Sommelier Nikhil Agarwal and legendary cricketer Glen McGrath, Brand Ambassador of Hardys Wines Australia at the Hardys Art of Cricket evening hosted by cricket historian Boria Majumdar.
The Glen McGrath range of wines will be available soon in India.
An invitation from the German Wine Institute inviting approximately 40 Sommeliers from around the world offered me a chance to experience wines of Germany first-hand.
On landing at Frankfurt we were whisked off to Weisbaden about 30 to 45 minutes away by road. This is a small town in the centre of Germany’s wine producing region of Rheinghau.
There is a great vibe in Wiesbaden, and Spital the bar we visited post the wine dinner at WeingutKoegler was fantastic. Weingut Koegler is a charming winery with a lovely restaurant surrounded by ancient homes. I highly recommend a tasting of some of their fabulous wines, including a beautiful Pinot Noir that has spent some time in oak.
The next day we visited the Geisenheim University or the German Wine Institute. This is where it got serious with a talk on German wines and a powerful session on German Pinot Noir. Unfortunately for Germany the international world mostly associates their wine with Riesling. While they are certainly masters at that grape variety, there is so much more to discover.
Get yourself up to the top of the Niederwald Park with the Niederwald monument and enjoy a majestic view of the river Rhine along with Rheinghau and Rhiehessen other bordering wine regions. Take the trail back down to the town where wineries and residential homes sit side by side and walk into a couple of tasting rooms to quench your thirst.
If you ever get a chance to visit the Ball de Weines in Weisbaden, don’t miss it regardless of the hefty ticket price. It’s one hell of a party that showcases top German producers who are part of the VDP association with a free flow of almost anything you like -. I spent my time drinking spirit made from Riesling and smoking some really fine Davidoff cigars in between bites of a very indulgent Black Truffle Risotto.
The next morning we headed to a wine fair showcasing over a 1000 VDP wines produced in Germany and then on to a town called Mainz in Franken about 2 hours away. This is a small university town, with a bridge where people converge to drink wine in the evening, very reminiscent of the Charles Bridge in Prague.
Please visit Juliusspital, a winery in the heart of Mainz, walking distance from the bridge. I was mesmerized by this place. For one, the revenue from the sale of their wines is used to sustain the hospital they run in the same complex. This is a state of the art winery with a jaw-dropping cellar that makes me want to go back to Mainz just to visit this place again. We stayed on the outskirts of Mainz in a hotel called Meintzinger, very close to the vineyards. I have always loved the German countryside and staying in a place like this was truly a pleasure. Very large luxurious rooms in a building that just spells Europe and everything I love about it.
The vineyards slopes in Germany are the steepest in the world and when seen up close you wonder how they manage to tend to their wines without breaking their backs. As one wine producer told us, there is a lot of pain in our way of wine making but when the wine is in the glass and we taste it the pain is all worthwhile.
There are many wineries in the region to visit, I was particularly moved by Weingut Horst Sauer for two reasons. Mr. Sauer doesn’t speak English but has the power to convey such intensity through his eyes. His wines are an extension of him and it is all pure passion.
The end of the journey was a tasting at Weingut Stein, I highly recommend this winery for their wines, the view of Mainz around you and especially because of their Michelin starred restaurant Ludwig Knoll that has some very fine wines from Germany and the rest of the world. The food was impeccable and the service exactly what you would expect. Rheinghau and the regions I visited are breathtakingly beautiful and Germany like always left me very satiated.
We’re proud to announce that Nikhil Agarwal was invited to SIAL China in Shanghai this May to represent the Indian wine industry at Asia’s largest food and drink show in the company of international wine buyers, wine producers and international media.
Nikhil conducted a seminar on the growth of the Indian wine market, insigths into the Indian consumer, the Indian wine industry as a whole as well as the scope for international wine in India. The audience of international wine buyers were guided through a tasting of a selection of Indian wine Nikhil. They sampled wine from Charosa Vineyards, Grover Zampa, Vallonne Vineyards and Myra Vineyards.
We recently hosted the 3rd edition of ‘Celebrating India’s Finest’, an evening recognizing winners of the ‘Indian Wine Consumer Choice Awards’, 2015 at Le Pain Quotidien, Colaba on June 13, 2015.
