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| FINE Privileges |
| This is as big as it gets. Ambassadors and High Commissioners of 12 countries personally selecting wines of their choice to represent their country for a special dinner may well be a dream for a wine lover – it doesn’t happen often. But, for FINE Wine & Champagne India magazine – India's first and only officially recognised wine magazine – and friends of FINE, it was the fourth such occasion as FINE celebrated its anniversary this year. |
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The FINE Ambassadors' & High Commissioners' Table |
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| The concept of the FINE Ambassadors' & High Commissioners' Table was conceived as FINE turned 1 in 2012. The idea was to take wine loving guests on a journey through wine producing regions in different continents over a special dinner in one evening. A unique and one-of-its-kind experience, the evening allowed the invited guests to understand the regional nuances and complexities in the wines. |
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The hosts, H.E. Aapo Aapo Pölhö and Inkeri Siekkinen |
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| The elaborate 5 course dinner was hosted by H.E. The Ambassador of Finland to India Aapo Pölhö and his wife Inkeri Siekkinen at their avant garde residence in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. Every year since its inception, the numbers have grown (both in participants and in invitees) and this has become a "must-be-there" evening. |
| This year, 12 countries covering 5 continents, participated with their wines and treats from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Canada, France (and Champagne), Hungary, Malta, New Zealand, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and USA were shared with the invited guests. Each Ambassador/ High Commissioner admirably defended their choice of wine – some chose their favourite wine, some brought the country icon, some played the surprise card. The distant continent of South America was represented for the first time, as Argentina joined the table, as did Malta. |
| As guests arrived in the Finnish Residence, they were greeted with Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009 (USA) and Medina Syrah 2013 (Malta) with some canapés. Jon Slette of the American Embassy was worried about the heat, and asked for Chardonnay to be served at 2° below the normal serving temperature. The Maltese Syrah was also slightly cool and both wines were found very refreshing. |
| Speaking from besides a larger than life cover of FINE magazine, Ritu Singhal, Chief Executive of FINE, shared the evolution of the magazine from being an infant to a toddler, from a vision to a reality. H. E. Aapo Pölhö welcomed guests to what he called a "tradition" at the Finnish Residence, where Finland was the catalyst – surely a very important one. He invited the guests to move to the dining area, where the finest Finn-crested chinaware and silver service were impeccably laid out. The dinner was prepared by the in-house kitchen team at the Residence led by Chef Sanjay under the watchful eyes of the hosts. |
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The wine team - Ravi Joshi, Arjun Sachar, Ankur Chawla - with Rajiv Singhal |
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| Each mission head sent a wine that had been selected, some of them were specially brought-in for this table, and our wine team of Ankur Chawla and Ravi Joshi took charge to ensure that the wines were served in best conditions. The cellars and service arrangements (including staff) put at their disposal by the Residence Manager Shiv, came up aces to assist them. |
| The wines tasted (in order of service) were: |
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Kendall-Jackson Vintner’s Reserve Chardonnay 2009 (USA)
Straw colour, with aromas of tropical fruit and spice. A light body, off-dryish wine with vibrant acidity and hints of toasted oak. |
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Medina Syrah 2013 (Malta)
An easy drinking, juicy, deep ruby red wine with red fruit aromas and soft tannins. Palate of dark berries and subtly lingering finish. |
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Veuve A. Devaux Ultra D
Medium gold with a fine rising mousse. Persistent bead, citrus, stone fruits and bready aromas, complex palate of red apples, ripe pears and a lingering minerally finish. |
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Ayama Chenin Blanc 2012 (South Africa)
Pale lemon appearance. Intense aromas of white flowers, nectarine and tree fruits. Lush on the palate with flavours of red apples, pears and a hint of spice. |
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Krug Die Versuchung 2013 (Austria)
Straw coloured. Dry, refreshing, light bodied and minerally with medium ripe apricots and peaches on the palate. |
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Te Mata Estate Syrah 2013 (New Zealand)
A straightforward ‘expressive yet easy’ Syrah with dark fruit and spice aromas. Rounded on the palate with plenty of blackberries, dark cherries and black pepper. Fine tannins with a smooth long finish. |
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Inniskillin Reserve Cabernet Franc 2012 (Canada)
Deep ruby and restrained on the nose. Aromas of blackberries and sweet spice after decanting for 30 minutes. Firm and palate coating tannins around dense black fruit flavours. A food wine. |
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Bodega Norton Reserva Malbec 2010 (Argentina)
Ruby coloured medium bodied red wine with abundant red fruits aromas and oak overtones. Well rounded tannins and dark cherries on the palate culminating with a toasty finish. |
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Stella Bella Cabernet Sauvignon Merlot 2008 (Australia)
An explosively fruity nose of black cherries, plum and vanilla. Delicious on the palate with supple tannins , black fruits and chocolate. Well balanced and lingeringly long and chewy finish. |
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Jean Bouchard Mercurey 2011 (France)
A light ruby wine with a juicy disposition. A harmonious nose and palate expressive of red cherries, wild mushrooms and earthy undertones. Silky texture and lasting. |
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Marqués de Riscal Rioja Reserva 2009 (Spain)
Gamey and meaty aromas supplemented by a dense multilayered palate of dark fruits, leather and very emphatic spice. Well rounded, the tannins are firm yet silky and sweet and lingering. |
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Quinta de Pancas Reserva 2008 (Portugal)
Cooked dark fruit aromas accompanied by a steely palate. Flavours of berry compote, asparagus and truffles. Large wine, with a lot of complexity. |
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Tornai Dunántúli Aranykönny Zeus 2011 (Hungary)
Deep gold and delicious! Aromas of melons, quince, honey and white pepper. Palate coating consistency with dried fruits and spice. A very balanced wine with lovely acidity. |
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| Wine is engaged in a long drawn battle to find favour with the whisky-loving Indian consumer, and some progress has been made in this direction. FINE has specialised in pioneering activities in India and believe that collective showcases, like this one, will help winemakers around the world wow oenophiles with wines that show unique characters of the "terroir". And FINE friends will remain privileged! |
| Chief Executive of vino india, Rajiv Singhal is also the Publisher and Editor of FINE Wine & Champagne India. He was co-host for FINE's 4th anniversary dinner. And Managing Editor, Ravi Joshi took charge of the wines. Please share any feedback with vino india info@vinoindia.in |
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