DIAMOND WINNERS
Chêne Grande Réserve 2015, India Grover Zampa Soirée Brut Rosé 2015, India Sula Dindori Viognier 2018, India Reveilo Nero d'Avola 2017, India SDU RESERVA 2014, India Le Volte dell’Ornellaia 2015, Italy Taittinger Les Folies de la Marquetterie NV, France Joseph Drouhin 'Drouhin-Vaudon' Chablis Reserve de Vaudon 2015, France Torres Mas La Plana 2012, Spain Boscoselvo Brunello di Montalcino 2010, Italy Susana Balbo CRIOS Torrentes 2017, Argentin Zonin, Ripasso Valpolicella Superiore DOC, Italy Framigham Pinot Noir 2015, New Zealand Domaines Barons De Rothschild Réserve Spéciale Pauillac, Franc

GOLD WINNERS
Masi Masianco Pinot Grigio 2016, Italy Erasmo Barbera Garnacha, Chile Chateau d'Esclans Côtes de Provence Whispering Angel Rosé, France Masi Campofiorin Rosso del Veronese 2014, Italy Marchesi Antinori Castello della Sala 'Bramito del Cervo' 2016, Italy Cavino Naousa Xinomavro 2015, Greece Cavino Nemea Agiorgitiko 2015, Greece Four Seasons Vintners Reserve Red Wine 2015, India Fratelli SETTE 2015, India Fratelli MS Rosé 2017, India Fratelli MS Red 2017, India Fratelli Sauvignon Blanc 2018, India Fratelli Chenin Blanc 2018, India Fratelli Sangiovese 2017, India Good Earth Bleu NV, India,Good Earth Antaraa NV, India Good Earth Basso NV, India Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection White 2017, India Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection Red 2015, India Grover Zampa Art Collection Viognier 2018, India Grover Zampa Art Collection Sauvignon Blanc 2018, India Grover Zampa Soirée Brut Magnifique 2016 , India La Réserve Red 2016, India Sensi Campoluce, Chianti DOCG (Organic) 2016 , Italy Sensi Collezione Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2016, Italy Sensi Collezione Nero d'Avola IGT Sicily 2015, Italy Sensi Collezione Chianti DOCG 2016, Italy Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2015, Spain Bodegas Faustino VII Rioja DOCa 2015, Spain Paul Jaboulet Aîné, Les Traverses, Ventoux AOC 2016 , France Bodegas Portia Roble, Ribera del Duero 2016, Spain Château Goumin Blanc 2015, France KRSMA Estates Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, India KRSMA Estates Sauvignon Blanc 2017, India Besserat de Bellefon Grande Tradition Brut , France Campo Viejo Tempranillo 2017, Spain Brancott Estate Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2017, New Zealand Sileni Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2015, Italy De Bortoli Noble One 2013, Australia Reveilo Sangiovese 2017, India Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, India SDU DEVA Chenin Blanc NV, India SDU Trilogy 2014 , India SDU Deva Syrah 2014, India Soma Vineyards Rosé Gold 2018, India Sula Rasa Cabernet 2016, India Sula Brut Chardonnay, India Sula Chenin Blanc Late Harvest 2018, India Sula Chenin Blanc Reserve 2017, India Sula Sauvignon Blanc 2018 , India Sula Zinfandel Rosé 2018 , India Sula Rasa Shiraz 2016, India Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz 2017, India Kadu Sauvignon Blanc 2018, India Kadu Chenin Blanc 2018, India Kadu Cabernet Shiraz 2017 , India Bouchard Aîné & Fils Chablis A.O.C., France Bouchard Aîné & Fils Bourgogne Chardonnay A.O.C., France Ferrari Brut NV, Italy Tenuta Sant Antonio Scaia Red 2015, Italy Dog Point Section 94 Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Thelema Shiraz 2014, South Africa,York All Rounder White 2017, India York Rosé 2018, India

