A couple of months ago when I saw the newly renovated swimming pool and the open air restaurant Aqua wrapped around it so beautifully and tastefully, we decided to have a wine club event at this venue. We have had a wildly successful Lunch at the adjoining restaurant ‘Mist' just a few months ago. But I felt the combo of both the restaurants with some not-yet-tasted Italian fine wines would be the perfect match.

Aqua was not a very happening place then, since its charm had not been exposed to the clients. When we learnt that our glam member couple, Guglielmo and Irena Galli ( going back to Rome after he completed his stint as the Italian Trade Commissioner) would be leaving on 30th September, the decision was made. A farewell dinner with ( naturally) Italian cuisine and wines at this venue would be the perfect last hurrah for this Page3 couple. They have been ardent supporters of the Delhi Wine Club and are regulars at most events, even when they knew that media might not be present.

We also wanted to organise some special Italian wines which have not been tasted in Delhi. This decision gave us a lot of pain but also pleasure. Sovereign Impex had just imported some fine wines from Rocche Costamagna , La Morra, Piemonte and agreed to give us a special rate for this special occasion, heavy taxes notwithstanding. The catch was that they were still in transit and would be available around 14th September. There were inordinate delays. The lead time could have been cut short after the wines landed. But the governmental procedures, rigid as they are, did not leave much room for maneuverability. Needless to say, we spent two tense weeks. But we were fortunate to have all the formalities expedited by the staff of both the Park and Sovereign Impex. They were delivered at 12:00 pm at the hotel and we were saved from a major embarrassment.

I am also glad I booked the venue 6 weeks in advance. Aqua has since become the most sought-after venue. There was later a request for another booking on 29th September, the day of our dinner. Fortunately, Delhi parties start only after 9:30 pm. With a bit of jugglery we managed to have the aperitifs outside so we could enjoy the ambience and move into the Mist restaurant before the start of the second shift of clients.

The pairing of food and wine as you can see from the Menu was near perfect. Aqua was the perfect place for the Prosecco with snacks. The chicken wings were absolutely delicious though difficult to pick in public. Outside of Buffalo, New York they are most delicious anywhere. Soup was a good match for the simple and crisp Pinot Grigio 2002 from Moletto. I have not seen anyone not liking this wine so far as an aperitif or with fish or even grilled chicken etc. Drinking well now, it should not be stored longer though as it will lose its flavour and freshness.

Rocche Costamagna is a respected producer of Piedmont known for value-for-money wines. The Arneis DOC 2002 is a dry white wine from the Langhe hills. It is crisp and has a distinct flowery aromas. It was clear, crisp and fresh though with a short end. This is the right time to drink it now.
Nebbiolo di Langhe DOC 2003 was a beautiful dark wine, still slightly tannic but with distinct flavour of black cherries. It went well with the bacon and onion pizza, though it would have been better matched with the brasato chicken. It still needs to open up a bit. It should age better during the next couple of years.

Barolo dell'Annunziata DOCG 2000 was clearly the best wine. This vintage for Barolo was rated a rare 100 points by Wine Spectator . The tannins were ripe yet the fruit was not as concentrated and extracted as one would have expected from the much hyped vintage. It had an excellent mouth-feel and a complex after taste. Still in the aging process, it can be stored for another 5 years. It was perfectly matched with the chicken brasato in the Nebbiolo wine sauce though it would prefer red meats like most Barolos do.

Service by the waiting staff was warm, personalized and efficient. The coffee shop cannot be changed to a casual fine dining place but it does make it a comfortable place in the hotel where one can enjoy fine Italian cuisine anytime of the day, or night. Click here for the menu for the evening.

We are also starting to rate wines and the food-wine pairing from this Event. Watch out for the supplement on this page.

Subhash Arora