Mumbai Wine Club to select fine wines by blind tasting

MUMBAI: The Mumbai Wine Club has announced a programme to select India's finest wines. A jury of nine experts will conduct a blind tasting to pick the best.
'Celebrating India's Finest Wines' is organised by the Mumbai Wine Club and curated by Ms Rojita Tiwari as an intiative to acknowledge the best in the industry. It has also appointed an independent jury of nine experts who through a blind tasting will select India's finest wines.
The winners will be picked from India's leading wineries, namely Grover Zampa Vineyards, Fratelli Wines, Sula Vineyards, Reveillo, York Winery, Myra Vineyards, Four Seasons Wines, Vallone Vineyards, Pernod Ricard - Nine Hills, Charosa Wines, Chandon India, Alpine Wineries, Big Banyan Wines and Krsma Estates.
"The Indian wine industry is young and yet to figure what grapes and winemaking styles do best in our near-tropical climate. The quality is evolving, and improving, every year," said Tiwari. "Unlike the straitjacket French style of classification, wines in India are not classified to distinguish quality or region. Most wine lovers in India just have an idea of the name of the estate or winery. We have never pointed out which brands are most consistent."
The club has appointed an independent jury of nine people with extensive experience. These are people who are keen to share knowledge of pairing wine with food, and to nurture a new generation of savvy wine consumers in India. Some have travelled widely to wine growing regions worldwide. They have an understanding of the Indian palate, and they can be helpful to wine producers who wish to establish themselves in the Indian market.
Tiwari said, "We have a handful of companies making great quality wines. We also have a number of wines which have won medals and awards internationally. It is time we prepare our own dream list which every company aspires to enter. The list will be updated every year."
The jury includes Subhash Arora, president of the Indian Wine Academy, advertising guru Prahlad Kakkar and wine expert Sonal Holland who is reportedly India's highest qualified wine professional. There is also Craig W Wedge, COO at FineWinesnMore, Vishal Kadakia, founder of Wine Park, writer Alok Chandra and importer Sanjay Menon who has travelled to most wine regions. Shatbhi Basu, a master at teaching bartending skills as well as Rojita Tiwari herself.