Jan 20: Delhi Wine Club celebrated its 300th wine event with aplomb as a Champagne Brunch at the Pluck Restaurant at Pullman New Delhi Aerocity on January 11, during which President Subhash Arora who founded the club in 2002 and nurtured it for 18 years, stepped aside and Sourish Bhattacharyya took over as the President, with the restaurant filled to capacity engaging with the members thanks also to its delicious cuisine and Champagne Devaux D and red and white still wines, writes Arora
Photos By:: Adil Arora
No wine events have been full of so much emotion as the event on Saturday, with many old members attending the milestone, historic event. After 18 years of club service, Arora had decided to call it a day, handing the reigns to the Vice President, Sourish Bhattacharyya who is one of the senior most members of the Club. By a show of hands, Arora was unanimously made the President Emeritus, a status he accepted with humility and hope to be around for several years and watch his baby grow and promised all possible assistance and support to Sourish Bhattacharyya.
One had never seen Pluck so full and bubbly with excitement since the hotel was inaugurated about 4 years ago. About 80 people attended the unique milestone event of the Club. Over 170 dishes/items from the Indian Italian and Oriental stable, offering a myriad of flavours compatible with the Devaux D champagne. Several labels of red and white wine were there too.
Presenting the champagne, Arora said it was a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay and the wine had been matured for 5 years including a year in the bottle. A third of the reserve wine had been fermented in barrique, giving the yeasty flavours of the wine and making it more creamy and complex structured. The well-chilled champagne was poured generously throughout the afternoon-adding a lot to the bonhomie, with the decibels going up as the lunch 
progressed.
It was also an event where not only Subhash Arora took the members through the 18-year journey spanning across 300 events but also many old and new members and guests sharing their experience with the Delhi Wine Club during this period. The essence of the short speeches was in the message from an out-of-town member Arun Sharma based in Washington DC. Here is the gist of what he wrote and conveyed by Ranganathan Parthiban, the incoming Vice-President, ’on this momentous occasion I want to convey my deepest gratitude for what you have done for the DWC over the last 17 years. Speaking for all members, I have many reasons to be particularly thankful. We all know how difficult it is to organize such events and to sustain the momentum. To do this over these years to reach 300 events is a stupendous achievement.’
‘Every one of these events has brought so much learning, friendship, and of course wonderful wine and food experiences to those who have had the good fortune to attend. We have all looked forward to these events regardless of how many we have attended in the past. This amazing run has been made possible by a combination of your relentless passion, selfless commitment, incredible 
energy and a wonderfully positive outlook; I wish the world had more people like Subhash Arora ; it would have been a better place.’
‘I must add that your contribution goes well beyond the DWC. I see you as a true cultural pioneer and innovator who has played a key role in the introduction and spread of wine as a core element of The Indian culinary culture. You have been a tremendous ambassador for India as a participant in the global world of wine and your many international honors reflect this. Thank you Subhash for bringing so much happiness in all our lives.’
Arora was particularly touched by the Plaque and the valuable gifts the money for which was contributed by several individual members.
A special mention must be made about the staff of Pluck. Under the leadership of the F & B Director Gautam Khanna, they were all on their toes, not only helping fill the champagne glasses and pouring white and red wines for many, they were busy fulfilling the 
requests of various members to bring individual dishes on the table, even past 4 pm. Exec Chef Neeraj Tyagi was at his best with several specially curated dishes and mingling with members. Biswajit Chakraborty, General Manager Delegate of the hotel had a prior lunch commitment. Yet he returned to be with the members before the event was over. The hotel was also generous enough to rustle up three Lucky Draw prizes- for- 2 at Pluck, Honk and Pling Bar where a Jazz Evening is organised every month. The Restaurant had worked around the clock to refurbish the kitchen and add several live stations in time for the event.
The 3rd edition of the delWine Excellence Awards is being organised again at the Pullman on April 30. As Arora mentioned, he was happy his last event as the Club President, and the last 300th event of the Club was being organised at Pullman and that it was a Champagne Brunch, a celebratory event that would stay etched in the minds of members for a long time. He also hoped that the Club will co-sponsor again, the delWine Awards this year and wished Sourish Bhattacharyya and his team a very successful tenure and hope the team will take the club to newer heights.
Subhash Arora
MENU GALLERY PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE VIDEO-ARORA VIDEO-SOURISH
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