[digital drifter]

write up.

Hard to believe.

http://www.nytimes.c...amp;oref=slogin

[Ray kelleher]

I have to admit it's brilliant news, i can't wait to able to get a decent bottle of local plonk in most areas in India in the next few years or so  

[torryquine]

We've been enjoying Sula wines on our last couple of trips to India.  Very drinkable.

[malkers]

Well at last.  I seem to remember that about 3 years ago over on IM I raved about Grover's Reserve Cab Sav and said quite boldly that there is a wine to rival any Bordeaux or full bodied Australian.  Everyone laughed at me!

I feel truly vindicated!  

Did I mention before that I do actually have qualifications in wine?  

[priya]

Ah, so we have our very own sommmelier on board!

[malkers]

Indeed, about 12 years ago since I qualified but my tastebuds are intact enough to know a good wine from a mediocre wine and enough to know that price doesn't often come into it.  There are hundreds of wines out there that are better than most Bordeaux but at a fraction of the price, them French have been conning us for years.

Malc's tip for today (and most days), a Chilean Cab Sauvignon about 3 years old and costing no more than $10 (that's not Zim dollars Priya, sorry!)

For the white drinkers (lightweights) a lovely dry but fruity Sauvignon Blanc from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Indian whites (with the exception of some of the sparkling) have not got there, yet!

A little factoid for you now! Did you know that most Champagne is made from 70% black grapes?

[priya]

malkers, on Jun 5 2008, 03:38 PM, said:

Indeed, about 12 years ago since I qualified but my tastebuds are intact enough to know a good wine from a mediocre wine and enough to know that price doesn't often come into it.  There are hundreds of wines out there that are better than most Bordeaux but at a fraction of the price, them French have been conning us for years.

Malc's tip for today (and most days), a Chilean Cab Sauvignon about 3 years old and costing no more than $10 (that's not Zim dollars Priya, sorry!)

For the white drinkers (lightweights) a lovely dry but fruity Sauvignon Blanc from Hawkes Bay, New Zealand.

Indian whites (with the exception of some of the sparkling) have not got there, yet!

A little factoid for you now! Did you know that most Champagne is made from 70% black grapes?

I'm really pleased you mentioned the price factor!  Some of those really expensive wines, quite frankly, are not nice at all. (I suppose though, it all depends on personal taste).  I must admit I'm a real fan of South African reds, but a nice dry white in summer would also be on my preference list.

I haven't tasted Chilean wine, but did have the pleasure of tasting French and Australian. Unfortunately, locally there's nothing now within your $10 range. Local plonk now carries nine zeros, so an evening tipple is for the good ol' days.   

Are your taste buds still up to scratch? (If you're not smoking )

[malkers]

South African wines are great light quaffing wines, easy drinking, nice hint of spice and don't require too much thinking about but lacking in 'BIG' taste!

Smoking?  Me?  What idiot in their right mind would start smoking again after 4.5 months of not doing so?  

[Ray kelleher]

Just noticed an piece in the Saturday Guardian on Sula wines .... Brilliant can't wait to sample and have a look around the Vineyard and Winery, sounds like a fun thing to do, not to mention something that you would not normally equate with India, Tea plantations yes ! but Vineyards.. It would be a great day out with a few Tree Monkeys.