The tasting society

THE WINE CLUB

Wine Clubs are a new phenomenon in India: since the Brits preferred Scotch and soda, we are only now developing a 'wine culture' (perhaps if Dupleix had defeated Clive at Arcot things would have been different), and the emergence of wine clubs is one indication of the growing interest in and availability of wine.

The number of wine clubs in India can still be counted on the fingers of one hand: Delhi has two (Wine Society of Delhi and the Delhi Wine Club) while Bangalore, Chandigarh and Hyderabad all have eponymous organisations ("the xyz wine club").

And that's it. I'm told that wine clubs also lurk in Mumbai and Pune, and no doubt others exist elsewhere, but they're either well-hidden or commercial set-ups.

So what does a wine club do? A few friends and I had started the Bangalore Wine Club in 2001, and one is tempted to quip about "wine, women and song" "" the reality is groups of wine aficionados (friends, and friends of friends) getting together every so often to taste, drink and appreciate wine.

While some may be there for the Page 3 factor and others for the party, all do want to understand wine "" and what better way than in the company of like-minded people? We've been doing tastings, dinners or outings "" at least once every other month.

The wines are either sponsored or bought outright, and food menus matched to the wines (if it's a dinner). Most events are at hotels (since their staff has the expertise), and members pool in to meet costs.

It's important not to take yourself too seriously, so we also have a lot of fun at our events "" there's something about wine that promotes a warm camaraderie "" apart from the more serious business of wine appreciation.

It's really quite easy to start a wine club: all you need is a core group of 4-5 people interested in the subject to get some like-minded friends together, with each bringing a bottle for the first event (that's how we started).

Do a few events like that, ask your local retailer for contacts of the wine company's rep (they are always happy to help promote wine clubs, although it's becoming increasingly difficult to get free wine) and you're off and running.

Summer is round the corner (in Bangalore it's already here) "" a good time to savour some of the very nice white wines our Indian vintners make.

Start off with Sula's Chenin Blanc (Rs 400-450), a slightly sweet, light, fresh and fruity wine that makes a nice aperitif, or the Ivy Chenin Muscat (Rs 450-500) from Indage "" another demi-sec and easy-drinking white.

Graduate to the slightly more complex and drier Sauvignon Blancs "" both Sula (about Rs 500) and Grover (Rs 400 in Bangalore and Delhi, Rs 475 in Mumbai) make one.

And if you feel like celebrating something, why don't you do so with a bottle of Indian bubbly "" which, incidentally, are quite good quality and not expensive at all: Indage's Marquis de Pompadour (around Rs 550) or the Sula Brut (almost the same price) are both made by the same methode champenoise (in-bottle fermentation) used by French champagne; both are creamy, fruity and dry and a pleasure to drink ice-cold either day or night.

And if you really have a very special occasion, you could do no better than splurge on a bottle of real champagne "" Dom Perignon will set you back by between Rs 9,000-12,000 per bottle, while the Moet & Chandon Brut Imperial NV is a cool Rs 5,000. Amen to that.

alok@gryphonbrands.com