This celebratory evening was in honour of the winners of the 3rd edition of the Indian Wine Consumer’s Choice Awards held at the Sofitel BKC earlier this year. A pool of over 100 wine enthusiasts came together to evaluate premium Indian wines and create a list of their favourites through an unbiased blind tasting technique.
Winning wineries of IWCCA 2015 showcased their portfolio of wine to an audience full of wine enthusiasts at Celebrating India’s Finest this year. Over a 175 guests enjoyed a free flow of India’s best wines in the company of other wine enthusiasts.
A large spread of gourmet cheese and charcuterie by Fortune Gourmet and a selection of delectable appetizers by Le Pain Quotidien, Colaba made the evening even more indulgent. Guests were also seen buying and discussing Rocky Patel cigars brought into India by Cigar Connexion. The night was a combination of fantastic wine, great food and fabulous company.
Titan conducted an auction of an immaculate piece of their Nebula watch brand which raised Rs 81,000 via a silent auction. The entire proceeds from the auction went to Atma, our Charity Partner for the event.
All our guests were treated to complimentary service vouchers from Jean Claude Biguine, Gourmet Jam Jars and vouchers from All Things Nice.
Wining Wineries That Participated
I along with thousands of others seem to be immediately hooked. I’d probably go as far as saying we are addicted to Doolally. Who can blame u? It’s located in a nice quite street in Bandra, it’s very casual, always has a buzz, the beer is truly unbelievable, the grub is good and the price offers incredible value for money. Rs 250 for 330ml glass of world class beer just feels so right.
Since it opened I find myself dreaming about their beers and land up visiting on average of at least thrice a week. Sometimes it’s just for 2 quick pints. Sometimes it’s just because I’ve got off the sea link on my way home in the evening . I’ve even got one of the member mugs with my name on it.
The beer is undoubtedly the star of the show, with a variety of offerings and each of them with their own unique flavors, they keep you coming back for more. My favourite would have to be the Stout, though their Hefeweizen, Belgium wit beer, Belgium Farmhouse ale and their Weizenbock are excellent. There are more and I like them all frankly. Haven’t tried their cider and don’t intend to but it does seem popular as well. To get the uninitiated up to speed they are happy to pour tasting portions so that people can sample and then place an order.
They and the other brewpubs like The White Owl along with Gateway Brewing have upped the quality levels of beer available in Mumbai so dramatically that I think Kingifsher and the like will have to change their game if they want to retain quality oriented consumers.
The food though not the centre of attraction is actually very good and also different which makes it interesting. Scotch eggs, Kerala prawns, ghee chicken roast, the batter fried bombay duck all really good and all perfect to go with their beers.
No one can deny that there is a drink revolution going on in India, Doolally gives us an opportunity to drink world class delicious beer and not the crap that we’ve been subjected to all this while at prices that are affordable. Well at least since before Gateway came along.
At Doolally suddenly conversations about different kinds of beer and understanding their origins can be heard from every table and that’s something right ? Even though we’ve been drinking beer all this while we never really bothered to know the differences until now.
But Doolally has created another revolution, one that I have been watching closely. The revolution I’m talking about is the social revolution when it comes to drinking that Doolally seems to have set a tone for. I find that people are comfortable getting their kids ( very young kids as well) and even their pets to Doolally. Doolally has somehow created a vibe that is very welcoming, almost like a German beer garden. It’s this sort of vibe, openness to drinking a glass of beer that India needs. Going out for food and a couple of pints of beer if handled responsibly could also be a family affair.
Nowhere else do I see this phenomenon. It’s changing things, you see some people wondering ( My wife and I go with our twins every sunday) what we’re doing but then I also see them changing their stance when they see us having a good time. The kids freak out on the fries and we sip on a beer or two and spend our time together. Really nothing wrong with that.
By Nikhil Agarwal, Sommelier and Director at All Things Nice
I’ve had the pleasure of dining in the Sahib Room at the Palladium Hotel twice, the first time was when it launched and then again at the Ruffino dinner hosted by Sula last week.
Both times have been incredible and I think it is Chef Angad’s brilliance and Palladium’s hospitality that make it so special. Chef Angad specializes in North West Frontier cuisine with an expertise in Awadhi, Hyderabadi, and Kashmiri cuisines. He actually didn’t say much when I thanked him, but his colleagues who I spoke with the next day said they weren’t surprised, as he’d rather have his food do the talking. Well Amen to that!
