Maharashtra

Soave Classico, Campagnola, Italy, 2008

The sea of rolling vineyards dotted with heftily walled villages, castles and fortified monasteries, that flows east of Verona, makes for a heady reminder of the violent regional feuding from which Shakespeare drew his inspiration for his Veronese tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The region’s major commodity then was wine, as it still is today; although happily minus the feuding.

This is Soave country. Made mostly from the fresh and floral Garganega grape, Soave, and especially Soave Classico, is considered northern Italy’s greatest white wine.

4th generation wine-maker Luigi Campagnola has produced a charming and typical Soave Classico, full of honey-suckle, floral flavours, hints of almond, citrus, orchard apples and crisp balance that will pair with most light fish dishes, dry white meats and fresh salads. This Soave is an absolute winner, and scored very highly with our tasting panel.

Mandra Rossa Fiano, Italy, 2008

Another gem from the island of Sicily, although this time from a mainland Italian variety; the lovely, rich Fiano grape originally stems from the Campania region of Southern Italy, to the Southeast of Naples. The famous Planeta winemaking family, owners of Mandra Rossa, must be justifiably proud of their winemaker, Carlo Carino, for this particular wine - last year’s winner of a prestigious Decanter World Wine International Award, named top global white wine in its price category.

Beautifully adapted to the Sicilian climate to produce a typically fresh and vibrant white wine, the Mandra Rossa is everything a Fiano should be, but with a little Sicilian twist: it has a lovely and unusual dryness, derived from having spent time on its skins.

The combination of fresh acidity, apricot and citrus flavours mixed with lavender and herbs, and the seductive beeswax finish is why so many food critics love Fiano.

The Mandra Rossa Fiano is a perfect example of this: a joy to drink on its own, but will also pair very well with big creamy dishes and foods with high fat contents, like fatty meats, creamy, not-too-spicy curries, and tandoors.

Sula Reserve Viognier, India, 2009

In the red hills of Dindori, high on the Deccan plain above Nasik, a quiet revolution is taking place.

The winemakers at Sula have crafted what is possibly India’s finest wine to date. In this area of dry, varied climate and rough red soil, they have found the perfect growing location for the exquisite and notoriously difficult Viognier grape.

This is the kind of quality with which India will challenge the international market – all the subtlety  of Viognier’s Rhone Valley home, crafted with care and oak-aged, combined with those red, mineral rich soils, to make something truly unique.

The evolving nose changes from floral hints, sliced through with exotic apricot and lychee,through waxy, honeyed fruits with tangy minerals. The palate then provides all the flavour,depth and acidity promised by the nose. This is nothing less than brave and talented wine-making that is a fine pair for many Indian, Thai and Chinese dishes. Sula; bravo!

Nero d’Avola Private Label, Italy, 2008

Nero d’Avola – the ‘black’ wine of the southern Sicilian village of Avola – is without doubt Europe’s up-and-coming red grape variety.

For Centuries a secret, guarded closely by local village winegrowers, it is only recently that Nero d’Avola has been recognized by the world at large. A grape of massive texture and complexity, it is often compared in power, quality and style to fine new world Shiraz – always at a fraction of the cost.

For our second own label wine we decided to go off the beaten track, to bring to India this undiscovered gem; a treat of a wine for an excellent price. This is a dark and sensual drink, with bold plum and luscious, concentrated cherry fruits, musky minerals, and hints of fresh Mediterranean thyme.

Wonderful on its own, or paired with heavy dishes including red meats, medium spiced curries, full flavoured tandoor, and good strong cheeses.

Chianti Colli Fiorentini, Lanciola, Italy, 2008

Like Bordeaux, Italy’s Chianti wine growing region requires little introduction. If the world of art, food and wine has a navel around which it pivots, then that navel is Tuscany, with the Chianti regions at its heart.

A short drive south of the magnificent city of Florence lies the Chianti sub-region of the Colli Fiorentini; ‘the Florentine Hills’.

Known for its pleasingly fruity, rose-hip fragrant and mineral rich red wines made from Sangiovese, Italy’s star grape, this is a food wine like no other, crafted to complement a massive array of foods and cooking styles, from the fresh vegetables and pastas of Italy, to the lightly curried paneer and white meat based dishes of India. Needless to say, it is also a pleasure on its own.

De Martino Estate Merlot, Chile, 2006

One of the key estates leading the charge of Chilean wine, the De Martino family, now in its fourth generation of wine making, has consistently pushed the boundaries of new world wine with its dynamic approach to the science of viticulture and simple good taste.

One of the first producers of organic wine in Latin America, and the first winery in the world to receive UN approval to trade Carbon Credits, De Martino was recently named one of the icon wineries of tomorrow by Decanter magazine.

This sensually expressive Merlot is packed full of raspberries and cherries supported by a mildly tannic backbone, and topped off with a dusting of toasty oak flavours.

Excellent on its own, or with paneer, white meat dishes with very mildly spiced - and not-too-oily sauces.