IT in India is not the only sector making waves in the USA. The Americans are fascinated by the Indians finding a new love-wine. India's changing tastes are nurturing the wine industry, reports Kim Barker, the foreign correspondent of The Chicago Tribune.

'For years, wine was as foreign an idea here as snow. Signs promising "wine shops" were a tease, selling only hard liquor. Wine was thought to be wimpy because it did not pack the punch of whiskey and could never stand up to spicy Indian cuisine. But such views are changing, as a rapidly growing number of Indians embrace wines made not only in foreign countries, but in India', writes Ms. Barker.

'At a wine tasting sponsored by the Delhi Wine Club on Oct. 31, chefs at the Hyatt Regency Delhi matched Indian food with Chilean wine'. Sharing here experience she adds, 'Around the restaurant, about 60 club members pronounced their verdicts on the event, the 95th since the club was formed in 2002. They found the wines delicious, particularly the reds. The food was tasty, but more continental fusion than strictly Indian'.

The dinner was organized by the Delhi Wine club in conjunction with the Chilean Embassy and provided the opportunity to its members. The guests included the Ambassadors of Chile and Uruguay and the High Commissioner of South Africa.

Ms Kim Barker sums up the current scenario by quoting the Chilean Ambassador, Mr. Jorge Heine who said, 'I find it very exciting. The way I see it is wine is very close to new India. And old India is still very much linked to scotch.'

For the detailed story visit www.chicagotribune.com.

The story has been since appearing in many other US dailies including Baltimore Sun.

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