India Wines

Earlier this month, Waitrose became the first UK supermarket to stock two little-known Indian wine brands -- a red, Zampa syrah 2008 and white, Ritu viognier 2010 -- as part of a showcase of unusual wines from across the world.

Both the beverages are being sold at discounted price with the red costing 8.49 pounds and white 6.99 pounds - the two brands are now a smash hit among British wine lovers, 'The Guardian' reported.

Though wine experts have questioned quality of Indian wine and suggested the popularity is down to novelty value, some of those trying to buy the wines have found their local stores were already out of stock, the newspaper said.

Waitrose wine buyer Matt Smith said he decided to offer Indian wine to British shoppers after finding the quality had improved greatly over the past five years. And, both have been selling strongly, but the white was closer to selling out.

Made in India wines gaining popularity in Britain: Report - Business Standard

GENEVA, SWITZERLAND – The Geneva Festival, which runs until 14 August, is giving Lake Geneva residents and visitors a rare opportunity to sample Indian wines.

The Indian Tourism and Development Corporation’s campaign, “Great Mélange-the Incredible India Journey”  includes the Maharashtra and Karnataka wine regions, with wines from 9 Indian wineries available at the Wines of India stand erected by the Indian Grape Processing Board.

The red, white, rosé and sparkling wines available are from Sula, Four Seasons, York, Mercury, Vintage Wines, Fratelli Vallone, Zampa and Grover cellars.

India’s wines are likely to gain more attention on the world stage with the country recently becoming the 45th member nation in the OIV, the international wine organization whose members are countries, reports the Indian Wine Academy.

Geneva Festival offers a chance to sample India's wines - GenevaLunch

In case you didn’t know, the largest volume of wines imported into India are from Australia, selling an estimated 75,000 cases (30 per cent of the total) of all imported wine sales in India in 2010-11, having narrowly overtaken French wines.

The charge is led by wines like Hardy's, Jacob’s Creek and Yellow Tail, with others like Lindeman’s, D’Arenberg, Redvale, Golden Mile, Peter Lehmann, Tapestry, and whatnot bringing up the rear. Most Australian wines are sold at retail shops and in restaurants as five-star hotels in India still tend to favour French and Italian wines.

Founded in 1866, this is one of Australia’s oldest continuously family-owned and -operated wineries, with some extremely old vines (that escaped phylloxera) that produce wines of great complexity and length, and 150-year old cellars dug by miners looking for gold. Producing some 24,000 cases from 150 acres of vineyards in the Grampians area of Western Victoria, Best’s wines offer great quality at very approachable prices.

Bin No. 0 Great Western Shiraz 2008 (95 points/ $65) (“Excellent” — Langton’s) is supposedly Australia's oldest branded wine. An intense mulberry/ dried rose aroma with some oak; medium-bodied, with “loose-knit gravelly tannins” and an elegant finish. Others in their portfolio are as low as $ 20.

Australian avalanche - Business Standard

It's easy to be blinded by the stars. In the world of wine, you might argue that this is especially true, where the superstar regions of France, Italy, California, and such reign over the market like an "A" crowd of popular high school jocks and cheerleaders. But what about the industry's other, lesser-known wine-producing regions, the relative "freaks and geeks"? The super-niche and cult-cool, popular among their own kind, but equally deserving of more widespread attention.

A favorite of WineChap.com editor, Talia Baiocchi, for its fascinating terroir. Wine is produced on all seven of the main islands, each of which is distinguished by its own unique variety of microclimates and mineral-rich volcanic soils. "They grow vines in these holes. It's a crazy, sci-fi-looking place, and it's somewhere that should never have had vines growing on it." Nevertheless, the islands have actually been producing wine since the 15th century -- said to be a favorite of Jefferson and Shakespeare -- and are some of the only pre-Phylloxera wines left in the world. Although an approximate 250 producers make wines on the islands, only 11 are exported to the U.S.

It's easy to be blinded by the stars. In the world of wine, you might argue that this is especially true, where the superstar regions of France, Italy, California, and such reign over the market lik...

It's easy to be blinded by the stars. In the world of wine, you might argue that this is especially true, where the superstar regions of France, Italy, California, and such reign over the market lik...

8 Unexpectedly Awesome Wine Regions - Huffington Post (blog)

How many times do we hear that cricketers are like fine wines, getting better with age? In fact, with a certain Australian wine sponsor - you know, the cheap supermarket one - doing all it can to promote the Ashes, it's time to do a health check on the vintage or vinegar state of today's international cricket teams...

As a case of 12 at home, they play like a good young merlot - light and supple, but with a spicy edge. On their travels to superior wine-growing regions in Australia they are often corked - full of undesirable smells and unable to air their true talents. The supreme test awaits.

Once upon a time, Australia were like a fine award-winning shiraz with a strong body and powerful tasting notes. Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist, Justin Langer and Matthew Hayden were a grape that could not be crushed, as it were. Now, they play like a superior middle-of-the-range supermarket wine with great pretensions, but giving a rather ordinary experience that leaves you flat. With a slight hangover.

South Africa have had a lot of catching up to do on the international stage in the vineyards and on the cricket pitch. Their fortified wines, like the cricket team, are a bit of an acquired taste. A bit stodgy, heavy on the senses, but with the promise of a raw beauty underneath. If the likes of Graeme Smith and Jacques Kallis represent the full body, then Morne Morkel and Dale Steyn represent the Cape Doctor, blowing away the opposition.

The wine list - is your team vintage or cheap plonk? - Cricket365.com