SILVER AWARD WINNERS
Barton & Guestier Reserve Merlot, France Concha Y Toro Casillero del Diablo Reserva Chardonnay, Chile Nederburg The Winemaster's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut Cava, Spain Donnafugata, Sedàra IGT Sicilia Nero d'Avola, Italy Carpene Malvolti Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut, Italy Pampas del Sur 'Select' Shiraz Malbec, Argentina Peter Lehmann Portrait Eden Valley Riesling 2016, Australia Doña Paula Malbec 2017, Argentina Peter Lehmann The Barossan Shiraz 2016, Australia Masi Levaire Soave Classico 2016, Italy Selbach Riesling 2016, Germany Maison du Sud Merlot 2016 , France Maison du Sud Sauvignon Blanc 2016, France Brancott Estate Pinot Noir 2017, New Zealand Jacob's Creek Reserve Chardonnay Pinot Noir 2017, Australia Cape Dreams Pinotage 2016, South Africa Four Seasons Chenin Blanc 2018, India Four Seasons Blush 2018, India Four Seasons Shiraz 2017, India Fratelli Cabernet Franc – Shiraz, India Fratelli MS White 2017, India Fratelli NOI, India Fratelli Chardonnay 2018, India Fratelli Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, India Fratelli Classic Chenin, India Fratelli Classic Shiraz, India Fratelli Classic Merlot, India Casablanca Rosé Spumanté NV, India Casablanca Frizzano Semi Dry NV, India Casablanca Frizzano Extra Dry NV, India Casablanca Vino Spumanté, India Grover Soirée Brut, India Grover Art Collection Shiraz Rosé 2018, India Grover Art Collection Chenin Blanc 2017, India Grover Art Collection Cabernet Shiraz 2017, India Sensi Prosecco Pure 18K Gold Brut 2017, Italy Vintales Bloomin’ Late Muscat 2017, South Africa Vintales Last Call Shiraz 2017, South Africa Sensi Collezione Merlot, Toscana IGT 2016, Italy Sensi Collezione Pinot Grigio, Veneto IGT 2016, Italy Sensi Collezione Vermentino, Toscana IGT 2016, Italy Chateau Bonnet, Entre Deux Mers AOC 2015, France Chateau Goumin, Bordeaux Rouge AOC 2015, France Sensi Pinot Noir Rosé Pure 18K Gold Brut NV, Italy Sensi Collezione Pinot Noir Veneto IGT 2016, Italy, Paul Jaboulet Aîné Syrah 2015, France Campo Viejo Blanco 2017, Spain Sileni Estates Cellar Selection Pinot Noir, New Zealand Reveilo Chardonnay Reserve 2016, India Reveilo Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2016, India SDU Deva Cabernet Sauvignon 2014, India SDU Winemakers Selection 2014, India Soma Vineyards Zinfandel Red Reserve 2017, India Soma Vineyards Shiraz Reserve 2018, India Soma Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc Gold 2018, India Soma Vineyards Rosé Dessert 2018, India Soma Vineyards Shiraz Cabernet Silver 2018, India The Source Grenache Rosé, India Sula Brut NV, India Sula Brut Rosé NV, India Sula Cabernet Shiraz 2017, India Sula Zinfandel 2018, India Sula Chenin Blanc 2018, India Sula Riesling 2017, India Sula Brut Rosé, India Trapiche Old Cask Malbec, Argentina Mud House Sauvignon Blanc, New Zealand Le Grand Noir GSM, France Conti Serristori Chianti Classico DOCG, Italy, Cap Royal Bordeaux Supérieur, France Nik Weis St Urbans-Hof QbA Riesling 2016, Germany The Daily Dose Sauvignon Blanc 2017, India Saint Clair Pinot Noir, New Zealand York All Rounder Red 2017, India York Shiraz Viognier 2017, India

Mumbai, India
WINE LIST AWARDS
ONE STAR AWARD
1. Rivers to Oceans, Mumbai
2. The Table, Mumbai
3. The Wine Rack, Mumbai
4. San:Qi, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
5. Kebabs and Kurries, ITC Grand Central Mumbai
6. Romano’s, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
7. Fratelli Fresh, Renaissance Mumbai
8. Artisan – French Bistro, Sofitel Mumbai BKC
9. Le Cirque Signature, The Leela Mumbai
10. Luna, The St. Regis Mumbai
11. Caprese, Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru
12. Le Cirque Signature, The Leela Palace Bengaluru
13. Le Jardin, The Oberoi Bengaluru
14. The Wine Company, Gurugram
15. The Hong Kong Club, Andaz Delhi
16. Dum Pukht, ITC Maurya New Delhi
17. Pluck, Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Two Star Awards 
The Chambers, The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai
2. Wasabi by Morimoto, The Taj Mahal Hotel New Delhi
3. Le Cirque, The Leela Palace New Delhi

WINE DESTINATION AWARD

1. The Wine Rack, Mumbai
2. Romano’s, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
3. Le Cirque Signature, The Leela Mumbai
4. Toscano, Bengaluru
5. Caprese, Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru
6. Le Jardin, The Oberoi Bengaluru
7. Qla, New Delhi
8. Le Cirque, The Leela Palace New Delhi

WINE-TRAINED STAFF AWARD

1. The Table, Mumbai
2. San:Qi, Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai
3. Dum Pukht, ITC Maratha Mumbai
4. Dublin, ITC Windsor Bengaluru
5. The Wine Company, Gurugram
6. Honk, Hotel Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

From 11–15 March 2019 all eyes will be on Antwerp, where the prestigious world championship competition of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.) will be held. Sixty-five sommeliers from sixty-two countries will vie for the crown of the worldwide brotherhood/sisterhood of sommeliers/sommelières at the fiftieth anniversary edition of the sommelier Olympics. And who will be there leading the way? Wines from Austria.

