Sula's "Globe in a Glass" Roadshow: Connecting Carnival Style

This summer,  I was quite fortunate to be in Buttrio, a commune in Udine, a major province of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy during the period when their regional wine fair was on. It was the perfect occasion to sample a host of wines from the Friulian region under a single roof which would otherwise not be possible for a random visitor on a tight itinerary. It was also a moment when I silently  wished to witness such wine fairs in India with a carnival like atmosphere, where you just enjoy the wines in a carefree manner, soaking in the vibrant atmosphere,  without having to worry about taking notes etc.

Surprisingly, my wish came true a bit sooner than I  had imagined. To top it, not only with wines but spirits as well!  The occasion was "Globe in a Glass Roadshow 2016" in New Delhi organized by
Sula Selections, the import arm of Sula Vineyards, India's largest winemaker. The event  showcased Sula's import offerings  supplemented by their domestic portfolio "under one roof"- in this case the big blue sky.

The spirit of the roadshow- an outdoor setting, drinks, food, music and conversations.

The Event

The Delhi fixture of Sula's roadshow was the first in the series of three- the other two to be held in Bangalore on 5th and Mumbai on 7th Oct 16.  As I publish this piece, the Bangalore version is likely to be in its full bloom. Leading wine and spirit producers from different corners of the world have joined hands with Sula for these day-long events, offering guests  the opportunity to sample Wines, Liqueurs, Cognac, Tequila, Brandy and more while meeting the people behind the brands.

For the Delhi version, the venue was  'Lodi – The Garden Restaurant' located in the serene precincts of one of the greenest spots of the Indian capital. The event truly resembled a carnival, with music and food adding to the charm of the liquid pleasures while people from different industries, diplomats, industry leaders and socialites mingled to strike conversations while they enjoyed the wide range of offerings.

Top: Emma Hammonds, Regional Director, Asia, Constellation Brands serves the Ruffino wines
Bottom (L) Pitú Cachaça  (R) Bouchard Aîné  & Fils stall

The Offerings

Almost the entire Sula Selections portfolio was showcased at the event- only exceptions being their labels which are not registered in Delhi State. Guests could sample Mud House from New Zealand, Hardys Australia, Trapiche Argentina, Cono Sur Chile, Kumala South Africa, Antica Sambuca, Remy Martin Cognac and St Remy Brandy France, Ruffino Italy, Cointreau France, Don Alejandro Tequila Mexico, Mount Gay Rum Barbados, , Volare Italy, Pitu Cachaça Brazil, Bouchard Aîné  & Fils France, and Le Grand Noir France.

A distinct feature of the event was cocktails made exclusively from Sula's spirits brands which silently conveyed the versatility of their portfolio capable of whipping up famed cocktails like Side Car, Mimosa, Mai Tai, - and their signature Cointreaupolitan (a Cosmopolitan sans vodka) entirely on their own. It also afforded them to display the main ingredients of the respective cocktails through their brand logos facilitating a strong consumer recall (image below).

(L) The main ingredients of famed cocktails depicted graphically, (R) Fresh ingredients at hand

The Genesis

Speaking on the occasion, Noi Cecilia Oldne, VP – Marketing & Global Brand Ambassador at Sula Vineyards, said “This tour was put together for our valued customers, bringing wines and spirits produced or imported by Sula, and the people behind the brands all under one roof.  Sula is today not only the leading wine producer in India but also one of the top wine and spirits importers. This was a great opportunity for Sula, suppliers and customers to engage.”

That India is a promising market for Wine has been repeatedly acknowledged by global wine entities through their continuing engagement with the country. With respect to Spirits, India is already the fifth largest consumer in the world and likely to overtake Philippines as  fourth largest by 2017 (source: IWSR report for 2012-2017). It  therefore makes sense for importers in India to develop a diverse portfolio of wines and spirits that meet the aspirations of the world's fastest growing economy.  A market outreach is essential to keep the sales volumes at a viable business levels and Sula's roadshow did just that with ingenuity- more significantly considering the restrictions applicable on advertisement and promotion of alcoholic beverages in India.

For wine and spirits lovers the carnival has just begun.

