Beverage Blog India

Mumbai, India

Australia Business Week in India (ABWI) , Australia’s largest ever trade mission to India  just gave the much needed platform to the Australian Wine reps to come and showcase their wines in front of trade and media. In a soiree at the Sofitel Mumbai, wines from across Australia were tasted giving the audience a sneak peek into the diversity of Australian wines. 

Wine Australian partnered with Austrade and Rajiv Singhal’s Group Ritu to host the wine tasting which saw Sommelier Magandeep Singh take the audience on a quick flight of 10 wines from Adelaide Hills, Mclaren Vale, Golburn valley, Victoria, New England, Coonawara and the Barossa. In 2014 Australia exported approximately 1million litres of wine to India (India’s total wine consumption is around 18 Mn litres) which was approx 25 % increase in volume and value y-o-y.  Wine Australia’s General Manager of Market Development seemed positive and pleased with the response from the Indian trade and media.  He said ‘Australian wine is exciting for a market like India where consumers are just starting to explore wine and discover what they like, because there is no such thing as a typical Aussie wine.  We produce more grape varieties than anywhere in the world and the range of our wine is more diverse than Europe’s. ‘

Well  the diversity and the  65 wine making regions are certainly a great asset for Wine Australia however there is a glut in the market  and with increasing competition the prices have come down drastically to even an extent of a dollar for a wine bottle.  Tapping newer markets is the way to go for Australia and India despite having a small base is seeing a double digit growth and is a market which cannot be ignored.  And the good part about Australian wine is its fruit forwardness which suits the Indian palate to a great extent making it even better market. We hope this initiative sees a better push for Oz wines in the market, and we get to see more wines than just the two buck chucks. More Power to Wine Australia!!!

Cheers!

P.S: wines tasted at the tasting and Nova Vita was the star for us!

·         Mcguigan Black label Rose 2012

·         Pirramimma War Horse Shiraz 2010

·         Topper’s Mountain Gewurztraminer 2013

·         Brand’s Laira Cabernet Sauvignon Blanc 2012

·         Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch 2012

·         The Ironstone Pressings GSM 2009

·         Nova  Vita Shiraz 2009

·         Ulupna special reserve Shiraz 2012

·         Jacobs Creek Barossa Shiraz 2011

·         Penfold’s Koonunga Hill Shiraz cabernet 2012

Mumbai, India

Cool nights, misty morning and hot afternoons are what give the grapes on the US west coast the prolonged ripening season that not only increase sugar levels while retaining the acidity but also packs the fruit with flavors. In an exclusive soiree at the ITC Grand Central, the US department of Agriculture (USDA) along with Sonal Holland the beverage honcho for the ITC hotels hosted a west American wine knowledge session, of course complete with tasting some very good wines. 

Sonal took the audience through the evolution of American wines and certainly in the entire scheme of things one couldn’t rule out the role of  American root stocks in the wine world.  For those who are still wondering, the American rootstocks are resistant to a dreaded vine disease called Phylloxera which wiped out the whole of Europe in the late eighteenth century, the louse is still a threat if not for the American rootstocks.  Speaking of America crossing the chasm, my knowledge goes back to the historical 1976 Judgment of Paris, where the American Meritage blend Stag’s Leap wine cellars trounced the Bordeaux first growths. 

Sonal then spoke about the robust wines from the more inland Napa valley to the distinctive Sonoma ones and not to forget the bouncy Pinot Noirs from Carneros. She also discussed some gems from Oregon and Washington state up North and some elegant and some strong pours coming from as south as Santa Barbara. Remember the movie Sideways, anyone!!  The 1100 km of Californian coast practically grows every prominent grape variety. They have a classification called the AVA (American Viticultural area) equivalent of the European PDO however their regulations are more liberal encouraging winemakers to express their creativity given their understanding of the terroir and winemaking techniques. The first wine we tasted was a 2012 Sauvignon Blanc from Honig (RS 4200) a produce of Rutherford, Napa Valley,  which showed lot of chalky minerality  with generous  but restrained underlying fruit and crisp acidity, frankly wouldn’t have guessed it as  old world if I were to taste it blind. The 2011 Patz & Hall Chardonnay from Sonoma was typical American with powerful oak and tropical fruits; it was very well balanced with good acidity and a super long finish. Probably that explained the price tag of Rs 9200

