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| Celebrating Select Indian Produce | |||||||||||||||||||
| By Ravi Joshi | |||||||||||||||||||
| As the wine market in India grows on the base that has been built over the last two decades, activities like vertical/ horizontal/ country/ region/ varietal specific tastings have spanned the spectrum. The hospitality trade, which is one of the most important stakeholders in the wine market, has been striving to capture the guests' imagination with innovative offerings. | |||||||||||||||||||
| "Celebrating Select Indian Produce" (CSIP) is one such initiative launched by the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity (JWM). CSIP presents a wine list based on selected Indian wines and it is all about offering an experience to the guest, who need not rack his/her brains to find the best option, combination and/or sequence of wines – specially when (s)he is pressed for time. | |||||||||||||||||||
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Celebrating Select Indian Produce at the JW Marriott Hotel New Delhi Aerocity |
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| To begin with, the selection is from Fratelli and one can order by the glass/bottle, as a combo or as flights (see menu). The flights are named after vineyard locations, viz., Motewadi, Nimgaon and Garwar. CSIP was launched by Antony Page (General Manager JWM) and Kapil Sekhri and Alessio Secci (co-owners of Fratelli) at the Oval Bar with Delhi wine professionals and wine lovers in attendance. | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Oval Bar |
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| Ankur Chawla, Director of Beverages JWM, said "We felt that Indian wines should be promoted, even if it is true that an emerging wine country like India will go through the learning curve like all other established wine countries. In hospitality, we need to present Indian wines in the right perspective, so as to enable them to find favour with the customer and stimulate their consumption. CSIP is as honest attempt to make that difference." He has had the complete support of his general Manager, who told me that he enjoyed various Indian cuisines with Indian wines as he travelled through the country with family. | |||||||||||||||||||
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The Fratelli collection at the event |
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| The wines | |||||||||||||||||||
| Fratelli Gran Cuvée Brut Based on Chenin Blanc, this sparkling is "zero dosage" elaborated in 'methode traditionelle'. Persistent bead of fine bubbles. On the nose, it has citrus/stone fruits and autolytic aromas. Palate is dry and refreshing. |
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| Fratelli Vitae Chardonnay On an earlier blind tasting, I mistook it for a cool climate Chardonnay with mineral undertones. This barrel fermented wine is a refined 'old world' expression of Chardonnay with subtle flavours bordering on neutrality and a creamy disposition. |
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| Fratelli Vitae Tre 'Tre' is the trinity of cépages – Chenin Blanc, Gewürztraminer and Müller Thurgau – an uncommon blend. Balanced levels of acidity, fruit and body that lends itself to a food wine. |
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| Fratelli Sangiovese They were the first to plant Sangiovese in India. A good expression of ripe red berries accompanied by rounded tannins and an oaky finish. The wine appears thin on the palate, I would have preferred a fuller body. |
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| Fratelli Sette The flagship from Fratelli. Elaborated as a blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged in French oak for 14 months which gives it a rounded complexity and a voluptuous body. |
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| Ashish Nehra, the Food and Beverage Manager JWM, shared his plans to introduce wine lists from other Indian producers in CSIP. "This will keep our offer the guest fresh." We can expect fresh oxygen in the programme from time to time. | |||||||||||||||||||
| This is a lovely initiative, and we can expect more guests to say cheers with Indian wine more often. | |||||||||||||||||||
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