India Wine Awards 2019: Indian wines hold their own

Quality has its own rewards, and the tweaks made to the India Wine Awards 2019 format  by Sonal Holland MW demonstrated that Indian wines could hold their ground against international competition

The spotlights are off, the music has faded, the chairs are stacked and stashed away. The 3^rd edition of the India Wine Awards is done. There has been good media coverage on the event (congratulations to all winners!) and the record numbers of entries (376 including the segment of wines paired with food). As I was wandering notebook in hand, around the Sangiovese vineyards in Italy’s Emilia Romagna region at the time, I was unable to attend the high-octane, glitzy awards night held at The Leela Mumbai on 5th October 2019, although I had sipped and spit my way through two intense days of judging earlier with my fellow jury members.

But I was curious about the post-event learnings and takeaways.

Indian wines on an upward trajectory

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There is little doubt that Indian wine is improving steadily. This is clearly visible every year, as more of the top wineries jostle for awards and prizes. However, there is still woefully little awareness of the rising quality of the wines among Indian consumers, who often prefer to pop a bottle from Australia or South Africa than splash out on wine from Nashik or Nandi Hills.

Apropos to this, one of the most interesting changes for me at this year’s awards was IWA founder Sonal Holland MW’s decision to create a common judging category where both Indian and imported international wines were judged on par, separated only by grape or style. For the 2019 edition, 320 wines were entered in the tasting competition, of which Indian wine to international wines was in the encouraging ratio of 50:50. Said Holland, “It gives me great joy to report that throughout the blind tastings, the (Indian) wines held their own. As India’s wine industry matures, and domestic wines go from strength to strength, I’m happy to share we are the first awards in India to recognise that at comparable price-points, well-made examples of Indian wines are on par with international ones for their world-class attributes.” Of the 12 wines adjudged Best in Show, 5 were Indian wine, spread across several producers and styles.

So, good news here.

Imported wines still rule in the Indian market

However, for India’s beleaguered importers, struggling to deal with whimsical and arbitrary policy changes and regulations, the results were also good. Holland explained, “It is the international labels which are growing at a faster clip and are contributing to the depth and understanding of wine and its culture in India.”

More good news, then, all around.

While we bask in the light of these positives, do go through the list of winners below. For more details on the India Wine Awards, please check here.

LIST OF TROPHY WINES AND CATEGORIES INDIA WINE AWARDS 2019

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Best in Show

• Champagne G.H.Mumm NV , France

• Grover Zampa Chêne Grand Réserve 2015 , India

• J’NOON Red 2017 , India

• The Source Grenache Rosé 2019 , India

• Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec 2018, Argentina

• KRSMA Syrah 2017, India

• SDU Reserva Syrah 2015 , India

• Bodegas Ego Fuerza, Spain

• Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Vines Zinfandel, USA

• Paul Jabuolet Aine, Les Traverses, Ventoux AOC, 2016, France

• Framingham Pinot Noir Marlborough, New Zealand

• Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2015, Italy

Best in Show – Italian Selection

• Itinera Montepulciano D’Abruzzo

• Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore

• Carpene Malvolti Prosecco Special Cuvee Brut DOC

• Sensi Boscoselvo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG

• Zenato Soave Classico, Veneto

Best Wines Paired with Popular Cuisines in India

• Best Wine pairing with Sushi: Sensi Prosecco Gold 18K, Italy

• Best Wine pairing with Pizza Margherita: Faustino VII Rioja DOCa 2015, Spain

• Best Wine pairing with Haleem: Reveilo Nero d ́Avola 2019, India

• Best Wine pairing with Chicken Kung Pao: Sula Reisling 2019, India

• Best Wine pairing with Thai Green Curry: Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve NV, France

• Best Wine pairing with Fabelle Dark Chocolate Ganache: KRSMA Syrah 2017, India & Deetlefs Stonecross Malbec, South Africa

