2010 Gala Wine Tasting and Celebration Dinner

Last Friday night - the 12th of November 2010 - the Regal room at the Trident (Nariman Point, Mumbai) witnessed what can only be described as India's most comprehensive wine tasting event this year.

Jointly hosted by The Wine Society of India and Sommelier India WINE Magazine, this tasting brought together the Best of the Best' of 2010 (over 75 of the top imported and Indian wines in the country today, as selected by our Board of Wine Advisors) and the country's top wine buyers, most of them members of The Wine Society of India.

Guests began to arrive at 7:30 pm, and were greeted by flutes of delicious Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and the host for the evening, the legendary Steven Spurrier, Chairman of The Wine Society of India. As soon as all the tables in the Regal room were occupied, David Banford (Director of The Wine Society of India) briefly welcomed the guests before turning over the podium to the charismatic Magandeep Singh. Magan, in his inimitable style, conducted a boisterous charity auction, with all proceeds going to Room-to-Read, a non-profit organisation that is doing wonders to promote child literacy in India.

The auction was followed by the 'Best of the Best' wine tasting. The Regal room was flanked on three sides by wine pavilions (one each for the New World, the Old World, and India). Most-Preferred members - the top wine buyers at The Wine Society of India - had further access to a dozen more top-end wines in the Connoisseur Lounge.

All in all a wonderful evening for wine lovers and those curious to learn, followed by a sumptuous dinner accompanied by the wines of one's choice. Same again next year please!

The 'Best of the Best' of 2010 are as follows: