A total of 214 wine samples from 18 countries were tasted at the competition. The judges tasted in accordance with the International Rules. A maximum of a third of the submitted samples may be awarded in this competition. A majority of judges (55%) are from outside France.

Awarded wine

Myne is the label of the wines from this winery (short synthesized form of My Wine).The Myne Reserve Shiraz 2023 is made from ripe grapes grown in the Bhīma/Krishna river valley region of southeast Maharashtra.  It is supposed to be a full-bodied barrel-aged dry wine with a fruit-forward taste with ripe and soft tannins and a smooth and fruity sensation.

Its balanced acidity enhances the entire experience with enduring aftertaste, says Prashanth Nair, the Director of the company since 2017, its year of inception. The wine has warm spicy notes of black cardamom, white pepper, and star anise, along with red and black fruits, fruit jam, and hints of vanilla and chocolate, adds Prashanth. The flavour includes notes of plums, blackberry jam, raspberry, liquorice, chocolate, vanilla, almonds, and spices.

Since the Syrah du Monde award was launched18 years ago, India has won only 3 silver medals. In 2010 and 2014 Sula won both the Silver medals when Ajoy Shaw was their senior winemaker.  Ajoy is a consultant winemaker for this company was incorporated in 2017 but winery was established in 2023. Says Prashanth, ‘we are extremely happy not only for winning the medal for India after a drought for 10 years but also because we won in our very first vintage.’

Only 6000 bottles (50) cases were made. The wine is expected to be in the market soon at a suggested MRP of around rs 1550 in Maharashtra. It seems a bit cheeky to start with such high prices in the very first year but if the quality is as good as Prashanth claims, and with a senior winemaker like Ajoy helping him, it might work out well for the company as the quality seems to be the focus.

In any case, one can expect to taste the wine, if not already tasted at their winery at MIDC at Vinchur Niphad in Nashik. Delhi consumers will have to wait. Prashanth rues that the label registration charges are back-breakingly high and despite a couple of restaurants showing their interest, it may not be prudent to think of Delhi market right now.

Syrah du Monde is an international wine competition that focuses only on Syrah (Shiraz) grapes- there are other similar varietal- based variants like Chardonnay du Monde etc. There were 214 entries from 18 countries including France, Italy, Hungary and New Zealand and of course, India. According to the rules only a third of the wines entered can win medals. Thus 26 Gold and 45 Silver medals were awarded, taking the total to 71, a third of the samples submitted. Silver medal won by Vishanth Industries was the lone entry from India. As with most competitions globally, the organisers do not declare the details of samples submitted by a winery- only the winners are announced.

For Results, click

For details about the competition, visit https://www.syrah-du-monde.com

Indian Wine Academy and delWine congratulate Prashanth Nair and wish him a Gold Medal for his Myne Reserva Shiraz or other wines in future soon.

Subhash Arora