Amongst others, I also had the privilege to bond with Sula's Chief Winemaker Ajoy Shaw (R)
and Karan Vasani, Winemaker Red Wines (L)

Up, Close and Personal with Bill Hardy

If you have had more than a fleeting encounter with Australian wines, chances are that  you would not

have been untouched by the Hardys name. Adjudged the seventh most powerful wine brand in the world according to “The Power 100 report 2015” by Intangible Business, Hardys is Australia’s biggest wine producer identified largely with  easy drinking and affordable wines. But there’s more to Hardys than just approachable wines. It has a vast repertoire that honours their founding fathers as also the terroirs from where their wines originate. And I had a priceless opportunity to converse about these wines with none other than William (Bill) Hardy who was on his second all time  visit to India towards the end of August 2015.

Bill, a fifth generation member of this wine family arrived as Hardys Brand Ambassador to launch his eponymous “William Hardy Collection”- a range that honours his contribution towards the family business. The meeting was at the initiative of  Prarrthona Pal Chowdhury- the livewire Head Marketing, Brandy Project and International Brands at  Sula wines- Hardys importers in India. 

The interview took place immediately after a wine masterclass by Bill Hardy at ITC Maurya- a premier property of the ITC conglomerate of India. We promptly took our seats within the same precincts for this stimulating conversation:

Me: Welcome to India Mr Hardy and congratulations on the launch of the William Hardy collection.

Bill Hardy (BH): Thank you! It is indeed my pleasure being here to introduce the new label here with all humility.

Me:  Hardys winemaking philosophy is generally recognized as being centered towards blending cuvées from your vineyards in different regions, does that mean that emphasis on terroir takes a back seat for you ?

BH : Not entirely ! Though our easy drinking daily wines may be inclined towards blending for the sake of a consistent wine style,  we also have certain wines that bring out respective regions quite emphatically. A classic example would be one of our top wines- the HRB (Heritage Reserve Bin) which includes cuvées from two to three distinct regions. I remember James Halliday (Australian wine writer and critic) tasting these wines for the first time and saying “I can see the exact terroirs associated with this wine!” I consider myself a champion of blending and believe that this is one of the greatest skills a winemaker can have. It often happens that once a winemaker is through with making some great wines from individual parcels, he sits back and asks himself ‘this is nice, but can I make something even better by putting some of these wines together ?’ And there comes the art of blending into play. There is a beautiful quote by Hugh Johnson-  “Dom Perignon was the first deliberate  blender. Also the first perfectionist”.

Me : With relevance to the Indian market, do you see competition coming the Aussie wines’ way in the event of the proposed Free Trade Agreement  between India and the European Union (EU) that is likely to soften trade barriers on wine from EU.

BH : Firstly I am positive that if any such agreement favourable to the wine trade is worked out, it will not be implemented selectively by the Indian government for different trading zones. But if it happens otherwise and if the same level of duty cuts are affected on high value as well as daily drinking wines from EU then it would indeed be serious competition to Aussie wines, as Australia is the biggest volume exporter of wine to India.

Me : The Hardys portfolio has a vast range of wines. How does a consumer differentiate between similar varietal blends across these ranges ? For example, how does one differentiate between Eileen Hardy Shiraz (named after Bill’s grandmother) from the now launched William Hardy Shiraz ?

BH : We have consistently made an effort towards educating the consumer on our different wines. I am quite proud of having elaborated on these wines through personal writings on the philosophy, style and characteristics of each wine. I also love to present our wines to people, highlighting the USPs of each range so that they understand as to why they should be paying more for a particular wine vis-à-vis a lower priced one. 

Coming to your specific query, the essential difference between the Eileen Hardy Shiraz and the William Hardy Shiraz is that while Eileen Hardy range is an example of the very best of wines we make, William Hardy range is a more commercial wine. Both these wines are single varietal single region wines with Eileen Hardy Shiraz being produced from 2-3 selected vineyards in McLaren Vale. Compared to this, William Hardy Shiraz currently comes from vineyards in Langhorne Creek with subsequent plan to shift the sourcing for this range to McLaren Vale as well. In terms of ageing potential, while Eileen Hardy Shiraz comes from  vines upto 110 years old and has an ageing potential between 12-15 years, William Hardy Shiraz  can currently be aged upto 5-7 years. In short you can say that while Eileen Hardy is our Prestige range, William Hardy range is growing to be one.