Zinfandel an indigenous grape variety from the USA which Italy claimed to be theirs, they call it the Primitivo and some time ago Croatia asserted it originated there.  It did not matter much to us as we sipped on the spicy medium bodied 2011 Zinfandel from the house of Kendall Jackson ( Rs 3600) a known producer; I loved the wine but thought it had a short finish. The 2011 Pinot Noir again from Kendall Jackson (RS 3600) a produce from the Mendoncino, was extremely fruity with some wet leaf aromas to begin, it was light with minimal tannins and the palate confirmed the nose.  Nowadays at many international tastings the order of whites before the reds Is withering and we had a superb Oregon  Pinot Gris by Erath poured just after the Zin,  pronounced aromas reminiscent of flowers and honey, this wine was terrific and almost off-dry and was easy on acidity.  We ended with a Washington State, Columbia Crest Merlot (Rs 2000) the cheapest wine for the day, now on reading cheapest some of us may have already passed a judgement but I strongly believe that quality is not the only factor that affects price. This wine may have seemed lackluster after the wines that preceded it, but it had good fruit and structured tannins albeit with a short finish and to be honest the 2008 wine put up a very brave face.
Last words, Indians have had their share of French and Italian and still continue to,  Chilean and Australian  wines are making their presence felt, Can America take a share of a the pie? Only time will tell but they surely have the potential to woo the Indian palate!!

Mumbai, India

 ‘Brand Ambassador’ as a title catches one’s fancy instantly and  glamour, page 3, bling, posh, celebrity etc are some of the descriptors that are perceived to go with the title.  When it comes to liquor, we may have been acquainted with a lot of designated brand ambassadors; celebs in their own right, for various brands in India, however all of them most likely have been known to come from the west, they surely brought a lot of skill set in. Speaking of today a liquor major in the country has 4 ambassadors across the country all being foreigners, sadly even an Indian wine co has an ambassador coming from outside the country to explain to the world what Indian wine is like!!  And amidst all this  a year ago Moet Hennessy, the  French liquor major, the ‘M’ and the ‘H’  of the LVMH group decided to bring in the wind of change and appointed an Indian; to be its Brand Ambassador not only in  India but also Srilanka,  ‘Hava Badlegi’ we thought!  Meet Rohan Jelkie the Brand Ambassador for Moet-Hennessy India and Srilanka, a home grown talent in the beverage industry who has been evangelizing and training people on beverages for the past 8 years. We quickly caught up with Rohan when he was on his way to enlighten a parched group with a lot of Champagne and of course knowledge.  Here is what the thirsty tippler had to say:

What does the job of a brand ambassador entail?

As a brand ambassador my foremost priority is to demystify the brands I represent and reiterate what they stand for whilst simultaneously creating excitement and encouraging loyalty through choice and awareness within members of the hospitality trade as well and consumers. A brand ambassador fully embodies the brand he represents and endorses it from the bottom of his heart.  Frankly I would not have taken up the job if I did not believe in the brands I speak about today.

What does it take to be a ‘Brand Ambassador’?

Being a Brand Ambassador extends beyond being a mere face of the brands for the trade and consumers. One needs to have utmost conviction towards the categories and brands he/she endorses. Add to this an in depth knowledge of the brands that an ambassador represents. One must also be up-to-date with competition news and information. Willingness to work flexible hours, over holidays, travel at a moment’s notice and a genuine liking to interact with people (and with patience!) is a must. You may or may not have a hospitality background but I feel it is an advantage to have worked on the other aspects of the business.

What is your typical day like?

I would love to say that I have a 9 -6 job! In reality however, many a times the ‘nine’ starts in the evening. I start my day meeting clients , could be hospitality  or private consumers and the agenda here is usually discussing concepts and exploring ideas to showcase our brands which ends up in helping clients enhance guest experience and businesses to better their revenues. For E.g. at the Lodhi in Delhi we have created a special menu with tweaked Belvedere Bloody Mary to match different cuisines on a Sunday Brunch  like a Japanese Bloody Mary with Wasabi and Nori, a Texan Bloody Mary with BBQ sauce, apple cider and more.  The Idea is to give customers something innovative each time and push the boundaries of tastes.  The second half is usually trainings with the hospitality trade staff that play an important role in selling our brands. At Moët Hennessy India we strongly feel that an associate empowered with knowledge can only enhance the brand image of our liquids. If a hotel associate can explain the difference between Dom Pérignon to a Moët et Chandon to a Krug, all three being Champagnes, and sell the brands as an experience, my job is done!!!  If I am working in the latter part of the day then I am mostly likely to be with consumers conducting tastings with a select group of consumers whilst taking them through the journey of the Moët-Hennessy group. Last Sunday I was behind the bar churning out cocktails for the Belvedere Red evening we hosted for a charitable cause.

