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Delhi Wine Club seems to be on its way to becoming a launching pad for restaurants and wines. After launching I-talia at the DLF Promenade, The Med at the Radisson, Zest at the DLF Emporio and the newly refurbished Bar at the Metropolitan Hotel a week earlier, it was the turn of Ceretto wines from Piemonte- a family run winery owned and run by two brothers Bruno and Marcello Ceretto and their offspring, Federico and Roberta, Alessandro and Lisa.
Federico Ceretto who looks after the marketing flew in from Mumbai directly to the venue-the heavenly Magique Restaurant, accompanied by Sumedh Mandla- Head of the wine division and CEO and Arun Kumar-Director of the importing firm, Aspri and presented wines.
Federico’s grand-father, Riccardo founded the company 70 years ago in Alba. But it was his sons, the two Barolo Brothers as Bruno and Marcello are known overseas, who took the company forward in the sixties when they decided to improve the quality and utilize the Terroir to highlight their wines.
The four cousins look after finance, marketing PR and winemaking, making it an all-family affair. Federico credits his uncle Marcello with the technology innovations but said, ‘my father is a man of vision who is always coming up with ideas. In fact, when I go back after 3 weeks, there would be enough in our plate to work on for one whole year, thanks to him.’
Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO of Aspri said, “We will be working towards making these wines available in all premium hotels and restaurants across India and educating both trade and end consumers about the special region of Piemonte and this great brand”. Arun Kumar, the Director informed delWine that the company was shifting heavily towards marketing quality wines and the Ceretto label signified a move in the right direction.
Following seven wine labels were launched during the evening:
1. Blangé Langhe Arneis doc 2007
2. Monsordo Langhe Rosso doc 2004
3. Bricco Assili Bernardot Barbaresco docg 2004
4. Asij Barbaresco docg 2004
5. Bricco Rocche, Brunate Barolo docg 2004
6. Zonchera Barolo docg 2003
7. Moscato d'Asti doc 2007
Although the company has inherent strengths in making Barolo, Barbaresco and other red wines- they have four different wineries for different wines they produce, because, ‘my grandfather and later, my father and uncle believed that the best quality wine can be produced only if the grapes are vinified near the source of harvest,’ they came up with the idea of Arneis in the mid 80s and started making it at the Monsordo Bernardina winery where the headquarters are also located. Today about 22% of total Arneis is produced by his company, he informed and is perhaps the most popular white wine of Italy (I wonder what the Soave producers would have to say about that!)
‘Seventies and eighties was a period in Italy when we realised that we were globally famous for our design innovations. So we decided to use that concept in our packaging as well. Starting for the Blange, we used the famous Italian designer Silvio Coppola we had the bottles and labels designed by him and the wines were instant hits. The subtly aromatic, fruity but dry wine with light golden touch was an instant hit at the tasting.
Monsordo Langhe Rosso doc 2004 was a surprise package and also reflects the growing feeling in the sixties and seventies that Cabernet blends are perhaps the best in the region. After trying for 16 years, the Ceretto family came to the current blend of about 60% Cabernet, 12-17% each of Merlot and Shiraz with only around 5% Nebbiolo. The efforts show, because the wine is well balanced, fruity and elegant, with juicy tannins and a complex flavour.
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| Federico Ceretto with Arun Kumar |
The Barbaresco and Barolo were all good to outstanding in flavours and aromas, perfect for red meats, with Barbaresco being slightly less tannic and more feminine but all 4 ready to drink. Barolo could do with some more decanting though.
From the quality of the wines tasted, it looks like Aspri has a winner on hand, including the Moscato d’Asti which was quite fruity and with 60 gms of sugar had such balanced acidity that one could polish off a bottle between friends with or without desserts.
Thanks to the dedicated staff assigned for the evening, there was plenty of Ceretto to satisfy the palates of even the most die-hard wine lovers. After all, it is not every day that wines from a prestigious region such as Piemonte are launched at the Club event!
Subhash Arora |