As craft, aroma, texture and freshness gain importance among beer buffs across the country, breweries big and small are paying attention! But there are several challenges that brewers are surmounting to make draught beer accessible to thirsty hopheads. Read more about the froth and fun in our cover story here.
PLUS:
- Retail challenges faced by alcobev sector
- What are investors looking for?
- Capturing CO2 for brewers’ benefit
- Tete-a-Tete with Jonas Vittur of Copitas Bar
- B&S Expo set for September 4-6
- Rinsing out the grime on green-washing
- McDowell’s debuts single malt whiskey
A PAGE OF HISTORY
(…SHALL BE SOON REPEATED FOR OUR 6TH ANN.end Sept.)
We’ve declared launch of our month long celebration of 5th ann of our club.at last Sat’s 55th Wine&Cheese event at Durgapur.
The evening was,as always curated with Wine Club Durgapur,WB.We had Grover Zampa and Good Drop for wines and Lemon Grass as our venue sponsors.
The tempo shall be continued at our 56th(Sponsors, Grover Zampa,Good Drop and Beyzaa Hotel & Resorts)and 57th(Sponsors,SDU for wines,Curemonte for Cheese and Trippy Goat fir venue) events at Kolkata and Bengaluru respectively.
Finally,culminating at 4days’ set of events, at Mumbai and Nashik.(Sponsors, Sula,Grover Zampa,Reveilo,Good Drop,7Peaks,Vinland,Cerana,Virgin Hills, Rhythm,Wagh,Sahara Star.)
private tasting.
We asked the winemaker lot of questions. Tasted wines from the barrels , from their tanks, fresh wines, aged wines. Drank 8 different wines here
The next hour was a private tasting session based on our preferences. We got to taste premium wines as well ($200 bottles). Drank 8 wines here as well lol
Drank means tasting sizes only but it all adds up.
Then we ended it with a tour to their 100 year old family cellar. 20,000 wines in the cellar. They don’t drink them or touch them. Just like a library for the winemakers. We got to take photos there. The oldest bottle they have is a 1954. The guide couldn’t find it but we took a picture of another vintage.Madhav Ram,Nagpur
Sixth Anniversary Celebration of AWCI – Sixer beyond the boundaries
As the Sun played hide and seek with the clouds, casting a warm glow over the ‘Rooftop of Orchid Hotel, Ville Parle (E)’, AWCI, along with the associates ‘Wine Club of Durgapur’ and ‘The Cask Circle’ – Pune, gathered to celebrate its sixth anniversary—a milestone steeped in rich flavours and cherished memories. The air was filled with the sweet scent of ripe grapes and the promise of fine wines, setting the perfect backdrop for an afternoon of camaraderie.
And yes, am back with an afternoon of fine experiences & the softer side of life. This member of AWCI who once said to you all, “Wine is NOT a drink, BUT an emotion”, is here again to take you through the fun filled, mesmerizing afternoon of our Club’s 6th anniversary celebration.
Members arrived, their laughter mingling with the gentle rustle of leaves, onset of autumn. The long table was adorned with wine glasses, champaign flutes and elegant place settings, each reflecting the spirit of the club. A curated selection of wines from around the world awaited us, each bottle a testament to the journeys we have embarked on together.
The afternoon commenced with a heartfelt toast led by the club’s Founder-CEO, Sidd Banerji. As glasses clinked and warm words echoed through the rustic cottage style terrace space, stories of past tastings, vineyard visits, and unforgettable pairings flowed freely. Each member shared their favourite moments—the time they discovered a hidden gem in a local winery or the lively debate over which vintage was truly the best.
As the noon unfolded, Ruby Banerji, one of the pillars of this club announced the lucky draw prizes and the cute little gifts she always brings for all of us. This was followed by the recognition and acknowledgement through certificates to the pillars of AWCI, namely the chapter heads and the national advisers. Major honours went to Ashok Chandak from Durgapur(WB), Ashish Sharma & his daughter Priya from Delhi & Deepak Bhatnagar from Mumbai.
The exclusive corner of the terrace where the wines were served had a sommelier who guided us through a carefully crafted tasting experience by offering us glasses of various blends for our taste buds. Each pour was accompanied by tales of the vineyards, the passionate winemakers, and the unique terroirs that shaped each bottle. Members savoured a crisp Sauvignon Blanc, followed by a delicate Red, its notes of chocolate and earth grounding us in the moment that danced on the palate like laughter in the air. The exclusive wines that were offered to all the members came from our sponsors, Grover Zampa, Reveilo, Good Drop, Virgin Hills, 7 Hills, Cerana Meads, Sam’s Wines,Pomona,York & Rhythm.
A buffet of fish tikkas, chicken small bite burgers, mushroom quiche and gourmet dishes complemented the wines, showcasing local ingredients that told their own stories. Conversations flowed as easily as the wine, with laughter echoing, binding friendships even tighter. The aromas of Biryani, Lasagne, various salads and many more danced through the space putting more life to the existing high of the blends.
To mark the occasion, some special spiced meads were served. As we tasted the creations, pride and nostalgia mingled, each sip a reminder of the hard work, creativity and shared passion and dedication.
As noon turned to early evening, the sky fluffed with white clouds, mirroring the joy in our hearts. The evening culminated in melodious music, where tunes intertwined with the clinking of glasses, celebrating not just the love of wine, but the bonds that had formed over six years of shared experiences. The compere & one of the pillars of the club, Shailesh took charge of the microphone for a fun filled afternoon. The other pillars of AWCI, Hans Raj Ahuja, Dibyendu, Sunetra, Tina and Deven were felicitated for their unparalleled support and contribution to the club.
As the final toast was raised, it was clear that the true essence of ‘Apex Wine Club India’ was not just in the wines we savoured, but in the friendships we have nurtured and the memories we have created. Here’s to many more years of exploration, laughter, and, of course, exquisite wine. Cheers to the journey ahead! Which is the wine tour to Nasik that follows the next day. That story shall unfold some other day when again I would sit with a glass of Pinot Noir that would make me tell you about more golden moments we create together. Love to say it again & again & again… “Wine is not a drink, but an EMOTION” !
The author-next-door who is also the wine enthusiast signs off now with the promise of coming back soon and to many more.
Cheers,
Suparna Chakravarty Mukherjee,
National Adviser,
Apex Wine Club India