Upside of your job?

Goes without saying, good food and drink and a lot of travel and I love it!! However the best part of the job is to meet people and different people each day and the wow moment when you get recognized from that one spirited talk someday!! The relationship from a Brand Ambassador transcends into friendship many a times, and bonding over a drink and chat is the best luxury one can have!!

Downside of your job?

One really can’t complain when you represent some of the most admired and luxurious brands in the world. Getting a schedule in place is hard at times.  Another thing that irritates me the most is when people ask me if I would have any bottles to spare or if I could get them a free entry to a posh gig!! I wish if I could ask my friend who works for the RBI if he had any excess currency to spare!!  People even call me up to ask for a bootlegger’s contact to buy my own brands from them. Also I often crave for a quite day away from the crowd and just have a drink by myself, but I seldom get a chance. Setting a routine is what I am challenged with these days.

What is your favourite drink outside of work??

A classic Belvedere Martini and an old fashioned are drinks I can never refuse. Equally good is a refreshing long drink with Hennessy and gingerale. And when in doubt, there is always a glass of terrific Chandon!

Last question, Can a consumer becomes a brand ambassador??

Well frankly our consumers are our biggest brand ambassadors, they have conviction in our brands and hence they are happy to endorse it whole heartedly when they are entertaining at home or otherwise. In fact at a greater scale there are so many celebrities who patronise our brands without any official association. It is a great moment for us, every time this happens. If you were to technically speak of being in a formal role like the one I am in, its calls for a learnt skill set.

P.S: Below are the beauties we tasted that evening!!!

Mumbai, India

Spanish wines in India; where we are still coming to terms with wines, are usually not a part of our buying consideration set. Perhaps because we first got to know of the European heavyweights France and Italy which make great wines and then recently got convenience from simpler labels from new world regions like Australia and Chile. 

There are some big names like Roda and Mauro from Spain in India and Cava the sparkling wine from Penedes may soon be a common sight. One name that has been top of mind for all those who have bought Spanish wines is Torres. A family owned brand, now run by the fifth generation, Torres was very recently voted ‘World’s Most Admired Wine brand” by Drinks International, UK, the first European winery to earn the accolade. Torres wines have also expanded their interest in Chile and in America. In India, Delhi based importers, Prestige Spirits have been behind Torres in India and last evening they hosted Ms Emma Llorens the Brand Ambassador for Torres wines in a soiree at Pali Village Café, Bandra. Emma took us through a guided tasting of the following wines:

Vina Esmeralda:

A blend of aromatic varieties Muscat and Gewürztraminer, it gets its name from the color of the Mediterranean, Emerald. It has light perfume, some residual sugar and medium acidity. A no-fuss wine easily suited to the ‘Indian’ palate. Price: Rs 2000

Mas Rabell White:

Made of 100% Paralleda Grapes, an indigenous grape variety, it is name after the witch who resided in the house of Rabell. This wine has a very good body with great fruit and a hint of autolytic notes. This wine is found only in hotels/restaurants and not in retail.

Grand Vinasol:

A Chardonnnay and Paralleda blend with a majority of the former, this wine was lighter in body than the Mas Rabell with more tropical aromas and a hint of Oak-ageing aromas. Price: Rs 1850

Mas Rabell Red:

 A blend of Carinena and Garnacha, this wine has great body, supple tannins and a spicy finish. Again this isn’t available in retail across the globe, only for institutional sale. 

Gran Coronas:

This wine pioneered the use of foreign grape varietal in blends. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the major part of this blend. This Reserva wine had pronounced black fruit with hints leather and cigar like aromas.  Amazing wine I must say. Price: Rs 2500

Reserva Real:

Only 2000 bottles a vintage and we tasted the 597th bottle from 2001. Still holding on to the colour this wine saw a lot of forest and mushroom like aromas with underlying fruit and very soft tannins. It is available at select hotels in the country. It must be at least 30k on the menu. In my opinion the wine is at its peak, drink now

The evening ended in some disclosures, Torres to come up with Cava for the first time soon! The Indian market however will have to wait for it for a while, till then we have plenty of the other Torres pours to savour!

Mumbai, India

‘Champagne can make any dull place light up, but today it is just adding to the aura of this one.’ said Rajiv Singhal, Ambassador of Champagne in India. The venue was the Zenith Suite (a mysterious multi-level private party venue) on the 38th floor of the Palladium hotel,the occasion, International Champagne Day and the hosts, Rajiv the Champagne man and Abhishek Malik the hotel manager of the Palladium.

