India Wines

Johnson notes references to Shiraz wine being supplied to the caliphs of Baghdad as far back as the year 800 CE, but then formal records lapse for centuries until the 17th century when European merchants in India became a new market. “What is more remarkable is that by 1677 the wine was transported in bottles, wrapped in straw and packed in cases, to go swaying down to the Gulf Coast on mule back. There is scarcely any earlier instance of the regular use of bottles for shipping wine.” In time other types of wine like Madeira were made for the Indian market, but Shiraz may have been the first.

It seems so appropriate then that Shiraz has been the real success of the nascent Indian wine industry. When new wineries start producing in places like Nashik and Narayangaon, it was the whites like Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc, or the sparkling wines that drew immediate attention. They were quick to bring to market, cool and refreshing to drink and seemed perfect for our hot climate.

But with the possible exception of some interesting Viognier, and the new Grillo varietal launched by Reveilo, there’s been little development here, and even perhaps some regression as the wines got sweeter and too acidic and headachy due to overproduction of bad Chenin that should never have been crushed in the first place.

The reds took longer to get right, not least because the really good ones needed longer ageing in barrels. But starting with Sula’s Dindori Reserve and Grover’s La Reserve, the reds revealed themselves to be very nice wines, inky tasting at first, but opening up once uncorked with a spicy aroma, lovely smooth mouthfeel and with none of the stomach turning qualities of the whites. Both these wines were blends of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes, with the Cabernet giving structure and minerally depth, but the most arresting part of their character coming from the joyful fruitiness of Shiraz.

Return of Shiraz - Economic Times

Reva K. Singh . Organised by Nicole Folet of Domaine de la Verrière and Walter McKinlay of Domaine de Mourchon, the Grenache Symposium was led by international wine experts, Steven Spurrier and Michel Bettane.

As the world's first international symposium on the Grenache grape, the G-20 style summit was a historic event with 270 representatives from 22 countries present.

We were divided according to experience and background into different panels covering topics such as viticulture and winemaking, the chameleon-like nature and versatility of Grenache, its quality as a food wine, the potential of Grenache on a global level, and the changing consumption patterns in established and new wine markets.

Grenache is not entirely unknown in India. It was first planted at Nashik near Mumbai by Yatin and Kiran Patil of Vintage Wines in 2000, but they experienced viticultural difficulties and abandoned the project. Meanwhile, Nashik Vintners planted 15 acres with Grenache vines in 2005 using clones, 70 and 136, imported from South Africa. The first vintage was released in November 2009 under the brand name Mosaic rather than Sula, as a mid-level wine selling for Rs 350.

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The year 2010 could well be the ‘inflection point’ for Indian wine exports, what with as many as eight wineries participating in the London International Wine Fair (LIWF) held last month, with the active encouragement of the newly-constituted Indian Grape Processing Board (which operates under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries).

The companies all shared space in a single ‘India Pavilion’. Participants reported a buzz around the stalls as visitors jostled for tastings — few had imagined wine being produced in India. Most were pleasantly surprised by the decent quality of the desi drop.

The grand dame of Indian wine companies, Indage (then known as ‘Champagne India Ltd’) started operations in 1982 and launched ‘Marquise de Pompadour’ in 1986 in India. This Methode Champenoise sparkling wine is being exported under the Omar Khayyam label. The market leader in India till 2009, Indage was the pioneering exporter of wines, particularly to the UK. Look for a new beginning under MD Ranjit Chougule towards the end of 2010.

One of the first units set up under the new Grape Processing Industry Policy of 2001, Renaissance’s eponymous wine hit retail shelves in 2005, and survived the 2009 downturn by outsourcing production to Diageo India and the UB Group.

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A 31-year-old man was walking past East India DLR station, Blackwall, at about 6pm last Friday (June 18) when he spotted two men sitting on a concrete bench by the station concourse. One of them came up to him as he passed the back of Majestic Wines in Blackwall Way and asked for his bag, before putting him a head lock and punching him in the face.

The suspect is described as a white, 18-20 years, 6ft tall, slim build, with black short hair with a messy fringe and curly at the back and a thin black moustache. He was wearing a jacket with black sleeves and grey body and black jogging bottoms.

He is described as a mixed race, light skinned male, 18-20yrs, 5 foot 7 tall and was wearing a black jacket with grey sleeves, large USA type emblem on back and dark jeans.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact DC Dean Oakwell in the Robbery Squad on 020 8217 4162 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or email any information to towerhamletsrobberysquad@met.police.uk.

Full Story: Police appeal for witnesses to Blackwall robbery - East London Advertiser

The year 2010 could well be the ‘inflection point’ for Indian wine exports, what with as many as eight wineries participating in the London International Wine Fair (LIWF) held last month, with the active encouragement of the newly-constituted Indian Grape Processing Board (which operates under the Ministry of Food Processing Industries).

The companies all shared space in a single ‘India Pavilion’. Participants reported a buzz around the stalls as visitors jostled for tastings — few had imagined wine being produced in India. Most were pleasantly surprised by the decent quality of the desi drop.

The grand dame of Indian wine companies, Indage (then known as ‘Champagne India Ltd’) started operations in 1982 and launched ‘Marquise de Pompadour’ in 1986 in India. This Methode Champenoise sparkling wine is being exported under the Omar Khayyam label. The market leader in India till 2009, Indage was the pioneering exporter of wines, particularly to the UK. Look for a new beginning under MD Ranjit Chougule towards the end of 2010.

Full Story: Think local, act global - Business Standard