India is no stranger to wine. Tracing the history of the drink, its origins can be found in old religious writings. During the Vedic period, wine was often referred to as ‘Somarasa’. Hindu Gods Indra and Varuna are believed to have tasted a mixture of wine and herbs as per the Yajurveda.
It’s no surprise that the drink is once again gaining popularity with Indians. Especially with rising incomes, people now have a reason to flaunt their affluence and there is no better way to do it than to be spotted swirling a glass of wine. Although the wine-growing culture in India is still in its nascent stage, its consumption is certainly witnessing a rapid growth.
However, for most of us, the names of wines like Sauvignon Blanc and Beaujolais may be no more than tongue twisters, but if you want to know your drink, here’s a low-down...
The wine connection
There are a host of wine clubs to help people learn more about wines, host wine tasting sessions and dinners, arrange vineyard visits and other wine-centric events for its members. The Wine Society of India, one of the oldest of these organisations may be just a decade old but has managed to attract people interested in wines. The Delhi Wine Club is another such organisation that allows people to connect with other wine drinkers by hosting events.
Ravi Sachdev, a businessman and a member of the Delhi Wine Club says, “I was a whisky drinker and it was the urge to try out something new and socialise that prompted me to become a member of the club. The club hosts wine tasting events and dinners where I get to taste wines from all over the world. I also get a lot of information on pairing wines with food.”
And for people who are reluctant to join one of these ‘clubs’, there are other options to explore. The very appropriately named Tulleeho, for instance, is a beverage service provider open to everyone. But not everyone can become a member of these clubs. “We have a screening committee and prefer having only those people who are already wine drinkers,” says Subhash Arora, president of the Delhi Wine Club.
“The wine culture in India is growing steadily without a doubt and its future is very rosy, but there is still a woeful lack of knowledge. At present, wine consumption is mainly in the metros but no longer confined only to the affluent consumer. Once Indians begin to enjoy wine with food and we can shop for wine like we buy our general provisions, we will reach the next level in our unfolding wine culture,” says Reva Singh publisher and editor of Sommelier India, the country’s only magazine dedicated to wines.
“The most important factor contributing to its growth is that India is producing some really good wines. Many of these wines are making an appearance abroad and are becoming increasingly popular as a natural extension of Indian cuisine," she adds
Types of wines
• Still wines – These are made by fermentation of juice extracted from grapes and can be classified as red, white and rose.
White wines may be both dry and sweet. They are usually made from white grapes and do not require much aging. These can be served chilled and used for everyday drinking. Red wines are generally made to taste dry. While some of them can be drunk young, like white wines, others improve with aging.
• Sparkling wines – These are wines with significant levels of carbon dioxide that make it fizzy. Sparkling wines vary in quality and character. They are usually white or rose. Some examples are Italian Brachetto and Australian sparkling Shiraz.
• Fortified wines – These wines have a small per cent of alcohol added before fermentation, leaving them sweet as the extra wine stops fermentation and deactivates the yeast. Fortified wines have a wide range of tastes, from austerely dry to sweet. Wines can be sweet when young and then mature to dryness.
• Aromatised wines – These generally have a little alcohol added in the form of brandy after fermentation leaving it dry as a result of consumption of sugar by the yeast.
Among the easily available wines in India are Sula and Grovers. Among foreign wines, you may try Italian, French, Chilean, Australian and Californian wines. You can get a variety of Indian wines starting from Rs 450 to Rs 700 and foreign wines within the range of Rs 2500 to Rs 7000.
“New world wines are easier to drink as they are young and less expensive as compared to old world wines, which keeps them in high demand,” says Arora.
“There has been 30 per cent yearly growth in wine consumption in India. We also see a lot of women and youngsters developing a liking for wines these days. I see a bright future for wine culture in India,” he adds.
And it’s not just the type of wine you are drinking, but also the glass that matters. The shape of the glass regulates the flow of wine and enhances its quality. To extract the aroma of a wine you need to swirl it in the glass. So now you know why red wine glasses have a shorter stem unlike the white wine glasses.
Pairing wines with food
Pairing wines with food is important. The best combinations are where the character of wine matches the flavour of the food. So, it is important to know the character of the wine. “The notion of pairing red wines with red meat and white whines with fish may not be true always. It depends on the preparation. Pairing of wines with cheese is also quite popular,” says Sachdev.
Wine drunk by itself tastes different than wine with food. In fact, wines can enhance the flavour of food. So, it’s essential to consider how the food is prepared. You can then pair the wine with the sauce, seasoning or dominant flavour of the dish. For example, spicy food or hot curries often work best with sweet desert wines.
...and music!
Not just food, but music too can influence the taste of wine, says a recent study by psychologists at a British university, which suggests which songs go well with which type of wine. Heavy rock music or Rolling Stones can be a good accompaniment to a Cabernet Sauvignon, for example. Music stimulates different parts of the brain and lets us perceive tastes in a similar way.
Flaunt your vino!
It’s not just your collection of wines you can show off, equally exciting is storing and serving it in style. There are a wide range of products available in the market that can help you flaunt your vino. From bottle stoppers, corkscrews, wine buckets to innovative wine racks, you can use them all to pamper yourself and your guests. What’s more – you can get them all from Rs 450 to Rs 25,000 depending on your budget.
So, what are you waiting for? Go and grab your drink and enjoy it with music, food or accessories and don’t forget to swirl it with style!
No comments:
Post a Comment