For those who did not know, Champagne, a sparkling wine can only be made in the Champagne region of France; but the brand of ‘Champagne’ is so entrenched in the minds of most that almost every sparkling wine is addressed by the name.  If it were to be just about the name, one would not have cared but the whole process of making Champagne and the aging of the wine for a minimum of 15 months and the blending of wines endows the liquid with all its complexity with yeasty bready aromas. Champagne Day celebrations started five years ago and now it’s a global thing, frankly for us another reason to uncork one more!

Champagne Menu for the evening:

Taittinger Brut NV: A light and refreshing tipple with balanced fruit and biscuity aromas.

 Billecart-Salmon Brut NV: This was fruitier on the fore and the toast lingered on

 Castelnau Brut Rose NV: This brought in set of red fruit aromas couple with the the classic Champagne nose. Quite easy drinking this one was.

 Drappier Brut Rose NV: This was spicy and had much more body to it than the rest.

Krug, Brut Grand cuvee: Coffee, honey and intense toast with a golden hue, the Krug was the most mature that evening.

Another star of the evening was Varun Chawda the Sabrage specialist at the Palladium. Sabrage is the technique of opening Champagne with a saber. We just couldn’t stop applauding the act. The picture below would tell you the story. 

The evening went on for a few hours with good food and Champagne interspersed with topics ranging from Sunday brunches to Darjeeling tea to Goan Feni.  And also to a certain extent on what could the Champagne day in 2015 look like! Champagne dinners, Champagne tastings and many more, you never know some of us could actually be in Champagne to celebrate the day!!!

Sante!

Mumbai, India

As France revels in Fete de la Gastronomie over this weekend, Sofitel a luxury brand of the French hospitality major Accor hotels will be celebrating the grape harvest season in France with a month-long wine fest ‘ Sofitel Wine Days’ till 31st  October in 120 properties across the globe. Sofitel, Mumbai the only property in India located in the corporate hub of BKC is all geared up for the same and we had a preview over some chic French wines and food done up by Chef Indrajit Saha.
Champagne the word synonymous to any sparkling wine in the world, it may not be taken as a compliment by the Champagne makers though, set the evening in motion, it was a Drappier. A perfumed Loire valley Sauvignon from Touraine, a forthcoming Ventoux blend from Rhone, an animal and cherry like Burgundy Pinot and a vegetal and robust Bordeaux blend were poured that evening. The cheeses and the hors d’oeuvres passed around were paired with each wine meticulously by the wine man Sanjay Menon and he educated the audience with tips on wine and food. The hotel will showcase wines from seven wineries namely – Hugel & Fils, Bouchard Pere Fils, William Fevre, Paul Jaboulet, Perrin, Miraval, Gerard Bertrand and Dourthe, during the fest.

It truly was an Art de Vivre evening and the guests jubilated at the soiree with an international touch, Indian more so. You have a month to go and to soak in the fervor.

Santé!

P.S:

Some events lined up for the month:

Jyran Wine Dinner – 30th September, 2014

Price: – INR 3500 + Taxes

Guests can opt for an unusual and innovative wine pairing with North- Frontier Cuisine at the hotel’s Signature outlet Jyran – Tandoor Dining & Lounge and select from a four course menu.

Wine Expo at Pondichéry Café – 12th October, 2014

Price: – INR 2900 + taxes

The Sunday Brunch at the Pondichéry Café is any gourmand’s delight, however when coupled with a Wine Expo, guests will sample nothing short of the best. Guests will not only have an opportunity to choose their preferred wine but can also purchase their favorites from the stalls at the outlet.

Sausage & Grills at Kitchen Garden – 30th October 2014

Price: – INR 2500 + Taxes

If an outdoor Al fresco setting is what you prefer to sip a glass of wine, then schedule a date with the ‘Sofitel Wine Days’ to relish the live barbeque along with hors d’œuvres at the Kitchen Garden.

