By Subhash Arora

When you are in the mood for a decent Indian red wine, Grover's La Reserve is highly recommended. Made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz grapes grown on vines imported from France, this full-bodied, dry, dark ruby red wine is full of spicy aromas and flavours of berries with a good mouth-feel and pleasant after-taste.

Aging in French oak barrels has given the vanilla taste and made the tannins soft. It is made in the French style with the help of Michel Rolland, the world's most sought-after wine-making consultant from Bordeaux. Although you can buy the wine and drink it right now, it has aging potential of 2-3 years.

Serve the wine at 18 degrees. Stick it in the refrigerator for a few minutes or keep it in an ice bath (a bucket of chilled water with lots of ice) for 10 minutes before serving. It may not stand up to hot Indian food, but it will make an excellent match for spicy pork chops and mutton kebabs. Try it with baingan ka bhartha or paneer -capsicum tikkas if you are vegetarian. A couple of glasses a day even with snacks/salads before meals will help you keep your heart healthy.

Available at premier vends and retailing at Rs. 440, it is a better value than the regular Cabernet Shiraz selling for a very decent price of Rs 358. By the way, it's cheaper in Bangalore . Make sure you buy it from a vend that has proper storage conditions.

To find out more about Grover Vineyards, click www.groverwines.com . Indian Wine Academy President Subhash Arora's recommendations will be carried on delWine every day, from Monday to Friday