Karnataka

Quinta de Azevedo Vinho Verde, 2009 Portugal
(pron.:kinta day a-za-vay-do  veen-yo vérd)

Vinho Verde, the classic ‘green wine’ of the Portuguese north, is known for its leanness, vigour and freshness. (The ‘Verde’ in the name describes the youth of the wine, rather than colour.) Grown on the Atlantic Coast, north of the Douro river, where the port-wine barges ply their trade to the eponymous city of Porto, Vino Verde is one of Europe’s great historic whites, and has a history of export to India spanning at least 300 years.

Although made from a typical blend of indigenous local grapes (Loureiro and Pederña) the Quinta de Azavedo is more than an ordinary Vinho Verde, being the region’s flagship wine, and pride of ancient wine company Sogrape, Portugal’s premier producer of fine, dry wines.

Aromas of fresh lemon, apricot, stone fruits and white flowers, are followed by a refreshingly citrus dominated palate, with a gentle mineral tang, backed up by fresh acidity and a lovely hint of spritz.

This is a wine that is dedicated to slightly spicy Iberian food, and it is difficult to stress what a pleasure it is with fish, or paneer in a spicy, rich sauce. In fact, this is an extremely versatile food wine. The citrus acidity opens the palate and makes the mouth water, your taste-buds tingle with sensitivity, making any light-in-texture food taste enhanced!

Try it with a mild to medium spiced Goan fish curry for classic results.

Vina Real Rioja Blanco, 2008 Spain
(pron.: Veen-ya rey-al ree-yo-ha blanco)

Spain is the third largest wine producing nation, yet, bafflingly, it is one of the least well-represented in India – especially with regard to white wines. In fact Spain produces some of the most wonderful and stylistically unique whites around – and especially from the sophisticated Rioja region.

The grape variety for most white Rioja, and, indeed, many whites from other Spanish regions is Viura. A grape not often seen outside of Spain until recently, Viura can be fantastically complex, showing great richness, tropical flavours, but also phenomenal clarity and freshness.

Producing some of the finest white wines of the region, the Viña Real winery is at the cutting edge of new Spain, being both a design icon and the cradle of some of the most advanced techniques of modern wine-making.

The Viña Real Rioja Blanco shows fresh flowers and hints of tropical pineapple on the nose, giving way to minerals and chalk. The fermentation in barrel lends a creamy texture, undercut by a wonderful bracing citrus freshness, and a touch of fresh grass.

Excellent on its own, or with most types of lightly prepared fish and salad, it can also stretch to accompany light chicken dishes.

Grover Clairette Viognier
(pron.: grow-ver clair-ett vee-on-yay)

The Nandi Valley is the cradle of the Indian wine industry. The dry climate and cool winters make it an ideal site for the production of warm climate grape varieties – especially those from the climatically similar Rhone Valley such as Viognier and Clairette Blanc. (Shiraz/Syrah also comes from the Rhone) Grover, the pioneer of Rhone varietals in India, and indeed of Indian wine-making as a whole have produced a typical styled, richly textured Rhone white with a floral nose, and broad mouth flavours of peach and apricot. All supported by a surpisingly zesty acidity.

Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon, 2008 Chile
(pro.:an-na-kay-na  cab-er-nay  sow-vin-yon)

Bordered in the East by the high Andes and the Pacific coastline in the west, Chile’s Rapel Valley boasts some of the world’s most innovative wine-making. Although a very young entrant onto the international wine market, Chile has outstripped many more established competitors due to the high quality and fruit forward nature of its clean, inexpensive, extremely reliable reds and whites.

It is still very early days for Chile in winemaking terms – although a wine-making territory since the mid-16th Century, the export industry really only took off 15 years ago or so - and many reds coming out of Chile bear an unmistakable green, herbal flavour, underlying the always clean and focussed fruits.

This typical Chilean give-away, mainly due to the young age of many of the vines, is mostly lacking in the Anakena Cabernet Sauvignon, and very much to the benefit of the wine.

Concentrated clean black fruits greet the nose, with hints of soil and mineral, reminding one that terroir (soil/technique) is becoming increasingly important in defining individual flavours for good Chilean wine. Blackberries and perhaps blueberries mid-palate, are held up by spices and pepper, lingering into an exceptional fruit and spice-fuelled finish.

Excellent on its own, but very much a treat with grilled meats, and steak.

La Reserve de Chartreuse de Bonpas, 2008 France
(pro.:la ray-serve  de  shar-truz de bon-pass)

Named for the very pretty, recently restored 12th Century fortress monastery around which many of its vineyards are sited, the Reserve de Chartreuse de Bonpas actually sits right on the edge of the Chateauneuf-du-Pape appellation. The vines are not only sited in vineyards even more ancient than those of Chateauneuf, but receive all the benefits of that area’s unique stony soil, while commanding a much more reasonable price. This is Chateauneuf quality at Cotes-du-Rhone rates.

The surrounding vineyards themselves are even older than the monastic complex, and produce a concentrated red with very terroir specific hints of Provencale herbs, along with the typically juicy red fruits.

The wine from these monastery vineyards has been blended with Grenache and Syrah(Shiraz) from the nearby communes of Gigondas and Vaqceuyras – producers of highly sought after wine in their own right – to make a blend of structure, velvetiness and unusual fragrance.

This is a marvellous blend of plums, rich red fruits, and hints of pepper, spice, tobacco, leather and Provencale rosemary, packing an intense amount of flavour into its elegantly bottled package. Great drinking on its own, or right at home with roast lamb or tandoori chicken.

The Wine Society of India Steven Spurrier Selection Rioja, 2007, Spain
(again, pro.: ree-yo-ha)

The Rioja region produces the most age-worthy, refined, and, quite simply, classic dry wines of the Iberian Peninsula – effectively being to Spain what Bordeaux is to France. Covering a massive high plateau above the Ebro river, Rioja is typically Spanish in its tough, rocky soil, low rainfall and intense temperature fluctuations, between deep, hot Summers, and icy cold winters. This hard land is ideal for the sensual, rich Tempranillo grape; Spain’s viticultural gift to the World.

Tempranillo is a tough bird, and is one of possibly two red grape varieties (the other being Italian Nebbiolo) able to challenge Cabernet Sauvignon for the title of the greatest ageing red. Tempranillos from the Rioja region are generally oak-aged producing extraordinary flavours, both fruit and savoury.

As such, it was the logical choice for our next private label wine.

Our own WSI Steven Spurrier Selection Rioja has been crafted with great care for us by CVNE, one of the oldest of the great Rioja houses. Intense red cherry and blackberry on the nose, with clear, concentrated vanilla - as is typical for the region this has spent roughly a year aging in oak barrique, lending further intensity and concentration. Watch out for intense underlying savouries, such as leather and tar, and a long, finish, opening back into ripe red fruits.

For best results decant for 1 or 2 hours. Fantastic on its own (again, better decanted) and great with all sorts of meats and cheeses.