Sep 21: As in the previous years Grover Zampa Vineyard continues to lead the charge for medal tally at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards 2017 hele in Hong Kong earlier this month with 10 medals, including 2 Silver, with Fratelli in a catch-up mode at 2 Silver and 3 Bronze and Somanda opening an account with 3 Rcognitions including a Silver, thus Indian wines making an unprecedented haul of 6 Silver out of a total of 20 medals awarded but a Gold medal eluding yet again, writes Subhash Arora
Grover La Reserve scored the highest points of 91 from the GZV stable with VA Reserve Collection coming very close (90) and winning the second Silver. Fratelli received the Silver medals for MS Chardonnay Sauvignon Blanc and Vitae Barrel Fermented Chardonnay, scoring the highest points (92). Coincidentally, at a blind tasting organised by the Indian Wine Academy at Qla Restaurant in Delhi recently where 4 wines from their Indian stable were pitted against 4 of the equivalent imported wines, Vitae Chardonnay had scored the highest points amongst all the eight wines, both in the wine- only and wine and food category.
Grover Zampa had in an earlier edition created history of sorts at DAWA with he Grover Art Collection Series Sauvignon Blanc 2014 bagging the International Trophy in this Category. This has been the best singular achievement by an Indian winery so far in DAWA-especially because the wine has to go through various stages before finally being awarded the coveted trophy. For details, click
Krsma Cabernet Sauvignon, the flagship wine of the boutique winery in Hampi Hills, Karnataka, won a Silver Medal though Sauvignon Blanc managed only a Bronze. Both these wines were Commended last year. As in all international wine competition, wines are tasted blind. Those that meet the required quality standard in terms of average points awarded by the panel are given a seal of approval (Commended), Bronze, Silver, or Gold medal. India has yet to crack a Gold in this competition.
Somanda Winery owned by ex-Sula VP Pradip Pachpatil opened the account with a Silver for its Brut Cuvee and also managed a couple of ‘Commendations’.
Here is the final Tally:
| |
Gold |
Silver |
Bronze |
Commended |
Total |
Grover Zampa |
0 |
2 |
8 |
0 |
10 |
Fratelli |
0 |
2 |
3 |
0 |
5 |
Somanda |
0 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
3 |
Krsma |
0 |
1 |
1 |
0 |
2 |
Total Recognitions |
|
|
|
|
20 |
For all the results, click HERE
Following the footsteps of the older competition, Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition (HKIWSC) also held in Asia, only Asian judges are invited, barring co-chairpersons Gerard Basset MW MS OBE, Michael Hill Smith MW and Andrew Jefford of Decanter - and of course the chairperson Steven Spurrier. Ch’ng Poh Tiong, Shinya Tasaki, and Li Demei from China are the other co-chairs.
More than 50 wine experts from across Asia joined the judging panel this year, including Sonal Holland MW, India’s first Master of Wine, Tan Ying Hsien, Singapore’s first Master of Wine, Adrian Zhang, director of Wine at the Park Hyatt Shanghai, Arnaud Bardary MS, head sommelier at the Black Sheep in Hong Kong, according to Decanter. a total of 3,235 entries were received.
Grover Zampa is naturally happy with the Recognition. Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO of Grover Zampa Vineyards says, "DAWA is a reputed wine competition in Asia. We are elated to have won 10 medals. Quality and consistency have always remained our key focus. There is a lot of R & D work going on at our vineyards and the wineries to elevate the quality and develop new styles. These awards firm up our belief that we are moving in the right direction. Special thanks to our vineyard and wine-making team for their passion and commitment that shine bright in the form of these glories".
Although happy about the performance of Fratelli, Kapil Sekhri, Director of the company is disappointed at not bagging a gold medal. ‘That's the aim Subhash Ji! I am confident we can do it. Just need to apply ourselves harder,’ he told delWine when informed about the results.
To put things in perspective, China has won 99 medals. Interestingly, Shanxi Grace Vineyard Tasya’s Reserve Marselan 2015 has been awarded a Platinum Best in Show, the highest award (a total of 15 such Recognitions). Marselan, a cross between Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache is gradually becoming a signature grape variety in China since it is heat and disease resistant. Perhaps, it is high time the Indian vintners had a look at it since it has already proved to be successful in the new world countries like Argentina and Brazil.
For last year’s Awards, Click Lacklustre Performance by Indian Wines at Decanter Asia Awards
For the total Results for DAWA2017 which also give details of the highest medal awarded- Platinum, click
Subhash Arora
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