Well, we all know that the popularity of wine is growing rapidly in India though it has not indicated a significant increase in its consumption figure. But it has resulted in a lot of confusion among the beginners who are just learning about the varieties of wine, how to appreciate them and which region produces good wines etc.

The so called ‘experts’ are trained abroad and know a lot about the foreign wines. So, we really do not have experts who can tell us much about our own Indian wines, even if we have some good wines being produced in the domestic front, which are available at affordable prices in the market.

So, the only solution lies in experimenting on our own but after acquiring some basic knowledge about drinking wine.

Let’s start with the basic notion of drinking red wine without storing it in the fridge. The red wine has to be served at room temperature, which in Europe would many degrees lower then the room temperature in India, however it should always be a little chilled red wine.

Wine, in comparison to other spirits is always a great companion while partying with friends. So, may be a wine tasting session with friends could be of great fun.

So, how do you buy a bottle of wine!

In India, liquor being a state subject has varied prices as per taxes and its availability also widely varies from state to state. Same goes with the wine prices. However, due to the increasing pressure the government is considering several proposals to bring down the prices too. Many shops in Mumbai, price their wine cheaper than the printed price. In case, you find wine bottles at a good deal, it is better to buy few bottles and store them in storage racks, temperature-controlled wine cabinets away from the direct sunlight.

Winemakers have traditionally used corks because they closed effectively, while allowing just enough of the oxygen through for the wine to develop in the bottle. But most wines in the market today are meant to be drunk now, and not to be kept, so there’s less reason to use cork – and positive reasons not to, given the way cork can sometimes go bad and taint the wine’s taste. This is why more manufacturers are moving towards high tech (and expensive) screwcaps, but paradoxically, consumers are so used to corks they think these are inferior. Some Indian manufacturers, like Sula and Grovers, are pushing screwcaps, so don’t disdain them, but invest in a good corkscrew for those still using corks.

Sipping Notes:

White wine and roses should be drunk chilled.

Red wine can be slightly chilled, but what really helps, especially with most Indian reds, is opening them for a while before drinking. Take a sip when you open and then an hour later, and you’ll taste the difference. Oxygen softens the often harsh tannins in red wines, making them mellower and easier on the mouth. This is also why one swirls red wine in the glass, to let the air open it up.


 Courtesy:  http://www.ambrosiaindia.com