The Best Wines and Best Places To Drink Wine In The Country – India Wine Awards 2019
~The third edition of the India Wine Awards saw 116 winning wines being crowned from a total of 376 wine nominations and 17 restaurants for their wine programs, at a glittering ceremony held at the Grand Ballroom, The Leela, Mumbai~
October 5, 2019; Mumbai: The winners of the 2019 India Wine Awards were revealed at a sparkling black-tie event attended by luminaries of the wine and hospitality world at The Leela, Mumbai.
The awards ceremony saw a total of 116 medals being awarded, to wines in Silver, Gold and Diamond Best in Show categories, and a further 17 restaurants in the country being recognized for their outstanding wine lists and as best wine destinations.
The winning wines included 17 Diamond Best in Class Trophies for those outstanding wines that had the top scores in the competition results. This year, the popular Best Wine Pairings with Cuisines Popular in India category had 8 Trophy Winners emerge from 56 wines, paired with six dishes including sushi, Kung Pao chicken, pizza, Haleem, Thai green curry, and Fabelle chocolates from ITC group.
The India Wine Awards, led by the most qualified and foremost wine professionals in India and abroad, is an initiative powered by Sonal Holland MW, India’s first Master of Wine, Founder-Director of SoHo Wine Club and her namesake Academy.
Wines entered in the competition were judged over two days, in September this year, by a panel chaired by Sonal Holland MW, comprising 17 distinguished wine professionals, hospitality leaders and tastemakers. As always, the tastings were done blind, without any knowledge of producer, region or quality level.
The key highlights of the India Wine Awards 2019 were:
- The IWA are India’s first awards to recognise that at comparable price-points, well-made, premium examples of Indian wines are on par with international ones for their world-class attributes, indicating that the Indian wine industry is indeed maturing, and domestic wines are evolving for the better, in taste, quality and enjoyability.
- For the first time in the history of the IWA medal stickers have been introduced for all silver, gold and diamond best in show trophy winners, which can be affixed on award-winning wines. India Wine Award medal stickers affixed on bottles will help consumers immediately distinguish excellent wines from the ordinary. This consumer-centric initiative will guide customers to choose the champions in the wine industry from retail shelves.
- As leaders in the domain of wine education in India since the past decade, this year the IWA launched a trio of masterclasses focusing on the appreciation of the different facets of wine. ‘The Extraordinary Italian Taste’ and the ‘Varietal Tasting – Focus on Chardonnay’, were in partnership with Wine & Sprit Education Trust (WSET), global leaders in wine, spirt and sake education. ‘A Journey of the Senses – The Glass and the Palate’ in association with Lucaris Crystal, the leading stemware company from Asia, the official stemware partners at the IWA 2019. The resounding attendance to the masterclasses reflected reflects a growing demand and urgent need for quality wine & spirits education among members of the trade as well as consumers.
On October 5, seen enjoying award-winning wines in fine crystal Lucaris glasses over a gastronomic dinner hosted by The Leela Mumbai, were Ian Harris – Global CEO of Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), who flew to India for the very first time to be a part of the India Wine Awards celebrations; Stefania Costanza – Consul General of Italy in Mumbai, who has demonstrated staunch support for India Wine Awards 2019 via an ‘Extraordinary Taste of Italy’ pavilion at the event, showcasing wines, pastas, olive oil, artisanal cheeses and more; Ravi Vishwanathan, the newly-minted Chairman of Grover Zampa Vineyards, who offered his support by partnering on the Awards for Restaurant Wines program; Uday Verma, Executive Director at Lucaris Crystal, the official glassware partner for IWA 2019; and many more. Anish Trivedi, the whisky evangelist and the Master of Ceremonies for the India Wine Awards 2019, along Aishwarya Nair with were seen mingling at the Shazé’s stylish bar which had on display their festive Shazé Hosting Collection.
The jury, now in its third year, once again comprised of some of the most important names in the country’s food & beverage industry. This included Taljinder Singh – Senior Vice President SeleQtions & South Mumbai Hotels, General Manager – The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai & Taj Mahal Tower, Mumbai; Zubin Songadwala – General Manager, ITC Hotels; Namrata Zakaria – Writer & Columnist, Mumbai Mirror; Dietmar Kielnhofer – General Manager, JW Marriott Sahar; Ruma Singh – Senior Wine Writer; Subhash Arora – Founder & Editor- delWine, Wine writer and Wine Judge; Lalit Rane – Sommelier, St. Regis Mumbai, amongst many more. The jury received delectable hampers from ITC’s Fabelle exquisite chocolates.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonal Holland MW said, “We feel proud that in three years, since our launch in 2017, we have established India Wine Awards as the biggest and the most authoritative wine competition in the country that holds authenticity, credibility, relevance and integrity as its 4 cornerstones. It is equally exciting that the India Wine Awards which recognizes, rewards and celebrates the best of wines and wine programs in the country, continues to get bigger, bolder and broader in its vision, with education, empowerment and experiences at the heart of its creative intent.”
Applauding the India Wine Awards initiative, Rajeev Samant – Founder & CEO of Sula Vineyards, India’s leading wine producer said, “The India Wine Awards is such an important initiative for our wine industry in India. We need a credible awarding body that recognizes noteworthy wines being produced in India as well as imported wines that are coming into the country; something that a consumer can refer to when selecting their wines. India Wine awards, as the country’s apex and most premium awards is a necessary step towards recognising wines that are worth drinking.”
Rahul Akerkar, whose Qualia was awarded for the Best Upcoming Wine Destinations in the new restaurant launch categories, shared his excitement, “The India Wine Awards are a credible platform to evaluate and rank wines, both domestic and imported that are available for sale in India. Wines are judged by the jury in a professional, organized, unbiased manner. As a member of the jury for the past three years, it has been a joy to taste hundreds of wines each year and be amazed at the results that blind-tastings tend to produce. They have certainly helped me evaluate wines for my restaurants’ wine lists.”
The sparkling 2019 India Wine Awards night ended on a high note, bringing to culmination, a year-long process to recognise the best available wines, as well as the best places to drink wine in the country.
The List of Award Winners at the 2019 INDIA WINE AWARDS
LIST OF TROPHY WINES AND CATEGORIES
Best in Show
- G.H.Mumm NV , France
- Grover Zampa Chêne Grand Réserve 2015 , India
- J’NOON Red 2017 , India
- The Source Grenache Rosé 2019 , India
- Trapiche Oak Cask Malbec 2018, Argentina
- KRSMA Syrah 2017, India
- SDU Reserva Syrah 2015 , India
- Bodegas Ego Fuerza , Spain
- Dry Creek Vineyards Heritage Vines Zinfandel , USA
- Paul Jabuolet Aine, Les Traverses, Ventoux AOC, 2016 , France
- Framigham Pinot Noir Marlborough , New Zealand
- Zenato Ripassa Valpolicella DOC Superiore 2015, Italy
Best in Show – Italian Selection
- Itinera Montepulciano D’Abruzzo
- Tedeschi Capitel San Rocco Valpolicella Ripasso DOC Superiore
- Carpene Malvolti Prosecco Special Cuvee Brut DOC
- Sensi Boscoselvo Brunello di Montalcino DOCG
- Zenato Soave Classico, Veneto
Best Wines Paired with Popular Cuisines in India
- Best Wine pairing with Sushi Sensi Prosecco Gold 18K , Italy
- Best Wine pairing with Pizza Margherita Faustino VII Rioja DOCa 2015 , Spain
- Best Wine pairing with Haleem Reveilo Nero d´Avola 2019 , India
- Best Wine pairing with Chicken Kung Pao Sula Reisling 2019 , India
- Best Wine pairing with Thai Green Curry Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve NV , France
- Best Wine pairing with Fabelle Dark Chocoalte Ganache KRSMA Syrah 2017 , India &
- Deetlefs Stonecross Malbec, South Africa
- Best Wine pairing with Fabelle Single Origin Cacao York Arros 2017, India
EXCELLENCE IN RESTAURANT WINE PROGRAM WINNERS LIST
OUTSTANDING WORLD-CLASS WINE LIST
- Wasabi by Morimoto, Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai
- The Table , Mumbai
- Polo Club, The Oberoi Bengaluru
- Le Cirque, The Leela Palace New Delhi
- Elan, The Lodhi New Delhi
- Indian Accent, New Delhi
BEST WINE DESTINATION AWARD
- Romano’s, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar
- Le Cirque Signature, The Leela Mumbai
- Caprese, Shangri-La Hotel Bengaluru
- Pluck, Pullman New Delhi Aerocity
- Cecconi’s, Mumbai
- Toscano, Bengaluru
- The Wine Company, Gurugram
BEST UPCOMING WINE DESTINATION
- Qualia, Mumbai
- Townhall , Mumbai
- Bo Tai , New Delhi
- Copitas, Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru at Embassy ONE
SILVER MEDAL WINNERS
- The Source Sauvignon Blanc 2018, India
- Sula Brut NA, India
- Sula Chenin Blanc 2019, India
- Sula Rasa Shiraz 2018, India
