Beverage Blog India

Who doesn't like a good deal and that too in India where taxation puts the wine prices to sky high. Here we discuss wines and brands which offer a good bet in the glass at a price point of 2000 Rs or under. Of course needless to say that there are enough examples of Indian wines which offer fantastic value, but this list if for those who are looking beyond local Indian wines. 

Bordeaux France Cap Royal Superior Rs 1900
Cabernet Sauvignon Chile Apaltagua, Gran Verano RS 1900
Cabernet Sauvignon South Africa MAN Family, OU KALANT Rs 1995
Grenache Syrah France  M Chapoutier Rs 1950
Malbec Argentina Argento Rs 1700
Malbec Argentina Michel Torino Rs 1995
Merlot Chile Monte Pacifico, rapel Valley Rs 1650
Merlot Chile  Maancura Etnia Rs 1795
Merlot Chile Carta Vieja limited release Rs 1896
Montepulciano Italy Pasqua, Abruzzo DOC Rs 1899
Nero D'Avola Italy Sensi Sicilu RS 1889
Pinotage South Africa Cape Elephant Rs 1500
Pinotage South Africa Cape Dreams Rs 1965
Pinot Noir France Le Grand Noir, Rs 1550
Pinot Noir Germany I Heart Rs 1750
Shiraz Australia  Wolf Blass Bilyara Rs 1975
Tempranillo Spain Casa El Unico Calatayud DO Rs 1800
Tempranillo Spain Campo Viejo Rioja Rs 2000

​Wine & Spirit sales saw a slight decline in the early phase of the first lockdown but since then it has been an upward trajectory, thanks for liquor delivery being permitted in key states, latest to the list being Delhi. All it needed was technology to bridge the gap between the retailers and the consumers, multiple apps or websites were born as a result. Here are some liquor delivery apps/websites operating in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
Bottleofluid
Living Liquidz
Liquid Library
Nature’s Basket (wine and beer only)
Spiritzone
The Wine Park  (wines only)
TullyGully
Please note: Be careful while doing online financial transactions as there are rising cases of frauds related to liquor delivery. Verify carefully. And yes, once you get it delivered, do not forget to drink in moderation and responsibly.  

Tempranillo is the key red variety of Spain. Tinto Fino, Tinto Del Toro, Cencibel are  some other names the grape is called in Spain and Aragonez, Tinta Roriz in Portugal. Tempranillo (tem-pra-nee-yo) as a grape variety can make vibrant fruity wines with red fruit notes and can also make oaked wines which develop a tobacco, meaty complexity with age. Labelling terms Crianza, Reserva  & Gran Reserva indicate aging in oak in an ascending order.  
Key wine regions for Tempranillo
Spain is Tempranillo and Tempranillo is Spain, however it can also be found in many new world regions including examples from India. In Spain; Rioja, Ribera De Duero and Toro are the key areas but the grape can be found elsewhere including Catalunya, La Mancha etc. While Rioja is known for blending Tempranillo with Grenache and other permitted Grape varieties, Ribera is mostly 100% Tempranillo.

Brands of Tempranillo in the Indian Market (Mumbai prices)
Ribera Del Duero
Portia, Ribera Del Duero Rs 3100
Finca Valdemacuco Roble Rs 3990
Bodegas La Horra, CORIMBO, Ribera Del Duero Rs  5989
Rioja 
Solar Viejo Rioja  Rs  1780
Campo Viejo Rs 2000
Conde Valdemar Rioja Rs  2290
Faustino Crianza Rioja Rs  2299
Viña Pomal Crianza, Rioja Rs 2500
Viña Pomal Reserva, Rioja Rs  3300
Faustino Crianza Rioja Rs  4299
Roda, Sela Rs 5350
Faustino Grand reserva Rs 5899
Roda, Reserva Rs  8173
Roda 1 Reserva Rs 13012
Toro 
Telmo Rodriguez Dehesa Gago DO Toro Rs 3630
Bodegas Maurodos, Prima, Toro Rs  4989
Bodegas Maurodos, San Romans, Toro Rs 11252
Others 
Santana Rs 1490
Finca Vieja La Mancha Rs 1695
Casa El Unico Calatayud DO Rs 1800
Finca Vieja Crianza La Mancha Rs 1895
Bodegas Mauro, Tudela Del Duero Rs ​ 10574