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Four Seasons wines was launched in Chennai on the 3rd September with a tasting organised by Terroir – Madras Wine Club for its members, followed by another public event on the 4th September organised by UB along with Sheraton Park Hotel.
I had met Mr Abhay Kewadkar at their stand in Vinexpo at Bordeaux in June 2009. He had shown interest in introducing his wines to the members of Terroir –Madras Wine Club. So we started to organise the same and it finally happened on the 3rd Sep.
Mr Abhay Kewadkar, The Chief Winemaker and Business Head of UB had come from Bangalore to present the wines to about 30 members present. This was our fourth event since the inauguration in January this year- held at the fashionable pub of Chennai called 10 Downing street.
The event started with the tasting of UB’s Bouvet Ladubay Brut. Kewadkar also introduced the Four Seasons range made at their Baramati winery. Among the five varietals launched – Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Blush Zinfandel, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz, the Chenin was an instant hit with the members as compared to the Sauvignon Blanc. The reds were soft and easy drinking with low tannins. Mr Kewadkar emphasised that Four Seasons wines are easy drinking, light in body and with low alcohol content. Some members did like both the red varietals. It was our first tasting of India wines after organising a few tastings of imported wines earlier.
The public launch at Chennai on the 4th Sep at Sheraton Park Hotel was attended by more than hundred guests. I could spot many industrialists, liquor industry representatives & distillery owners, members of diplomatic missions in Chennai, socialites, and members of foreign cultural and business associations, artists as well as an Australian cricket star Mathew Hayden.
After the host Mr. Virender Razdan, the GM welcomed the guests, Mr Kewadkar introduced the wines and the winery in Baramati. All the five varietals were served at different counters with matching veg and non veg kebabs. There was also a spread of cheeses, salads and deserts to end the evening.
The two white wines were clearly the winners followed by the Shiraz and Cabernet sauvignon. Surprisingly the Blush Zinfandel was not appreciated by many. Personally I preferred the Chenin Blanc and Shiraz. To my query, Abhay confirmed that all the winemaking techniques were indigenous and nothing was imported.
After tasting the first vintage, we were all confident that their wines will improve with every vintage under the guidance of Mr Abhay Kewadkar. We now await their other varietals to be released in the market in a few months as also their Reserve range.
Chinmaya Arjun Raja
www.chennaiwineclub.com |