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| At a Tasting of Consorzio of Chianti Classico |
Salone del Vino is an annual wine fair organised in
Lungotto Fair grounds of Torino, in the old industrial
township that used to churn out Fiat cars before the
factory was moved out. Held between 26-29 October it
had the presence of about 1000 wineries participating
directly or through their Consortiums.
The fair was too small for the likes of Gaja, Paolo
Scavino, Michele Chiarlo, Pio Cesare of Piemonte and
many other big names to participate but the Barolo producer
Roberto Bava was present. Similarly the Consortiums
from areas like Chianti Classico, San Gimignano, Brunello
do Montalcino were present too, though individual companies
like Rocca delle Macie (from Chianti Classico) were
proudly tasting their latest arrivals in the market
too.
IWA takes a delegation of Buyers
As a part of its service to the wine importing community,
the Indian Wine Academy had taken a delegation of ten
buyers- the second largest contingent exceeded in size
only by Japan. Each buyer had the privilege of meeting
and tasting wines from up to 30 producers of his choice-
pre-designated and pre-matched.
The list included UB whose commitment to make it big
as an importer too, was disclosed by its Vice President-
Abhay Kewadkar who attended personally and went beyond
meeting the 30 producers. Sovereign Impex, FineWinesNMore,
High Spirits etc are already importing wines. There
were some new hopeful additions too. Pearls Wines imports
Australian Wines and was a participant in last year’s
IFE-India as well as this year at Pragati Maidan, on
6-8 December. Italian wine import is on top of their
list of expansion.
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| Indian Delegation to Salone del Vino |
Big Banyan Wines has recently entered the Indian market.
But they too declared their intention of serious import
buying with an emphasis on Italian imports as they are
tied up with an Italian winemaker. With the Olive Restaurant
and Bar opening up not one but two restaurants shortly,
it was perhaps an indication that they might soon go
for direct wine imports, as the presence of their senior
person, Mohit Balachandran indicated.
The participation of Aman Sharma from the Central Purchase
of Taj Hotels in Mumbai showed how seriously they take
their imported wine portfolio. The enthusiasm with which
he met the producers indicated they may be focussing
on the Italian wines in an even bigger way.
The next expected step of Italian wine producers re-inforcing
the existing importers was evident with a few of them
seen discussing with the new prospects even though the
existing network seems to be in place. Some of them
felt that the sales performance could perhaps be better
by breaking up the territories like in the USA since
the existing ones might be concentrating their efforts
in their areas only.
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