Way back in my days with Sula, I had the opportunity of placing the first order for Ruffino to India, so I wasn’t going to miss this dinner for anything. In my excitement, my guest and I were the first people to arrive. The dinner was hosted to welcome Joe Milner – Regional Director Asia and Jake Jacob, VP Asia of Constellation Brands. Ruffino is part of the Constellation Group – the world’s largest wine company.
The evening started off with Ruffino’s Orvietto Classico served as an aperitif. This easy drinking wine with lovely fresh, fruity and floral notes was served at the Sahib Rooms bar area. After a few glasses we were ushered into the restaurant’s plush dining space.
What followed was Chef Angad’s magic, a slew of dishes that included avocado and bamboo shoot tikkis, smoked spring lamb, grilled tiger prawns all of which paired really well with Ruffino’s Chianti – a blend of Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. I had not tasted this wine in about 13 years and was pleasantly surprised by how well the wine worked with the food.
For the main course we had an indulgent black dal that I devoured along with the Kashmiri hand pulled lamb and biryani. This was served with a more serious wine, Ruffino’s Riserva Ducale, a Chianti Classico Riserva. By then I was completely satiated but pure greed made me ask for another glass. I really do like this wine and the label is just stunning. Dessert was delicious with the now fabled Kolkatta paan ice cream. You’ve got to try it. If you had to switch off the lights and have that served to you without disclosure you probably wouldn’t be able to tell that it wasn’t actually paan.
The wines and the company at my table were great and the Sahib Room managed to put me into a Sahib like food coma once again. With a number of great restaurants attempting to modernize Indian food springing up across the country, I am actually very glad that the Sahib Room has chosen to stick to tradition and I think that we can all raise a glass or two of Ruffino’s Riserva Ducale to that.
By Sommelier Nikhil Agarwal, Director at All Things Nice
All Things Nice and Chandon India hosted a super cool summer party for our guests and members at Please Don’t Tell last Saturday. We opened a few bottles of the new Chandon Summer collection and must say that we absolutely love the chic new packaging.
A selection of three refreshing Chandon based cocktails were served with delicious canapes. All in all, it was a fun social evening with people who really know how to enjoy themselves.
Montes have been a great ambassador for Chile, and a benchmark for many new Chilean wineries. This month we get into conversation with Dennis Murray of this iconic Chilean brand.
Your wines have been selling in India for some time now. Tell us how the Indian wine market has changed from your perspective?
With Indians having travelled and studied abroad they now embrace wine even more as they have seen its importance to their colleagues in other countries. I think Indians are much more knowledgeable about wine now since companies like All Things Nice and the Indian Wine Academy have helped to introduce, teach and sophisticate wine in India.
Is there a variety that has specifically done better in India over the others?
Cabernet Sauvignon has always been a favorite, followed by Merlot, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
Where do you see India in the Chilean wine story in the future?
People are surprised by how important China is today to wine producers worldwide, the next country to surprise everyone will definitely be India. In Chile we see great potential, as more people are introduced to wine and have started pairing wine with food on a regular basis.
The spiciness and black pepper hints of the Carmenere red grape variety almost unique to Chile are a perfect match for Indian cuisine. We see opportunity in complementing local cuisines with Chilean wine.
Indians are travelling all over the world to discover wine regions, what can one look forward to on their visit to Chile?
In Colchagua, where we are based, you can find more that 30 wineries. There are many hotels and restaurants nearby so people can enjoy the beautiful scenery, the vineyards and wines at leisure.
Tell us more about Taita, your flagship wine?
Montes Taita was a long sought dream come true. It is a big challenge to produce a Grand Cru Chilean wine to top our family of icon: M, Folly and Purple Angel. Taita grapes are dry farmed in a small vineyard in Marchigue. The wine is kept in new French oak barrels for two years and then four years in bottle before release. The first vintage (2007) was released last year to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the winery. Only 3,000 bottles are made every 2 or 3 years.
People often talk about tradition sometimes being the opposite of innovation. What are the three “legacies” of the tradition that you would like to last for many decades to come?
I believe that wine production has to be a family business and not run by big companies. Wine needs to be made by people who love what they do. Since they make it for decades or generations they will take better care of the wines produced. Sustainable wine-growing is of great importance as we need to continue producing quality products using the less energy and water possible. Taking care of your land is not new, so I believe should be in the top list of priorities for decades to come.