(Prarrthona signals me to  hurry-up as Bill has to leave for the next engagement- a dinner featuring the William Hardy Collection where I am also invited).

Me : How does your marketing plan look like in India ? Specially with reference to another competing Aussie brand Jacob’s Creek  that seems to have an ostensible advantage of leveraging on the Spirits brands in the Pernod Ricard portfolio .

 BH : I do agree that Pernod Ricard have managed their marketing well through well placed sports sponsorships and  leveraging their Spirits brands for wine promotion. At Hardys our focus is on spending our dollars on opening and sharing wine bottles rather than spending big time on advertisments. As for sponsorships and endorsements, we may have faltered earlier by spreading ourselves too thin, but in the present day we are very much  focussed on the subject. A good example of this is the recent launch of the Art of Cricket collection with Glenn McGrath as the brand ambassador, which has magnified awareness of our brand amongst the target consumer.

Me : A last question on the personal front. Since you are here with Mrs Hardy, are you visiting the Taj Mahal ?

BH : Certainly ! As a matter of fact we are doing a tour of the "golden triangle" (Delhi-Agra-Jaipur) starting tomorrow. We have been looking forward to it.

A rare honour!
Raising a toast with the man himself and his eponymous wine- William Hardy Chardonnay.

* This interview was published as a narrative in vino india.

Mud House and Kumala Wines Debut in India

It is not enough to be a country’s largest wine producer. You’ve got to keep expanding the ambit to

ensure a continuing customer outreach. Sula Selections, the import division of Sula wines of India seems to be following this approach by augmenting its portfolio aggressively of late. The latest in their slew of wines are two ranges- Mud House and Kumala wines from New Zealand and South Africa respectively. After eventful months with Hardys wines of Australia culminating in the launch of William Hardy and Art of Cricket collections, Sula’s  action arena has shifted to other New World regions apparently in a quest to evolve a well rounded portfolio. And with this it’s association with Accolade Wines- one of worlds largest wine enterprises delivering wine to 143 countries worldwide- goes a notch higher.

The 'Sula Selection' for the  Lavaash dinner
Pic: Prashant Sharma via Sula Selections

The launch of Mud House and Kumala wines was done at a dinner hosted in Lavaash- a new restaurant serving Armenian cuisine in Delhi.  Prarrthona Pal Chowdhury- Sula's enterprising Marketing Head for Brandy Project and International Brands  invited me over for the tasting. The wines came across as refreshing and full of novelty. Here is a lowdown on the portfolio:

Pic: Mudhouse wines

Mud House Wines

About 

This production house has presence in three of the renowned  wine areas of  New Zealand viz. Marlborough, Waipara valley  and Central Otago. It gets its name from the house which was built by its founders from the mud excavated from the local area.

Wines tasted (Prices indicated ex Delhi/ Mumbai):


Mud House Sauvignon Blanc 2014 (₹ 2300/ ₹ 2575)

True to its provenance (of a maritime climate) the wine had expressive ripe peaches aromas going on to guavas after some time. It may be called a ‘typical Marlborough’ wine but my personal choice steers away from particularly domineering aromas. On the palate, the wine was pretty decent and refreshing with tropical fruit flavours. This wine will please those who like intensely aromatic Sauvignon Blancs as opposed to their subtler cousins.

Pic: Prashant Sharma via Sula Selections

Mud House Pinot Noir 2013 (₹ 2530/ ₹ 2830)

The light ruby colour of this wine indicated at the outset that it would be more fruity and less tannic. The wine expectedly came out juicy on the palate with abundance of red berries and soft tannins- though I felt it could have done well with a firmer structure. Notwithstanding, the wine was an excellent match for the paired food that had vegetal-fruity orientation and ample texture.

Kumala Wines

About 

The winery takes great pride in being located in the surrounding areas of the iconic Table Mountain that has  rich bio diversity. Perhaps their  'Gecko' motif conveys the same essence. They also source their grapes from growers spread over five prominent  South African viticultural regions viz Western Cape, Olifants River, Paarl, Stellenbosch and Worcester.

