This last event of the Delhi Wine Club was a very special affair. Not only because it was the record fourth event in a month, not only because we were celebrating the first ever participation by the Indian wine producers at an international wine show, Wine for Asia 2005, Singapore, under the tri-colour banner with the efforts of Indian Wine Academy, but also because we had a very special guest of honour.

Adam Strum, owner and publisher of Wine Enthusiast, the second highest wine magazine in the world was the guest of honour. His daughters Erica, Jacky, and wife Sybil, the co-founder of the biggest wine media company in the world are on a private visit to India and were in Delhi for a couple of days for the first leg of their visit.

Adam had never tasted Indian wines before this trip, so was very keen to drink only Indian wines. In keeping with the spirit of the occasion, we selected all the six wines that won the honours- Ivy Brut sparkler and Chenin Moscato from Champagne Indage; Blush Zinfandel, Cab-Shiraz, Dindori and Late Harvest Chenin from Sula. Olive had been the biggest group in the delegation to the Show in Singapore . So we chose it appropriately as the venue .

Adam presented and talked about his impression about the wines. Ivy Brut was very fresh, crisp and with lost of tiny bubbles. It was perfect with the aperitifs and would be a great match with spicy Indian foods due to high acidity levels and slightly off-dry flavour. Sula Blush had just the right touch of skins with the juice giving the wine a nice colour and keeping the wine fruity and light, a perfect aperitif wine.

Chenin Moscato served with salad was again very crisp and clean and reminded him of the Chenin from Loire Valley . The two cab-Shiraz and Dindori Shiraz were the two red wines around which the Indian success stories would be written, he opined. Shiraz added spice to the wine that would go with everything on the table because of the spiciness in the food. Both these wines were young but drinkable but would get better in the next 10 years, especially the Dindori Shiraz due to its aging in the oak barrels.

Another special guest, who is also a member but an infrequent participant due to various commitments Mr. Jorge Heine, Ambassador of Chile and Chilean wines was also present arguing and discussing wines with Adam. While talking about how the Chilean wine consumption was booming in India and the problems one has to face exporting these wines, he explained our concept of' Top Chile'. The event will be a unique event culminating at his house on February 13 th where the Top Chilean wine selling in India will be announced, following a rigorous and professional blind tasting by a panel of judges.

All the guests and most members proclaimed it to be one of the best organised wine dinners. The credit goes to Chef Saby and the service team under the leadership of the Restaurant manager, Anirban Sarkar . Saby had not only taken the food quality a couple of notches higher, he made his dishes more artistic and exciting. He has also developed a 16-course ‘Degustation Menu' which has to be served and relished in a slow-food type of environment. Although this had been our preferred choice, it was not feasible for the 30 persons we had planned the event for. So we have to wait for another day, actually a couple of days-perhaps back-to back, with a group of manageable 12-14 members in each group.

Till then we shall wait to have another outstanding event!.

Happy New Year to all our visitors to the website

Subhash Arora

President

December 26, 2005