Mumbai, India

‘Game, set and match’ were the words of Agent Vijay; James Bond’s ally; played by Indian tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, in the 1983 Bond film Octopussy. These were the words he could easily relate to; more in his real world than otherwise. Best Asian tennis player for 14 years and having achieved a personal best world ranking of 16, Vijay Amritraj had arrived and accepted very well in Hollywood too. A man who had beaten the likes of Jimmy Connors (5 times) and McEnroe, kept the Indian flag flying high in the tennis arena. California-based now, he was in India for a different cause, it being the endeavor to take Indian wines to the world.

n a soiree on the 18th September at the uber- luxurious, The Leela, Mumbai, Vijay  announced the launch of the  ‘ Vijay Amritraj ( VA) reserve collection’ wines in collaboration with Grover Zampa Vineyards, one of India’s leading wine producers.  This collection includes the red reserve; a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Viognier and the white reserve; a barrel Fermented and barrique aged Viognier both priced at Rs 1200. The fruity mouthful red with very structured tannins and a great finish and the white; a round and light wine with peach and floral notes toned down by aging in new oak were impressive, would have loved a little more acidity in the latter. Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO Grover Zampa Vineyards expressed’  “Our brand is dedicated to express passion, elegance and success associated with the legend of Mr. Vijay Amritraj. We are very excited to launch these premium wines in India and in international markets. This brand will provide Indian wines an enviable international platform that can only lift its reputation across the world.”
It will be a proud day for the Indian wine scene if the wines were to follow the legend’s footsteps, Asia’s best wine, beat the ‘McEnroes’ or first growths of the wine world in the wine grand slams and lastly how about Agent 007  ordering a  ‘VA wine’ in the 2015  Bond flick. Only time will tell… I am Gung-Ho for Indian wines!

Cheers!

Mariano Garcia the legend of Spanish winemaking was in Mumbai on invitation from the Spanish embassy and I was glad to seek an opportunity to interact with him over 2 hours and also taste his wines at the Arola, J W Marriott, Mumbai.
Son of a winery worker, Mariano then a teenager got his shot to fame when he was pulled into a blind tasting by a winemaker as they were short of one taster.  With no knowledge of wines he was the only one in the group who could identify two identical wines from the 20 they tasted and the rest is history. He became the Chief winemaker of the illustrious Vega Sicilia at the age of 24 and was with them until 1998, 3 decades to be precise. Mariano now runs his own, Bodegas Mauro in Tudela de Duero which he had established in 1978 and the more recent Bodegas Maurodos in the D.O of Toro.
Mauro is located west of the D.O of Ribera Del Duero in the province of Valladoid and is named after Mariano Garcia’s father Mauro.  Located at an altitude of 760 metres it is subjected to a continental climate with cold winters and very warm summers. The temperature variation between day and night allows a long ripening season for the grape thus the increased intensity of aromas.  They plant Tempranillo and syrah in a 55 Ha plot and bottle around 270k bottles a year including all labels. On asking if the D.O of Ribera Del Duero will extend its boundaries to be associated to Bodegas Mauro, Mariano with a smile on his face said, “Vega Sicilia was not a part of Ribera once, Ribera extended its boundaries just to get Vega Sicilia in and gain from the latter’s fame.  We at Mauro are striving to offer consumer’s the best, we are happy to sell as a ‘Vino de la Tierra’ as long as the patrons are happy."

Mauro 2010 (Rs 9645):The flagship wine of the winery. A blend of 90% Tempranillo and Syrah, it was bottled in 2012 after aging in French and American barrels.  This is a big chewy wine with structured tannins, great acidity, a spicy palate and a long finish. It’s big in alcohol like most Spanish wines and you can feel it.

Mauro VS 2003
Chosen from the best pockets of land this wine is meant for the long run.  It was still lovely Ruby in colour and had held up so well. Leather and meat in the first nose and then was minerality and fruit.  Again big in alcohol, a very robust wine with plenty of seasoned tannins with a lingering finish.

Bodegas Mauredos:
Located in the D.O of Toro, a region which faces an extreme continental climate, minimum rainfall and has abundant hours of sunshine.  The DO was formed in 1987 but never got as much fame until Mariano Garcia opened his own in the region.  Tinta de Toro is a strain of Tempranillo adapted to the climate of Toro, with berries slightly smaller and with thick skins with a potential to make age-worthy wines.

Prima 2010 (RS 4300):
A blend of 90 % Tinta de Toro and Grenache, this was a very big wine, one can actually smell the potency of alcohol of this one from a distance.  The nose was of sour berries with a palate full of bracing acidity, smooth tannins and a good finish. The acidity in here is very surprising for the climate it comes from. I strong feel it to be a food wine.

San Roman 2009 (RS 9389):
This was my choice, or if I take the liberty to generalize, then most suited for the Indian palate.A 100% Tinta De Toro with 24 months in  French and American Oak,  this wine is a storm in the glass I must say.  The initial whiff was full was meat, leather, foresty aromas underlying which were a lot of fruit scents couple with floral elements. The palate too confirmed the nose and complementing it were big chewy tannins.

It was a super evening with big names and big wines.  The question remains, are you the consumer ready to experiment with your wines???