Subhash Arora, President of Indian Wine Academy was  conferred the prestigious ‘Order of the Star of the Italian Solidarity’ by the President of the Italian Republic at a ceremony held at the residence of the Italian Ambassador yesterday

Photos :: Adil Arora

At a solemn ceremony, Ambassador Roberto Toscano, gave away the certificate and the medal to eight persons including three Italians for meritorious service done to increase the friendship between the two countries.

Subhash Arora was conferred the Honour for his efforts in ‘promoting the wine culture in India as the President of Delhi Wine Club and the Indian Wine Academy and helping Italian wineries in doing business with India,’ said the Ambassador. He was also commended for ‘bringing out a special publication regarding the Italian wines being sold in India.’

Arora gets the official title of Cavaliere dell'Ordine della Stella della solidarietà italiana.

Cav. Subhash Arora’s passion for wine goes back to over 30 years when he was a teetotaler. He founded the Delhi Wine Club in 2002 to promote wine culture in India through events that include 5-course wine dinners generally with 5 wines. Although the club is impartial to the origin of wines, the Italian wines get more attention because of the ever increasing popularity of the Italian cuisine.

The club which was voted as the best wine club of India by the Wine Business International in Germany has organised 138 events for a membership that runs between 160 and 180. The club disseminates wine related information through the first wine webzine, started in 2002.

Cav.Arora also founded Indian Wine Academy in 2003, through which wine consultancy and educational services are performed. DelWine, a newsletter that goes out to over 13000 qualified viewers globally, 6 times a month and has published 291 editions is edited by him  The free India-centric eNewsletter keeps the subscribers informed about the wine industry in general with a special emphasis on the Indian wine industry. The independent and objective stand has helped the newsletter establish creditability and has a strong readership. 

He frequently visits different regions of Italy for various tastings. He has spoken at seminars, judged competitions and writes voraciously about Italian and other wines. He helps the Italian industry to understand the complicated Indian industry and felicitates the process of exports professionally. He also co-authored Italian Wine Guide in 2006 for ICE, the first Guide about Italian wines sold in India. It was appreciated in India and Italy alike.

Award

The Order of the Star of the Italian Solidarity, Stella della Solidarietà Italiana, is conferred annually on Italian and foreign nationals who have illustrated themselves through their activities and have thus contributed to strengthening the friendship ties between Italy and their respective countries.

It was originally instituted in 1947 to recognize the achievements of those Italians and foreigners who had played a distinguished role in the reconstruction of Italy after World War II.