India Wine

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Moneylife Foundation organised an open discussion on "Budget and You" on 27 February 2010. The participants were presented with a detailed analysis of the implications of the Budget proposals.

Considering that it was the remarkable guts and perseverance of Shyamrao Chougule, the founder, who brought international quality wine and champagne to India in the 1980s, the nascent wine industry in the country is saddened over this development.

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If you crave traditional but insist on luxury, Bella Coola is a chalet the holds ten,. It’s Swiss on the outside, with a whiff of Morocco and India inside. The house comes with a private chef to whip up breakfast and dinner, and not just the usual chalet-issue spaghetti bolognese fare. There are freshly baked treats for afternoon tea, and wine and whatever you can lay your hand on in the well-stocked bar are included in the price. Another plus is the artwork: real Matisse sketches and prehistoric elk antlers adorned with Svarowski crystals and a pearl necklace. A bit bonkers, in a good way.

Cheaper chic comes care of the just-opened Sagittaire , a six-floor property that includes a hip apartment sleeping 4 to 6 (from about $6,500 a week) and two other sprawling split-floor stays accommodating up to 12 people each (from about $16,700 a week). It promises the same top-notch service and a sleek indoor pool and sauna.

The best slope? The celebrated Mont Fort is indeed a challenging run, and it rewards you with the most incredible Matterhorn view. To rent equipment, enlist Mountain Air . Skis cost from about $80 for a three-day hire.

Full Story: Dispatch | On the Slopes in Verbier - New York Times (blog)

According to available figures, sale of wine has risen to 25 lakh litres per annum from just 13 lakh litres in 2006-07. The decision of the Government to promote wine as a family drink has worked wonders, with the young and the elderly and men and women alike eagerly adopting the new drinking habit.

Come summer, Bangaloreans have started talking about uncorking a refreshing wine instead of opting for the good old whisky and soda. Opening up of wine boutiques as part of the new wine policy has helped manufacturers boost production and marketing. The number of wine clubs has also increased and wine drinking has become the icing on the cake even at kitty parties.

Speaking exclusively to The Pioneer, chairman of Karnataka Wine Board B Krishna divulged that the wine production in Karnataka has risen drastically and attributed this to the State Government’s wine policy and the new ‘wine culture’. According to him, wine production was 13.1 lakh litres in 2006-07 and after adoption of the new wine policy, has increased to around 21 lakh litres in 2009-2010. Krishna informed that the area of cultivation of wine has also risen to 1,800 acres from 500 acres.

Full Story: Bangalore is now India's wine capital - Daily Pioneer

Monsoon Valley has won several international awards.

The six members of the Thai Wine Association , including Chateau de Loei and Monsoon Valley, are spread throughout the country. Four of the other members are located near Khao Yai National Park, while one is situated in the eastern seaboard area, near Pattaya. Though some money is made from the sale of wine, many of the wineries support themselves by offering packaged wine tours that offer both fine wine and a picturesque getaway.

The Thai Wine Association itself was formed in 2004 to set a standard and barometer for Thai Wines. Each member had to sign a quality charter and undergo independent and blind testings. They also must submit wine to third party labs for stringent checks. This improvement has since been commented on by some of the most notable wine critics in the region, including the likes of Robert Parker.

Full Story: Home Bangkok Drink Raise a glass! Thai wines winning global - CNNGo.com

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A regular guest at the Sommelier India Wine Dinners, Ghulam thoroughly enjoyed his wine and was himself a great host. While we didn't experience his cooking, there are tales of his mastery in the kitchen, especially in French cuisine. On one occasion when The Wine Society had organised a 'cooking with wine' dinner, Ghulam was there up in front with all the ladies talking and participating with the Chef. A fact not commonly known is that it was Ghulam who started the Alliance Francaise in Delhi, as far back as 1952.

Born and brought up in Kasur in Pakistan, Naqshband has been a witness to the 1947 partition and decided to stay back in India even though his parents and two brothers were in Pakistan." I was determined to stay in Delhi even though it meant living by myself. I chose to live life on my own terms. I don't believe in a two-nation theory; I believe in one god and don't adhere to religious demands. Today I am a contended human being," he says wiping away every sign of remorse. He turned down every opportunity he got post partition to live with his family." The social and political environment there did not suit my secularism. I found that people there formed their opinions based on the media. They took their newspapers' biased reports seriously," he says disappointedly. He joined the Embassy of Iraq and later went on to work with Saha and Rai travel agencies in Delhi. A little known fact about the man is that he founded the Alliance Francaise de Delhi in 1952 to promote the French language and culture." This opened new avenues for me with all the exposure I got," he exclaims.

Full Story: Ghulam Naqshband, RIP - Sommelier India (blog)