At a wine dinner organised at Olive by the Delhi Wine Club on 6th June, the latest wine from the stable of Grover Vineyards was presented by their winemaker Abhay Kewadkar. A blend of Viognier, the North of Rhone, French grape and Clairette which they have been using already in their white Blanc de Blanc, this wine is expected to replace the current, slightly insipid white table wine they have been producing for years. Kapil Grover and A D Singh, owner of Olive were also present. Chetan Seth and his wife Manya were also special guests. Kapil and Abhay had flown to Delhi specially for this launch- cum- wine dinner. Other wines served at the dinner were Rose', Sauvignon Blanc and the La Reserve'97.

Viognier produces full bodied wines with tropical flavours. Although it has its original home in North of Rhone wher it is used as a blend even with red grapes at times, it is increasingly being used as an experimental grape in the New World including USA, Australia and Chile. It grows well under hot conditions. Clairette grapes, grown originally in the hot weather of Languedoc-Rousillon in South of France, where most of their VDP wines come from , are good for a basic table wine with no special character Grover Vineyards are using vines at the foot of Nandi Hills near Bangalore where all other grape varieties are being grown.

This latest edition is medium bodied, light golden colour with a greenish tinge with floral aromas and a touch of honey: very refreshing during hot summers. The flavour is full of tropical fruits like peaches and apricots. It is a very clean, dry wine, full of crisp acidity which makes it refreshing as an aperitif and goes will with light-to medium body foods. It was paired well with both ‘Grilled Mushrooms, Roasted Peppers and Arugula' for vegetarians and ‘Trout Persillade', Sautéed Trout On A Tartare Of Pickled Beetroot With Crème Fraiche, Caviar And Parsley by Chef Manu of Olive.

This white wine is an addition to the excellent Sauvignon Blanc which Grover had brought out last year and which would give Sula a run for money. The Viognier-Clairette is expected to be available in the market in another week. For more details visit http://www.groverwines.com

Subhash Arora