| Photos By:: Adil Arora
 The neighbouring winery of Sula in Nashik has been producing wines since 2008. Dictated by the commercial exigencies of the tough Indian wine market, York started to produce for third party labels as well, a few years ago. Turning Point has been one such label but the winery came into limelight when it was approached by Moet Hennessey in India to produce Chandon Brut and Chandon Rose Brut using their facility. Perhaps, because of the publicity generated by the well-made wine that was launched last October in Mumbai, York and Turning Point worked in tandem and introduced nine of their wines jointly in Delhi last month.
 The closed group of Indian Wine Academy with over 1850 members in a short span of 2 months is a relatively small group on Facebook of wine lovers who love to discuss and debate the wine issues that are relevant mainly to the Indians although it does have a small number of expat members who are interested in the Indian wines or the market. The membership is diversified and has different stakeholders- ranging from novices to experts, producers to importers, academics and consumers of India and other countries. Some of the members often request us an opportunity to taste wines. Although easier to visit and taste wines in the wineries and the vineyards in Mumbai, Bangalore or even Nashik, one has to taste wines offline, i.e. at a restaurant or special tastings organised by the producers in cities like Delhi.
Indian Wine Academy invited about 40 members living in Delhi NCR region to a complimentary tasting of these wines where Chef Nira Singh had offered to prepare delicious snacks throughout the tasting. Director of York Ravi Gurnani came from Nashik to present the wines and interact with those present and get a proper feedback. Sauvignon, Chenin, Cabernet and Shiraz were the main protagonists.
 Considering the interior arrangement of the restaurant and with the intent to have people enjoy the evening rather than a guided tasting, people were encouraged to try as many wines as possible and enjoy them with the delicious snacks that kept on coming endlessly out of the kitchen under the direct charge of Chef Nira. Shortly after the introduction by Arora and presentation by Ravi Gurnani whose Adelaide-educated brother Kailash is the winemaker (Ravi is an engineer who has studied in London) people were digging into the plates and refilling their glasses with animated discussions about which one was better of the whites- Sauvignon Blanc or Chenin Blanc. York Reserve Shiraz was the clear winner of the palates even though it retails for Rs. 800 in Delhi while others are in the range of Rs.500-600 generally.
 The Turning Point packaging of silver sleeve on top covering the glass and the liquid inside, with chic and attractive printing got people impressed though there were no specific winners in terms of a ‘best wine’. They say, wine is enjoyed best when imbibed with good food and in good company- and when it is free. (A small registration charge to cover the cost of food ingredients, notwithstanding). All the three ingredients were present this evening so people took a very positive view of the wines. When the people did not move out at the expected closing time, Chef Nira who is a generous person besides being an innovative chef stepped on the gas on the preparation of French and Italian type pizzas and the Montreal styled soup (she hails from the French dominated city of Canada) with noodles and with French fries so that those with their feet firm on the ground and hands firmly around their glasses would not have to stay hungry or look for another restaurant after finishing the enjoyable evening.
That the people went home happy might be an understatement. They expressed the desire for the Indian Wine Academy (IWA) to host more such events; a note was duly made in the IWA calendar.
Subhash Arora |