Richly bio-diverse Kumala vineyards surrouinding the Table Mountain in South Africa  (Pic: Kumala wines)

Wines tasted: (All variants ₹ 1250/ ₹ 1355)

Kumala Chardonnay

A crisp Chardonnay with aromas/flavours of apples, citrus fruits and pears. Well suited for the Indian summer conditions.

Pic: Prashant Sharma via Sula Selections

Kumala Sauvignon Blanc 

A subdued variation of the Mud House Sauvignon Blanc tasted as above, this was a well balanced wine having pleasant citrus, vegetal and spicy aromatics that were accompanied by a delicious palate.

Kumala Pinotage

No SA wine talk is complete without the mention of  Pinotage- the country’s derived varietal from Pinot Noir and Hermitage (also called Cinsault) varietals. This wine had complex aromas of red fruits and fruitcake. A well rounded medium bodied delicious palate and a medium finish made it a pleasant wine to relish even without food.

Kumala Shiraz

 A deep ruby wine with aromas of  ripe black fruits and black pepper.  Full bodied with round tannins and a distinct oak touch made it a good accompaniment with the robust and savoury main course dish called Chicken Kalagyosh- a chickpea and chicken stew with parsley paprika and olive oil.

To sum up the entire tasting experience, both the wine ranges have something unique to offer- coming from two distinct terroirs of the New World.The benefit-cost ratio however, works to the advantage of Kumala wines, significantly so, because Mud House may find ample number of worthy competitors for their pricing on the Indian retail shelves- including biggies from the Old World.

But then- it all depends upon catching the customer’s fancy!

With Prarrthona Pal Chowdhury (extreme left) and Ann-Marie Battista of Accolade wines (extreme right)
Pic: Prashant Sharma via Sula Selections

Wine Masterclass by Bill Hardy

“Masterclass” is a term we often come across in today’s wine world. It essentially denotes a deep dive familiarization with target wines, fringing on technicalities. It is also an often misused term , with innumerable instances of generic wine tastings being passed off  as “masterclasses”. But when a winemaker himself conducts such a class, its raison d’être  surpasses the realm of definitions, as was the case when William (Bill) Hardy- the fifth generation helmsman of Australia’s biggest winemaker Hardys Wines conducted a series of masterclasses in Delhi/Mumbai. Spread over two days, these masterclasses were meant primarily for the hospitality trade and selected wine media. I had the privilege of attending the one in New Delhi  at hotel ITC Maurya in the closing days of Aug 15.

Bill Hardy conducting his Masterclass in New Delhi

(Pic: Sula Selections)

Hardys has been in India since the year 2003 through their importer Sula Selections. Then why this

masterclass now? Bill Hardy told me that given the positive sentiment about India as an emerging wine consuming nation, efforts to “train the trainer” are considered to be in good stead. These efforts are also necessary to  consolidate Australia’s enviable position as the largest wine exporter to India in terms of volume. According to him, the Indian wine market has been showing admirable maturity over the years and it is a must for such an emerging market to have professionals who can present a particular wine to the consumer in the right earnest.

The wines for the masterclass were from Hardys Stamp collection. Bill brought out that this range was inspired by their founder Thomas Hardy’s vision of popularizing Australian wines in the world. He highlighted that the majority of grapes for this collection are from warm, inland river regions, producing wines that are full flavoured, fruit forward and smooth- a character  preferred in everyday drinking wines.

(Pic: Sula Selections)

The Delhi masterclass commenced with Bill familiarizing the audience with Australian wine producing regions and how these could be mapped to entire Europe in terms of vineyard area. He highlighted the typical characteristics of each of these regions, explaining step by step the production philosophy behind each of his presented wines, including their probable Indian food matches. The session progressed with the wines served as under:

(Pic: Sula Selections)

Hardys Pinot Noir Chardonnay NV

Made from two of the Champagne grapes, this wine is a straightforward sparkling with yeasty, citrusy  and tropical fruit aromas. A refreshing spritzy palate makes it a good ‘evening starter’. Bill said that they employ both traditional and charmat methods in their sparkling wine production and this particular wine has been elaborated by using the charmat method, keeping in line with its affordability aspect.

