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Magandeep Singh's Blog
Magandeep Singh is India's first French-certified sommelier, and helps hotels and restaurants to improve their wine lists and train their staff. Magan is also a wine writer and educator, and a well known face on television, as host of "Around the World in 85 Plates" on NDTV Good Times. His forthright approach to wine writing means you may not always agree with what he says, but you won't ignore it.

What is in store for 2009

Posted on Jan 23, 2009 by Magandeep Singh

Blog: Magandeep Singh

I like crystal ball gazing. It is right up there next to voodoo dolls on my list of Xmas gifts. Don’t snigger; I can cast spells too...

2009 has been a jinxed year so far. Not because of itself but mostly because of all that preceded it. All that commotion and action in the hotels have shown us how much of a dog-eat-dog world we live in. And then the terrorist attacks worsened things. Markets were already low, and now Satyam has just made the equivalent of a substantial chunk of our defence budget disappear.

What Wine Needs

Posted on Jan 05, 2009 by Magandeep Singh

Wine is a simple beverage. It rarely demands much of us. The unconditional love of wine is not one that can be matched by even a cat or a dog; wine requires way less cleaning up after. But that is why we often end up taking wine for granted.

This is when wine seems like a chore, or worse yet, like a wife of ten years. Complacency is the worst way to punish a wine habit which is why I am listing a

Posted in: Wine | Comment (2) >>

Sommelier on Sommelier

Posted on Dec 28, 2008 by Magandeep Singh

Magandeep Singh

People love competitions. In fact, most members of the animal kingdom thrive on battles of various kinds. While ‘sommelerie’ may seem the most sedate of things to be converted into a competition, the ensuing battle is a match of wits for the gentlemen of the sport. The cricket of gastronomy, if you may.

Posted in: Wine Awareness, Wine | Comment (0) >>

The Sommelier

Posted on Oct 24, 2008 by Magandeep Singh

So we have heard the term often. Perhaps we have even met one but were too occupied to notice, or remember. But few of us know what they really do. I am talking about the sommeliers. Is it a different species? Are they from Krypton? Is it a cult? Do they have super powers? Is it true they can tell a wine from 30 feet with their hands tied behind their backs?

To answer all that together:

Posted in: Wine | Comment (3) >>

Wine Expense

Posted on Oct 23, 2008 by Magandeep Singh

Let's face it, wine is an expense. In many ways it's like spending on your better half but at least there you have assured returns, perhaps, even a credit facility. Also, no matter how high the margins when spending on women, we somehow seem to find our own justification.

But where is the justification in wine margins? I am yet to successfully pick up a lady by tempting her with Latour '62 and I

Posted in: Wine Awareness, Wine | Comment (0) >>

Diwali Drinking

Posted on Sep 25, 2008 by Magandeep Singh

‘Tis the season to be jolly, well, if you happen to be in India that is. For the western world, Christmas is still some time away. But this is perhaps the best time to be in India, for a mix of reasons, each as convincing as the next. The social life cycle of an average Indian takes a more or less predictable path all through the season from hereon and this is what most of us will experience.

Posted in: Wines, Wine | Comment (1) >>

First Post By Magandeep Singh

Posted on Aug 13, 2008 by Magandeep Singh

Hola readers,

This happens to be my first entry on my WSI blog. Somehow they have consented to giving me much independence and allowed me to express openly and, as you many of you may expect from me, bluntly.

Consider this, dear reader, my solemn promise to always and forever think, write, say, and do the same thing - to have coherence and inner-agreement of thought and action. If ever you find or feel me faltering, let me know. I owe it as much to you as to the team at WSI.

Posted in: Wine Tasting, Indian Wine | Comment (1) >>

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