India Wine

USL has just kicked off its plans to introduce Indian wines under the brand name “Ritu” to UK and France, targeting the Indian eateries.

Ritu, says Vijay Rekhi, MD and president of UB Group’s USL, was chosen as it sounds Indian, and sounds a bit like Four Seasons, USL’s domestic wine brand. Four Seasons was considered too much an entrenched European brand name to differentiate itself as ‘Indian’ wine. Unlike the domestic market, selling wine to France and UK requires a completely different orientation.

Ritu, says Vijay Rekhi, MD and president of UB Group’s USL, was chosen as it sounds Indian, and sounds a bit like Four Seasons, USL’s domestic wine brand. Four Seasons was considered too much an entrenched European brand name to differentiate itself as ‘Indian’ wine. Unlike the domestic market, selling wine to France and UK requires a completely different orientation. “We are focusing on limited markets, in UK, France, and Singapore, recruiting distributors. The critical thing in mature markets is to ensure the acceptance of the product.” While many Indian wine producers export in limited quantities, most have traditionally been under European labels, or for limited circulation. This will be an organised attempt to break into the European markets with an India-labeled wine.

Full Story: USL to introduce Indian wines under the brand name 'Ritu' to UK and France - Economic Times

For the first time at the London ExCel,a consortium of Indian winemakers has been showcasing their wares to a receptive audience.

Among those spotted enjoying the range of wines at the India stand this week was none other than leading wine critic Oz Clarke.

And Clive Castelino, wine educator for United Spirits Ltd - a division of the UB Group, said interest in Indian winemaking had been sky-high all week.

Full Story: Indian wine 'a force to be reckoned with' - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade Review

Now Red Wine for Digestion Too...

Bulli No. 1 to Take Sabb...

A news item reported by the reputed news agency IANS about India’s participation at the London Wine Fair and picked up by online media like Yahoo, had so much erroneous and immature reporting that the producers, wine connoisseurs and serious wine lovers would be at sea whether to laugh or raise their arms with disgust.

Full Story: The Irresponsible Wine Journalism - Indian Wine Academy

Shankar, a tourist I meet, tells me he visits the Kala Ram Temple, east of Ramkund, every year not just because it contains unusual black stone representations of Rama and Sita, but because he believes that his troubles will be allayed at the town’s holiest shrine.

Next up are the rock carved, two-thousand-year-old Pandav Leni caves dating to 1st Century BC. Critics frequently write home about Cave 19 and 23, and it’s these caves that make the 20-minute hike up the mountain worthwhile.

Debates about which activity to pursue — whether sacred or profane or both — have for long been raging on the same side of the bathing ghat.  Some come to Nashik to allay your troubles in wine, or to allay the troubles in prayer as you light diyas and send them floating down the waters of the sacred river. But both these groups appear to leave singing a happy song.

Full Story: High on devotion - Hindustan Times

Wine Magazine has been invited to participate in the symposium.

The Grenache Symposium is presented by local vineyards Chêne Bleu and Domaine de Mourchon (www.domainedemourchon.com). The patron of the event is InterRhône, in conjunction with sponsors including The Wine Academy of Spain (representing Aragon, Campo de Borja, Catalunya/Priorat, Navarra); Wine Australia; Sud De France; Tavel; Vignobles Investissement; Riedel Glassware; Harpers Wine & Spirits, and others.

Decanter magazine, and Michel Bettane - the premier French wine critic and co-author of Le Grand Guide des Vins de France.

Full Story: The World's First Grenache Symposium - Sommelier India (blog)