘Player of the Match’). This time the overall win went to England, with the ‘Player of the Match’ another English wine: Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV from Hampshire – a pertinent winner, given its historical cricketing connections. Commenting on the results, Chris Stroud, Marketing Manager (Europe) of New Zealand Winegrowers said: “It was a hard fought match and a great result for both teams. There were some high quality wines on both sides showing that these two cool climate countries on opposite sides of the globe are capable of producing world-class bubbles.” The final results from Wellington (including the ‘12th man’) in alphabetical order were: Akarua Rosé Brut Central Otago NV – New Zealand Ambriel English Reserve Demi Sec NV – England Coates & Seely Blanc de Blancs NV – England Hambledon Classic Cuvée NV – England Henners Brut Reserve 2010 – England Huia Brut Marlborough 2009 – New Zealand Nautilus Cuvée Brut Marlborough NV – New Zealand No. 1 Family Estate No. 1 Cuvée Blanc de Blancs Marlborough NV – New Zealand Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2007 – England Osawa Prestige Collection Méthode Traditionnelle Hawke's Bay NV – New Zealand Tohu Rewa Blanc de Blancs Marlborough 2011 – New Zealand Wyfold Brut 2010 – England – “Player of the match” (Excerpt from a press release)  London, England The sporting calendar kicked off this year with the ICC Cricket World Cup, hosted by Australia and New Zealand. To kick-off the celebrations, New Zealand sparkling wine will compete with English sparkling wine in the “Battle of the Bubbles” on Thursday 19th February in Wellington, the day before the two teams meet for real on the cricket pitch! Each country has selected a top team of eleven players, plus a ‘twelfth man’, to go head to head with each other in a blind taste off. The team captains for each side: Oz Clarke for England and Jane Skilton MW for New Zealand, will be out in Wellington and head up a panel of wine writers, commentators and cricketing internationals to select the winners in the competition, which will then be announced at an evening reception. “This promises to be a thrilling match,” commented Oz Clarke. “Both countries are now world-renowned for the quality of their fizz and to meet head to head in this keenly-anticipated match will certainly highlight the fabulous quality of these two nations’ wines.We don’t anticipate any sledging or intimidatory tactics, because that simply wouldn’t be cricket. But, of course, this isn’t cricket is it? Perhaps I’ll take my box after all.” The ‘battle’ will also be held in London on Thursday 19th February in New Zealand Penthouse where the invited guests and media can have their say and vote for the winning team and select a ‘man of the match’ award. Check out the team below: 
Mumbai, India  Want to experience poetry in a bottle? Uncork the Anokhee Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, the latest offering from Vallonne Vineyards. It’s an exquisite limited edition 2009 vintage that has been aged for five years—18 months in the barrel and 42 months of bottle ageing in a controlled temperature in our underground cellars. Five years of ageing have created a luxurious wine with subtle, yet, luscious tannins. It’s a brilliant full bodied with dominant notes of spices and blackberry and hints of oak. The full mouth, yet soft palate achieved by barrel ageing is in perfect harmony with the nose.
Called Anokhee because it’s unique and exquisite, we pay tribute to the rich heritage of Indian crafts with this label created with the kalamkari stroke, a traditional block-print art form. The Anokhee Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve is a perfect dinner wine. Pair it with full, big flavours such as lamb, sizzlers and spicy biryanis. Its gentle tannins also make it a great companion with rich chocolate desserts. Prices at Rs 1350, it will be available at select outlets in Pune and Mumbai (Excerpt from a Press Release) P.S: Read more about Vallone here Mumbai, IndiaGrover Zampa Vineyards made India proud by winning the first International Trophy for the Art Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2014. This is a remarkable win in the Decanter Asia Wine Awards (DAWA) 2014, which received more than 2,500 entries from around the world. The judges were unanimous in their decision to bestow the top accolade, reflecting India’s burgeoning wine scene. Co-chaired by Jeannie Cho Lee MW, the first Asian Master of Wine and a Contributing Editor to Decanter, and Steven Spurrier, Chairman of the Decanter World Wine Awards and Decanter’s Consultant Editor, the Decanter Asia Wine Awards aims to recognize quality wines and provide consumers across Asia with a trusted source of recommendations.  “The sole purpose of the DAWA is to recognise and award quality”, says Steven Spurrier, DAWA Co-Chair. “Our standards are high, and so are our expectations. We only award medals to wines in which consumers can have the utmost confidence.” An elated Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO Grover Zampa Vineyards says “We are extremely honoured to receive this recognition at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards. It reiterates our position of being one of finest wine makers in India. We are committed to producing top quality wines, enjoyed by wine aficionados all over the world. I am sure this success will help us and other Indian wines, stand tall at international platforms.” For full results of DAWA 2014, please visit dawa.decanterchina.com/en/2014 (Excerpt from a press release) P.S: They recently launched the a wine by the name of the Tennis legend; Vijay Amritraj read more   Mumbai, India Ashwin Deo, the founder of Trinity Vintners Pvt Ltd presents Turning Point Sangrias, a unique new innovation in keeping with the overall brand promise of making wines “Young, Approachable and Fun”. This range of Ready to Drink Sangrias comes after over 3 years of extensive and continuous research on various flavours. Turning Point ready to drink Sangrias come in two variants – METROPOLITAN (cranberry & orange) and NASHIK MULE (orange and ginger ale). The Sangrias come in a never seen before and immensely attractive 330ML pack, designed with the utmost convenience of the consumers in mind. The MRP of these Sangrias is Rs.135/- only and is in the direct consideration set of PREMIUM beers and breezers. “Sangria has, over the last few years become the largest selling cocktail in the country with all the leading hotels and bars serving them by pitchers! It is this trend that has been captured in a 330ML bottle by Turning Point Wines!! “, says Ashwin Deo. The Sangria can be enjoyed either straight from the bottle or simply by chopping some fruits into a glass, and pouring the Sangria in, with some ice…..and its serve!! It is that easy, simple and convenient!!  Ashwin Deo and his Sangrias... “India is a vibrant market with one of the youngest populations in the world. The Indian consumer is increasingly enjoying a globe-trotting lifestyle whilst taking pride in all that is Indian, with high awareness levels about lifestyle beverages”, adds Ashwin. Sangria can be enjoyed at a Sun downer, Over Brunch, With Dinner or even over a casual Catch Up after work, with colleagues & friends. Turning Point Sangrias have been launched initially in Maharashtra at leading retail stores, restaurants, lounge bars and night clubs, and will soon be taken to other states
(Excerpt from a press release) |
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