International top sommeliers focus on Austrian wine As a longstanding partner of the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale – of which the Austrian Sommelier Union has been a member since 1988 – the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB) has been granted the unique opportunity to participate – along with Inter Rhône – as a platinum sponsor. This means that a wide range of Austrian wines from all of the winegrowing regions will be presented to the competing top sommeliers and the attending international journalists during the tournament from 11–15 March. At every lunch and every dinner – all the way up to the gala feast after
the grand finale – and at the conclusion of every day in the ‘bar des sommeliers’, as well as in two master classes for the sommeliers and members of the trade.
For five days, Austrian wines will be able to shine on the stage of the world’s finest sommeliers and before the avid eyes of international wine journalists – which is sure to heighten interest in the small wine-land and its great wines.
Return to Belgium after fifty years The A.S.I. was founded in 1969 with the objective of helping sommeliers all over the world to reach new levels of achievement in their profession. That same year, the very first Concours de Meilleur Sommelier du Monde was held in Brussels. Fifty years later, the sommelier world championship – held only once every three years – returns to Belgium, where the highly coveted title ‘A.S.I. Best Sommelier of the World’ will beconferred upon the victor.
Great media interest in the title match There will be sixty-five top-drawer international sommeliers competing, who must already have emerged victorious from elimination rounds in their own countries, in a five-day marathon of tastings. Among the contestants will be Austria’s top sommelier, who will be named on 5 November at the ‘Best Sommelier of Austria 2018’ competition. The world championship programme will feature several written tests of knowledge and blind tastings, as well as examinations in facets of wine service and awareness of the international wine market. At the finale on 15 March in Antwerp’s ‘Konigin Elizabethzaal’, the final three candidates must ultimately prove their capabilities in front of some 2,000 attendees. 

( Excerpt from a press release)

Bengaluru, India
Celebrating the global success of the Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection, Grover Zampa Vineyards along with the legend Mr. Vijay Amritraj, hosted an experiential evening over fine wines and conversations at Skydeck, Shangri-La Bangalore on 6th September, 2018. The event, full of fine wines, conversations and delectable meals prepared by the talented chefs at Shangri-La, witnessed socialites, wine aficionados and industry stalwarts who gathered to honor the various achievements earned by the VA collection.

“It has been my utmost pleasure being associated with Grover Zampa Vineyards, witnessing the rising recognition received by the brand in India and overseas. With the growing appreciation for the collection, we are positive about the winning streak to continue with a lot more accolades flowing in.” said Amritraj,  Ranked among India’s finest wines, the Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection, launched in 2014 in London, marks a distinctive association between sports and wine. The wines, a perfect mélange of inimitable diversity and smoothness, have earned worldwide recognition with 22 distinguishable awards. The most recent recognition garnered by the collection was the gold medal bagged by the red variant at the much-acclaimed Asian Wine Review 2018 in Hong Kong. The review also conferred Grover Zampa Vineyards the Best Asian Winery. While the brand is already internationally available in USA, UK, Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Singapore; it was recently launched in Dubai earlier this year.

Vivek Chandramohan, CEO, Grover Zampa Vineyards opined, “It has been a matter of great pride to have associated with Mr. Vijay Amritraj to co-create and produce some of the finest wines that are representative of the Indian terroir. The accolades bestowed upon the collection over the years are a testament of the immense passion and dedication invested in their production. We are committed to providing our patrons with the best experiences always.”
( Excerpt from a press release) 
 

Mumbai, India
Aspri Spirits, India’s leading distributor of premium wines and spirits, hosted a special evening to bring together Campari lovers to celebrate Negroni Week at the Italian restaurant CinCin, BKC. The week-long international charity event is being hosted in bars and restaurants across the world to raise money for charitable causes.

Guests started with a Classic Negroni which is the 2nd Best Selling Cocktail in the world moving on to the other offerings at the event. The guests included India’s favourite female bartender Shatbhi Basu, Bollywood Makeup Artist Clint Fernandes and Sandhya Shetty, Model, Actor & Commonwealth Karate Gold Medal Winner amongst many other known faces from the industry.

