Wine From India

Two wines from Maharashtra, a red and a white, are being placed on the shelves of a mainstream British supermarket for the first time. “Waitrose is the first supermarket to stock wine from India,” said the announcement, adding the word “vindaloo” ? vin being French for wine ? at the top as a little joke.

The two wines are made from traditional grape varieties grown in the Maharashtra region, said the supermarket. “Having introduced Indian sparkling wine to the UK several decades ago, Waitrose has now launched the Ritu Viognier and Zampa Syrah, as demand for more exotic wines increases,” it added.

The acquisition by Waitrose, considered the most upmarket of the UK supermarkets with more than 250 stores, has been widely picked up by the food press.

The Ritu Viognier is said to be a crisp, aromatic white wine with floral and peach aromas. Ritu (which means “season” in Sanskrit, buyers are told) is crafted under the expert guidance of Abhay Kewadkar who has modelled his vineyard on a French chateau. The wine is well matched with classic spicy dishes “such as korma”.

Britain sips desi wine - Calcutta Telegraph

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The news that two Indian wines have arrived on the shelves at Waitrose has been causing quite a stir. But this is not actually the first time the supermarket has sold fermented grape juice from the subcontinent.

The news that two Indian wines have arrived on the shelves at Waitrose has been causing quite a stir. But this is not actually the first time the supermarket has sold fermented grape juice from the subcontinent. “About 15 years ago we stocked Omar Khayyam,” says buyer Matt Smith. No, he’s not talking about copies of the Rubaiyat but a sparkling wine made near Mumbai. It seems more of a statement of intent that today’s pair of Indian wines don’t have such obviously novelty names (though one shares an importer with Fat Bastard, from France).

In the past year I’ve travelled to Lebanon to do a tour of wineries, been invited to a symposium in Georgia, attended a tasting of more than 150 Croatian wines in London and tasted wine from Brazil, Turkey, Thailand, Japan and China.

Wine from India has arrived on our shelves - Telegraph.co.uk

It's a big break for India's fledgling wine industry but one that makes sense given that the wines' spicy aromas make for the ideal accompaniment to curries - England's "unofficial" national dish.

Other Indian wineries that have gained international attention include Sula wines, helmed by a Stanford-educated engineer who quit his job to become a winemaker. The company's 2010 Sauvignon Blanc was awarded a silver medal in this year's Decanter World Wine Awards.

Though all eyes are turned towards China as the next big wine market, India's burgeoning middle class and appetite for luxury goods could also prove to be an important player both as a producing nation and a consumptive one.

Though all eyes are turned towards China as the next big wine market, India's burgeoning middle class and appetite for luxury goods could also prove to be an important player both as a producing nation and a consumptive one. http://www.waitrosewine.com .

Waitrose becomes first UK supermarket to sell Indian wine - The Independent

Waitrose, which has already introduced sparkling wine from India in the UK years ago, is said to be the first multiple retailer in the country to stock Indian wines.

Ritu Viognier and Zampa Syrah are produced from traditional grape varieties grown in the Maharashtra region of Western India, the company said.

Waitrose wine buyer Matt Smith said over the past two years the supermarket has featured wines from Croatia, Montenegro, Lebanon, Kosovo, Slovenia, Georgia, Morocco and now India, which has contributed to growth of over 50% for the 'Rest of the World' wine section at its outlet over the last two years.

The Ritu Viognier is a white wine with floral and peach aromas and pairs well with spicy dishes. Zampa Syrah is a dark-fruited red wine with a hint of pepper and a spicy finish.

Waitrose debuts two new Indian wines in UK - Drinks Business Review

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Due to their spicy and floral aromas, the wines will be marketed as the perfect accompaniment to curry, said Matt Smith, Waitrose’s wine buyer.

He described the white Ritu Viognier as a “crisp, aromatic wine with floral and peach aromas”, while the red Zampa Syrah is a “rich dark-fruited wine with a hint of pepper and a spicy finish”.

Both wines are made from traditional grape varieties grown in the Maharashtra region of Western India. ‘Ritu’ means ‘season’ in Sanskrit. The white wine is produced by United Breweries, the vast Indian brewer that also makes Kingfisher lager.

Indian wine hits UK shelves - Telegraph.co.uk