 There was a tasting organised by the DGC for its members with the Australian winemaker of a new Indian winery visiting to talk about the wine philosophy of the company over a few glasses of red, white and rose along with crackers etc. at a nominal cost of Rs.100 ($2).
The score of elitists who signed up enjoyed the experience of drinking 3-5 glasses for the paltry sum and the interactive session and the educational talk that went with it . A few also kept on chatting during the talk, perhaps discussing the merits of the wines they were tasting and comparing the tasting notes.
The Gymkhana elitists apparently were less charitable and more whining, feeling the pinch of the Rs. 100 they had to spend-after all it was only wine, they felt. They sprinted through the cheese to help them gulp the wine and justify the money spend. At another event last week, I believe it was Rs.40 for the whole event or per glass ( I am not sure) but I didn't hear many positive comments either.
On the other hand, I know a young lawyer who loves drinking fine wines and Champagnes. His personal favourite is Dom Perignon. I try to persuade him to try other sparkling wines or at least several other Champagnes in the market that might be a better value for daily drinking. But he insists on the same brand and collects whenever he can lay his hands on it. I joke with him and call him a wine elite.
The spectrum of wine drinkers in India is rather large and encompasses several elites* and elitists. Are you one of them? Where else do you fall within the spectrum?
Subhash Arora
*The Free Dictionary defines Elite as 'the most powerful, rich, or gifted members of a group or community' while Elitist has been used for snobbish, arrogant, pretentious, stuck up, patronizing, condescending snooty, hoity-toity etc. |