- Sula Zinfandel (Red) 2019, India
- Sula Zinfandel Rosé 2019, India
- Fratelli Sauvignon Blanc 2019, India
- Fratelli Classic Chenin NV, India
- Fratelli Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, India
- Fratelli Classic Shiraz NV, India
- Fratelli Classic Merlot NV, India
- Good Drop Frizzano Semi Dry NV , India
- Good Drop Frizzano Semi Dry Rose NV , India
- Good Drop Frizzano Extra Dry NV , India
- Good Earth Blanca Chenin Blanc NV, India
- Grover Art Collection Viognier 2019, India
- Grover Art Collection Cabernet Shiraz 2019, India
- Grover La Reserve 2017, India
- Charosa Vineyards Selections Sauvignon Blanc 2019, India
- Vallonné Riesling 2018, India
- Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2017, India
- Reveilo Merlot 2018, India
- Reveilo Sangiovese 2019, India
- Reveilo Syrah 2019, India
- SDU Reserva Cabernet Sauvignon 2015, India
- SDU Trilogy 2018, India
- SDU Winemakers Selection 2015, India
- York Shiraz Viognier 2017, India
- Codorníu Clasico Brut Cava NV, Spain
- Monte Pacífico Chardonnay 2017, Chile
- Chapoutier, Belleruche Côtes-du-Rhône Blanc 2017, France
- Chapoutier, Bila-Haut Côtes du Roussillon Villages 2017, France
- Ventisquero Reserva Pinot Noir 2017, Chile
- Folonari Pinot Grigio Delle Venezie 2017, Italy
- Pedrera Monastrell 2017, Spain
- Domæne Gobelsburg Grüner Veltliner, Austria
- Michel Torino Colección Malbec 2018, Argentina
- Chateau Goumin, Entre-deux-Mers AOC 2016, France
- Sensi Collezione Chianti, DOCG 2017, Italy
- Paul Jaboulet Aine, Syrah 2015, France
- Campoluce, Chianti DOCG (Organic) 2017, Italy
- Alambre Moscatel de Setubal, Portugal
- Dry Creek Vineyard Dry Chenin Blanc, USA
- Bodegas Ego Goru El Blanco, Spain
- Deetlefs Stonecross Pinotage Rose, South Africa
- Campo Viejo White 2017, Spain
- Cótes-du-Rhóne Saint-Espirit Blanc 2017, France
GOLD MEDAL WINNERS
- Fratelli MS White 2018, India
- Fratelli SETTE 2015, India
- Vijay Amritraj Reserve Collection Red 2017, India
- Grover Zampa Art Collection Merlot 2019, India
- Grover Zampa Soirée Brut 2018 , India
- Charosa Vineyards Selections Shiraz 2019, India
- Charosa Vineyards Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, India
- Good Earth Antaraa NV, India
- Good Earth Basso NV, India
- Reveilo Cabernet Sauvignon 2019, India
- KRSMA Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, India
- Sula Rasa Zinfandel 2018, India
- Sula Chenin Blanc Reserve 2019, India
- Sula Sauvignon Blanc 2019 , India
- Sula Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, India
- Nicolas Feuillatte Brut Réserve, France
- Nederburg Sauvignon Blanc, South Africa
- Framingham Riesling, New Zealand
- Solar Viejo, Spain
- DBR (Lafite) Légende Bordeaux AOC Rouge
- DBR (Lafite) Réserve Spéciale Médoc AOC, France
- Sirente Montepulciano d’Abruzzo 2014, Italy
- Sensi Collezione Pinot Grigio, IGT Veneto, 2017, Italy
- Chateâu Bonnet, Entre-deux-Mers AOC 2016, France
- Sensi Collezione Pinot Noir, IGT Veneto, 2017, Italy
- Bodegas Faustino I Gran Reserva Rioja DOCa 2008, Spain
- Dry Creek Fume Blanc, USA
- Ego Bodegas El Goru Red, Spain
- Fantini Collection Rosso Tavola, Italy Jacob’s Creek Sparkling Brut NV, Australia
- Indiosa Chenin Blanc 2017, India
- Campo Viejo 2018, Spain
- Torresella Prosecco DOC Extra Dry NV,Italy
- Chapoutier, Marius Blanc 2017, France
- Piccini Prosecco NV, Italy
- De Bortoli Woodfired 2017, Australia
- Cavicchioli Processco DOC Extra Dry , Italy
- Argento Malbec 2017, Argentina
- Cótes-du-Rhóne Saint-Espirit Blanc 2017, France
- Dog Point Chardonnay 2015, New Zealand
- Colterenzio LUMO Pinot Grigio 2017, Italy
- Bodegas, La Horra Corimbo 2014, Spain
- IL Poggione Rosso di Montalcino 2016, Italy
- Honig Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2016, USA