• Best Wine pairing with Fabelle Single Origin Cacao: York Arros 2017, India

EXCELLENCE IN RESTAURANT WINE PROGRAM WINNERS LIST 2019

Introduced in 2017, the Excellence in Restaurant Wine Program celebrates hotels and premium standalone restaurants across the major consumption cities of Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore that offer the best wine programs to their guests

OUTSTANDING WORLD-CLASS WINE LIST

• Wasabi by Morimoto, Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai

• The Table, Mumbai

• Polo Club, The Oberoi Bengaluru

• Le Cirque, The Leela Palace New Delhi

• Elan, The Lodhi New Delhi

• Indian Accent, New Delhi

BEST WINE DESTINATION AWARD

Romano’s, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar

Le Cirque Signature, The Leela Mumbai

Caprese, Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru

Pluck, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity

Cecconi’s, Mumbai

Toscano, Bengaluru

The Wine Company, Gurugram

BEST UPCOMING WINE DESTINATION

Qualia, Mumbai

Townhall , Mumbai

Bo Tai , New Delhi

Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE

GOLD MEDAL WINNERS

• Fratelli MS White 2018, India

• Fratelli SETTE 2015, India

• Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection Red 2017, India

• Grover Zampa Art Collection Merlot 2019, India

• Grover Zampa Soirée Brut 2018, India

• Charosa Vineyards Selections Shiraz 2019, India

• Charosa Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, India

• Good Earth Antaraa NV, India

• Good Earth Basso NV, India

• Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, India

• KRSMA Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, India

• Sula Rasa Zinfandel 2018, India

• Sula Chenin Blanc Reserve 2019, India

• Sula Sauvignon Blanc 2019 , India

• Sula Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, India

SILVER MEDAL WINNERS

• The Source Sauvignon Blanc 2018, India
• Sula Brut NA, India
• Sula Chenin Blanc 2019, India
• Sula Rasa Shiraz 2018, India
• Sula Zinfandel (Red) 2019, India
• Sula Zinfandel Rosé 2019, India
• Fratelli Sauvignon Blanc 2019, India
• Fratelli Classic Chenin NV, India
• Fratelli Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, India
• Fratelli Classic Shiraz NV, India
• Fratelli Classic Merlot NV, India
• Good Drop Frizzano Semi Dry NV , India
• Good Drop Frizzano Semi Dry Rose NV , India
• Good Drop Frizzano Extra Dry NV , India
• Good Earth Blanca Chenin Blanc NV, India
• Grover Art Collection Viognier 2019, India
• Grover Art Collection Cabernet Shiraz 2019, India
• Grover La Reserve 2017, India
• Charosa Vineyards Selections Sauvignon Blanc 2019, India
• Vallonné Riesling 2018, India
• Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017, India
• Reveilo Merlot 2018, India
• Reveilo Sangiovese 2019, India
• Reveilo Syrah 2019, India
• SDU Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, India
• SDU Trilogy 2018, India
• SDU Winemakers Selection 2015, India
• York Shiraz Viognier 2017, India
• Codorníu Clasico Brut Cava NV, Spain
• Monte Pacífico Chardonnay 2017, Chile
• Chapoutier, Belleruche Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2017, France
• Chapoutier, Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2017, France

• Ventisquero Reserva Pinot Noir 2017, Chile
• Folonari Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2017, Italy
• Pedrera Monastrell 2017, Spain
• Domæne Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner, Austria
• Michel Torino Colección Malbec 2018, Argentina
• Chateau Goumin, Entre-deux-Mers AOC 2016, France
• Sensi Collezione Chianti, DOCG 2017, Italy
• Paul Jaboulet Aine, Syrah 2015, France
• Campoluce, Chianti DOCG (Organic) 2017, Italy
• Alambre Moscatel de Setubal, Portugal
• Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, USA
• Bodegas Ego Goru El Blanco, Spain
• Deetlefs Stonecross Pinotage Rose, South Africa
• Campo Viejo White 2017, Spain
• Cótes-du-Rhóne Saint-Espirit Blanc 2017, France