Wine goes well with food. It also goes well with Art as one found out yet again yesterday at the Water Court of the Hyatt Regency Hotel where Trivento wines from Argentina featured alongside the sushi and snacks, pots by several artisans and paintings by the budding painter, Pratyoosh Seal.
One discovers new wines everyday. But many of the guests discovered Water Court for the first time too. Most Hyatt regulars were foxed to locate the venue which is behind the Gym, right after the tennis courts. It has nothing to do with water unless you consider it an extension if water (of the swimming pool) and the court (being next to the tennis court). Tucked away in a corner of the hotel, it is like an open courtyard, surrounded by walls and beautiful tall trees. A perfect party spot, it looked even prettier with the colourful, hand made pottery by artistes from Khurja as well as some well known artists like Jatin Das and Satish Gujral.
Foundation for Arts, an NGO committed to the cause of destitute was the joint collaborator of the Indian Wine Academy along with the Hyatt Regency, known to support weaker sections without much cajoling. The sushi and snacks were delectable though the changing season under the open sky would have welcomed some hotter snacks, at least for a few people. Hyatt service as always was impeccable.
Trivento is a known winery in Mendoza , Argentina . The basic varietal range of Chardonnay and Malbec we served is an entry level wine, quite quaffable nonetheless, and affordable. Mr. Roger Lienhard the hands-on General Manager of Hyatt, who in a short span of 3 months seems to have made more friends than many in the last 30 years wore his executive chef hat when he pronounced after a few sips of the Chardonnay he held in his glass that this was a perfect match for the Wasabi being served with Sushi.
Malbec- Cabernet was a better balanced blended wine that would handle red meats and hard cheeses extremely well. It had good mouthfeel though a bit too astringent without the proper food props. It would go well with lamb, mutton kebabs and game.
Wine that really conquered was the Golden Reserve Malbec. Malbec is the signature grape of Argentina and has done its fair share of bringing Argentina on the world map and this wine with rounded tannins and a long aftertaste was pleasing on the palate with plenty of cherry bouquet and plum flavour. Oak barrel aging had given it a vanilla flavour. Not surprisingly, most people asked for more of this wine and stayed well beyond the closing time of 10 pm .
While one does not know how much of the artifacts were sold, one did see a heartening number of ‘sold' on the paintings and pots, wine was polished off though not before the closing time.
Global Tax Free Sales, importers of these wines from a respected winery owned by the Chilean biggie, Concha y Toro had kindly sponsored the wines for the evening.
Subhash Arora
November 17, 2005