Joining the movement, Mr. Jackie Matai, Co-founder, Aspri Spirits said, “We started hosting Negroni Week in India since 2015 and have continued to progress. This year, we have 103 bars participating across the country and have also rank 2nd in Asia. With the modern cocktail movement continuing to expand, the annual event has grown larger every year, with Negroni Week 2018 set to be the biggest yet. Starting with 100 participating bars in 2013, last year’s Negroni Week welcomed the involvement of 7,770 venues in 60 countries to raise a phenomenal $1.5 million for charitable causes since the launch. This year India alone has over 103 bars hosting the charitable event.
 
RECIPE FOR CLASSIC NEGRONI
As a globally consumed classic cocktail, the prestigious IBA Official Drink List states Campari is the key defining ingredient.
 
Ingredients:

• 3 cl. Campari
• 3 cl. Gin
• 3 cl. Sweet Red Vermouth

 
Instructions:

• Pour the ingredients directly into an old-fashioned glass filled with ice
• Stir gently
• Garnish with half an orange slice

( Excerpt from a press release)

Mumbai,India
BACARDÍ launched BACARDÍ House Party Sessions this year to bring to the world tomorrow’s musical sensations. Unlike most recording labels, BACARDÍ House Party Sessions offers a partnership that will foster each artists’ growth by providing them the right mentorship and opportunities coupled with provision of dedicated time to work on their future tracks and albums with dedicated studio time. The first leg of the BACARDI House Party Sessions campaign witnessed the announcement of its winner’s (RITVIZ, MojoJojo and Aarya) huge success with the launch of the first track UDD GAYE by RITVIZ which garnered over 3 million views and is the 4th trending track across all genres on Apple Music, after topping the charts.
​
After the massive success of the first BACARDÍ house party anthem ‘UDD GAYE’, BACARDÍ House Party Sessions brings you the next epic track - Chak Bass (https://youtu.be/71yeChlLjrE) by MojoJojo. Known for his distinctive brand of crossover music and fine handlebar moustache, MojoJojo aka Akshay Johar, is one of the four winners of the BACARDÍ House Party Sessions hosted by All India Bakchod (AIB) and Nucleya and this is the second music video release of the Sessions campaign.The fun and peppy track depicts a scenario in a rundown warehouse in a typical Mumbai setting where a high stakes carom championship is underway but events take a surprising turn.
 
Commenting on the Sessions campaign, Mr Anshuman Goenka, Marketing Head, BACARDÍ India says, “We are ecstatic looking at the overwhelming response that RITVIZ’s work has witnessed. UDD GAYE has become a sensation all over and this is the kind of leap that we aim to provide to our artists. Taking a step further in the direction, we are extremely excited to announce the launch of the second track- Chak Bass by MojoJojo. We are sure that this track will be equally loved by our audience and get us closer to our goal of bringing on board the right mix of experiences and opportunities to take the house party culture a notch higher in the music space. As a constant endeavour, we will continue to discover more such talented artists and help them along their journey. We have been globally known to foster talent and would like to reiterate our commitment to the world of music through BACARDÍ House Party Sessions.”

​(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
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)
 

Mumbai, India
Coravin, the innovative and ground- breaking wine access and pouring system that has already transformed the way the world enjoys wine across 50 markets is now in India . It was launched  by Aman Dhall of  Brindco with an inaugural presentation by  Sonal Holland MW over an interactive master-class tasting of fine wines, at The Oberoi Hotel, Mumbai.
The Coravin System is a wine access tool that allows the desired quantity of any wine, from any bottle to be poured and enjoyed by the gla ss, without uncorking. By preserving the wine with the patented Coravin technology, the remaining wine is kept unspoiled and in pristine condition.  Coravin uses a medical grade needle that punctures through the natural cork of a bottle. Argon, a harmless inert gas used regularly by winemakers, is then pumped through the needle, creating pressure within the bottle that pushes wine out through the needle. When the desired amount is poured, the needle is withdrawn and argon is left in place to prevent oxidation. The cork reseals itself naturally and the wine does not aerate, meaning any amount of the wine can be tasted at any point and the last glass will taste just as good as the first.  
Greg Lambrecht, Inventor and founder- developed and tested his concept for 14 years before he founded and launched Coravin in 2013. With a background in physics and nuclear power, a career in medical engineering and a passion for wine, Greg combined his expertise in innovative technology and love of wine to create a product that has made a major impact on the wine industry.   Greg comments “Today, the Coravin Wine System can be enjoyed in numerous different settings, with restaurants and bars embracing the technology that allows wine-by-the-glass programs to expand without fear of wasted win e. Diners and wine drinkers can also enjoy a wider selection of premium wines and can pair multiple bottles with their meal, instead of committing to just one bottle.”                                                            
 Coravin is available in Indian and the range starts at Rs 21624
​
  (Excerpt from a release)

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)