In an interview with The Times, London, Indian Wine Academy and Delhi Wine Club President Subhash Arora has said that interest in wine in India started growing four years back when the government lifted import restrictions and cut duties on wines sold in hotels and restaurants.

"It unleashed a hidden demand, not just among foreigners here, but among people who had been students overseas, and businessmen," Arora said in the interview. "Wine has become the standard drink of fashionable parties."

Arora, writes the newspaper, has arranged almost 100 wine-tasting evenings since his club was launched less than five years ago and he specialises in pairing western varieties with Indian dishes. He said the acidity of riesling made it a natural partner for slightly spicy food, while kebabs called for a fruity shiraz or beaujolais.

The interview was part of The Times story on India "toasting its new-found affluence with wine as its rapidly growing middle class discovers the joy of the grape."

Vijay Mallya, India's answer to Richard Branson and "one of the world's wealthiest brewing billionaires," is also quoted in the article as saying, "India has a huge youth population and they're growing up with western values, willing to try new products. "They enjoy wine - especially the girls."

For the complete story, go to http://www.timesonline.co.uk