It was yet another year and yet another grand show. As the 5th Annual Pune Wine Festival threw open its door to hundreds of wine loving Indian populace at the lavish gardens of Ruhi Villa, the mood was both electric and jovial. It was the Christmas Eve and crowd was already throbbing with anticipation of having a double blast.Because it was not only a day dedicated to Jesus Christ, but this time it was also a day that was to be celebrated by the name of Bacchus, the Wine God. B Shankaranarayan, the leading personality of Pune Gourmet Club and the mastermind of the event set the mood on fire when he said “Wines are to be savored at the most relaxed and absolute cordial environment.”

And Shankar, as popularly addressed, saw to it that the relaxed and cordial environment is maintained through out two days’ Pune Wine Festival and the same style statement of all his events is carried into this event too. If the young face of India is opening its vast consumer’s market to the wine industry, it is to a large extent due to Yeomen’s task being done, years after years, by few senior wine lovers, committed and passionate entrepreneurs like BS.

Quite a good number of western India’s crème de la crème ranging from the wine producing units to trade personalities to celebrities were present, at the annual bonanza which is probably the largest of its kind in the country and the most regular, well promoted and happening one. The venue Koregaon Park itself talks  about the high prestige the show has earned. Koregaon Park happens to be one of the most  upscale residential places of the vibrant and fast growing, industrially rich city, Pune.

The sunny and cheerful mid day of Saturday, 24th, the Christmas Eve, saw the opening of the event amidst music, flowers, colours and merriment. A dozen of prominent regulars at their booths were ready with samples to offer for tasting armed with ice, bread pieces, cheese and some were with cocktail arrangements too. The organizers, Pune Gourmet Club and Monsoon Winds, Pune, the wine management company deserve a hearty kudos for their continued presentation of such festivals to the industry. The management and support to the event was neat and well organized. The cool comfort amongst visitors, tasters, wine lovers, press members and photographers were well noticed as was brightly seen amongst satisfied booth owners too. The holiday mood and a total razzmatazz were evident at in the totally relaxed scenario all around. Indian wine industry was largely represented and if anyone had to sniff at the happenings in the vast upcoming national wine market, the Pune event would have sufficed as an indicator.

The annual event must have been playing a vital role in the working of local producers, distributors, importers and exporters.

This year’s major players were:

Zampa Wines: They call it ‘Hand Crafted’, a bold slogan indeed and a reassuring one too. Reveilo, the vintage wine people, were present with all reserve labels and once again assured tasters of their astute consideration on quality. Senior executive Sunil gleamed stating “rise  of awareness and knowledge on wine, amongst my clients in particular and visitors in general”. Other prominent players were Seagram’s Nine Hills, Jacob’s Creek’s with their ‘true character’, Four Seasons with their varietals and reserve wines, Kingfisher Bohemia, Vallonne and Indus.

Fratelli: Fratelli, the strong and aggressively growing, comparably new entrant in the country that promises to be a formidable national player soon presented their Classic Red. The wine, a 2011 varietal, has 13.5% alcohol and is priced at Rs.395. The colour is pale red, has low legs and less tannin. It is sweetish on palette and is well structured that leaves behind a lovely taste. Fratelli’s Cabernet Franc Shiraz (Rs.650.00) and Merlot (Priced Rs.795.00) were dark red, with good legs, more tannin and an oaky flavour was an easy drinking wine. Sangiovese (Rs.795.00) with tempting taste, sweetish tinge and good body was another easy drinking wine. All these were new launches in recent time.

Silk Route: Silk Route Wines, headed by Ankush Mittal, participated for the first time and launched their  maiden labels ,Cabernet Sauvignon, red and Sauvignon Blanc, white, at the start of the event on 24th.Dec. The company is headquartered at Delhi and has just started making wine in their Nashik Vineyards. The Sauvignon Blanc with a sweet, flowery and fruity aroma was a well balanced, easy to drink wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, the red  was sweetish at the edge, spicy, fruity and had 13.5% alcohol. Both have been priced at Rs.550.

Deccan Plateau  the only vineyard from vicinity of Pune (within an hour’s journey from Pune) whose pride label Trivalli, a master combination of Shiraz, Cabernet and Merlot, has been picking up its market and steadily growing the label’s close and dedicated client groups. Welcoming in nose, it tasted a real matured and complex wine of good bouquet with fairly pleasant after taste. Not too long a wine. Shall pair well with Indian mild to heavy vegetarian and non vegetarian dishes,

Pause and Good Earth Winery: Pause with their sermon, ‘life can wait’, and Good Earth Winery, another enterprising presence with cocktail varieties with wine, kept audience enthralled round the hours.

Pune Wine Festival had every reason to be happy with their success in bringing almost all the top wine producing players of the country and providing a platform to the new ones and/or new labels as well. Amongst wine importers of repute were Kiara Wines who offered various wine cocktails at their stalls and Elkay Spirits P Ltd. both  from Western India. While Kiara has a long list of countries they import from, they offered Italian and Spanish samples for tasting. Elkay has been importing from France, Italy, South Africa and California and had a good array of labels for tasting.

Kiara offered Uggiano,Chianti of 2009, a good wine with 12.5% alcohol and a price tag of Rs.1290. There was also this Bardolino Classico, a 13% alcohol of 2008 varietal, priced at Rs.1447.One of their Spanish offers was Gran Coleciata-Barrica of 2008,a pale red, 13.5% alchol wine of very good body ,oaky flavor,spicy in nose. While tasting one remembers of Indian Biryanis to pair with the wine. Sommelier Omkar R Phadke equally talked high of Gran Coleciata-Barrica especially for its rustic flavor mixed with herbs and soil.

The only exclusively fruit wine label was that of Rhythm from Hill Crest Foods & Beverages P Ltd.,Pune. They offered well composed Pineapple wine and had quite a good number of enthusiasts to try the new product.

Vallone of Nashik adopts Bordeaux standard and claims to be the first in India for boutique wines. Their stall as usually was busy with tasters and enquiries.

The festival had sponsors like Kotak Mahindras and had associate stall owners like regulars, including café Arabia with authentic Arabian food, Silk Route,the oriental restaurant, Louisiana Kitchen, Kohinoor,gardenia Italia, Coastal Randevous and others completed with cookies, cakes and chocolates. They added to the sparkle of the event.

Kamaltara Enterprise displayed wine accessories and furniture.

As the two days’ event concluded, I am sure, organizers, participants, sponsors and guests have all wished the 6th event to come soon.

by Sidd Banerji