Vineyards In India

The first Indian wines to be sold by a British supermarket could become a fixture on its shelves after coming close to selling out in record time.

Earlier this month, Waitrose became the first UK supermarket to stock the little-known brands from the sub-continent as part of a showcase of unusual wines from across the world.

Wine experts have questioned their quality and suggested the popularity is down to novelty value. But some of those trying to buy the wines – a red and a white – have found their local stores were already out of stock.

The two wines at Waitrose are a red, Zampa syrah 2008 and white, Ritu viognier 2010, made from grapes grown in the Maharashtra region of India , south of Mumbai on the western coast.

Indian wines fly off British supermarket shelves - The Guardian

Kerry Damskey, Napa Valley winemaker and consultant to Sula Vineyards in India, has revealed that he is currently assessing the suitability of a particular site in Costa Rica for viticulture, confident that the altitude of 6,000ft will present good growing conditions.

Working with an Israeli flavour manufacturer based in Costa Rica, Kerry intends to use his land to plant Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Grenache, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon in December 2011.

Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Wines in Nashik and business partner of Kerry has been producing wine in West India for 10 years despite being warned it was an impossible task.

Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Wines in Nashik and business partner of Kerry has been producing wine in West India for 10 years despite being warned it was an impossible task. “People thought it was ridiculous to plant vines in Nashik and produce wine. But when you look at heat accumulation during the growing season, you find that Nashik is actually pretty cool when you would expect it to be hot, being in India.” “Costa Rica will present a challenge but you can always adapt to local conditions and the high altitude site shows great promise for grape growing”, he added.

Costa Rica: wine's new frontier? - The Drinks Business

The continuing love affair of Bordeaux with these two markets continues with a fifth of the exhibitors' stands taken by the wineries of this region, ranging from the basic wine producers to the First Growths with Thomas Julien, representing the Bordeaux Wine Council in Asia promising the wide range of wines available from the region.

Spain, Italy and the USA are all present in large numbers in an effort to grab a share of the growing market. The German Federal Ministry of Agriculture has once again organized and financed Germany's presence with wines from more than 60 German producers being offered. Asia has developed into an important export market for German wine in recent years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. John Tsang, the Finance Secretary observed that the number of Pacific-based exhibitors had seen a jump of 30 % since 2008 when the taxes had recently been waived off on imports. 'This move has proved to be a winner for our wine industry, even though we do not produce a single grape here,' he said. This move has also resulted in over 150 new companies being established since the exemption was announced.

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In 1948 he entered the primary class at Richmond College, Galle. Having decided to strengthen his Buddhist upbringing in the village, Chamal?s father admitted him to a Dhamma School in Galketiya, Galle. It helped him get a good grasp of Buddhism, Buddhist ethics and thereby improve his moral stature.

Chamal Rajapaksa?s father D A Rajapaksa was a one-time Agriculture, Lands Minister and also Deputy Speaker. Mother was Dandina Samarasinghe Dissanayake. Six of their nine children are sons - Chamal, Mahinda, Chandra, Gotabhaya, Basil and Dudley. The three daughters are Jayanthi Hettiarachchi, Preethi Chandradasa and Gandhini Ranawaka. The Rajapaksa family enjoys the highest position among Sri Lanka?s 18 political families the world has recognized. Chamal?s paternal uncle was D M Rajapaksa who represented Hambantota in the State Council in 1936. It is the villagers of Giruwapattuwa who gave moral strength to Rajapaksas then as now.

From a very young age he was fortunate to be in the company of political leaders. Among them were D S Senanayake, Dudley Senanayake, Sir John Kotalawala and S W R D Bandaranaike. He gave straight answers to their questions. Since the time he was a child he helped his father D A Rajapaksa in his election campaigns. Chamal used to place his hand on pieces of paper and draw around it with a piece of charcoal to get the image of the hand which was his father?s election symbol. Chamal saw how his father conducted the election campaign. The experience he gained thereby was a guideline for his political future.

Full Story: Social democrat, appointed Speaker - Ceylon Daily News