Dining with fine wine!

Bharat Tandon (TOI Photo) More picsWith the ambience set for the perfect evening to socialise, crowds sat through Al witticism.
It was a Sunday and a holiday, but despite the Monday morning blues being just a few hours away, the prospect of tasting some Washington wines in the company of the winemaker, Al Portney, brought people in large numbers to the latest wine club do.
The evening started early, and almost everyone was there on time. They sat quietly through Al’s witticism-filled walk, without a drop of wine. Luckily soon after, the tasting started.
So did the chatter, the catching up and socialising. The elegant damask tablecloths, candlelight and crystal made a perfect setting. The merlots, the cab sauvs and the chardonnays were pronounced just splendid, as was the dinner that followed grills, salads and some great chicken and fish.
Then, as Shyam and his group started playing their special retro numbers, couples headed off to dance Viju and Anita Parmeshwar were spotted swinging to the beat. Others chose to stick to their wines Abhay Kewadkar, Nirad Muthanna with wife Deepa, Kavita and Ajay Vij, Bharat and Ashwini Tandon, Aslam Gafoor, Fiona Caulfield, who was earlier spotted sitting at the head table, Raj and Deepak Dutt, Ramma Basappa, Chippy Ganjgee (in good form, as ever), Yashoda Devi, spotted chatting with Al and Sanjay Menon about wine, no doubt!
Alok and Mridul Chandra, Shashie and Natty Natarajan, Shreen and Ravi Malani and Sudha and Suresh Hiremath. Manjusha came in late and left early, as husband Vikram was down with the flu but looked elegant in a red saree.
A perfect evening, someone was heard commenting. And many others there seemed to agree!