Hardys Riesling Gewürztraminer 2014

A  popular wine in Asia, Bill informed that their Riesling-Gewürztraminer also sells well in Canada and British Columbia presumably due to a large migrant Asian population. The wine, with its honeyed, tropical fruits, and off dry (residual sugar 15 g/l) character is quite well suited to Asian cuisine. It’s lingering finish completes its profile as a gourmet wine. In addition Bill highlighted a subtle petillance (fizz) in the wine which is purposefully crafted to give it an extra refreshing character.The wine was indeed very pleasing and I thought of a shaslik of cottage cheese, pineapple, onion and bell peppers as its ideal food accompaniment.

Hardys Chardonnay Semillon 2014

A deep lemon, light bodied wine with a creamy palate and a discernibly oaky character. Bill educated us that for the Stamp range, they use an innovative and cost effective method of oaking called “plank in tank” wherein oak planks with sawed off edges are dropped into wine tanks for better surface area (six sides as opposed to four) contact. This method enables faster oaking at a relatively lower cost, which is very important for keeping the affordability aspect of the range intact. In addition, this wine is oxygenated using medical grade oxygen to impart oxidative complexity. The result is a fairly complex wine affordable as a regular indulgence.

Hardys Cabernet Sauvignon- Merlot 2014

Bill Hardy is the first Aussie winemaker to be trained in Bordeaux, that too under the famous French oenologist Émile Peynaud. His affinity to the “Bordeaux style” can be noted in this essentially Bordeaux blend with good structure as well as an intense but restrained fruity character. Bill informed that this wine is also oaked “plank in tank” for 3 months in Burgundian oak that has loose grains that promote faster ageing.

Hardys Shiraz-Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Shiraz- Cabernet Sauvignon blend is by far the most popular red wine blend in Asia Pacific region owing to its affinity to spicy cuisine. Aussie Shiraz  is  well known for its ripe and full bodied flavours. Bill explained that in this blend, around 30% Cabernet Sauvignon is added to  the remaining 70 % Shiraz in to balance out the voluptuousness of the wine. The result is a savoury wine well suited to rich Asian cuisine.

The masterclass concluded with young interns as well as seasoned professionals satisfying their queries from an immensely approachable Bill.

After all you don’t  come across Masters so often! Do you?

One for posterity: Bill Hardy with the Masterclass attendees  (Pic: Sula Selections)

This post has also been published by Spiritz Magazine in their Sep 15 issue

Bienvenue- A French Wine and Cuisine Experience on the French National Day

You need good reason to celebrate another country’s independence day. If that reason hinges on wine and food, all the better. This July, it was the third year in a row that I conducted a French wine and cuisine experience titled Bienvenue (meaning “Welcome” in English). The occasion was the eve of the French national day, also called La Fête Nationale, Jour de Bastille or Quatorze Juillet. The event saw participation of the who’s who of Delhi’s wine circuit, with ardent support by wine importers as well as the Embassy of France in India. France being a major hub of wine and cuisine,it is quite logical that any French celebration cannot be devoid of these two  fascinating aspects of their culture. Not something that revelers would complain-of course!

Celebrated every 14th July, Jour de Bastille  signifies the onset of French revolution when revolutionaries stormed the  Bastille prison to free-up scores of their compatriots. This incident heralded the overthrowing of an oppressive monarchy and transfer of power to the French people. In terms of wine and spirits it meant transfer of ownership to common citizens and opening up of the markets that were erstwhile restricted to the royals and aristocrats.

The venue for this year's soirée was Rara Avis – one of the few French  restaurants in the capital. Jerome Cousin, who comes from Alsace, is the chef and partner of the restaurant that is recognised for its avant garde cuisine. Together, with his oenophile Indian partner Rajiv Aneja, he makes a "Champagne and shellfish" team . With the authentic French touch on the plate, I could cover most French wine regions armed with a non-vintage Champagne, a red and a white Burgundy, a Rhône Red, two Bordeaux Reds, a Cognac and a liqueur from the Loire valley. The prices could be kept at sane levels courtesy the beverage sponsorships from Sula Selections, Prestige Wines and Spirits Pvt Ltd. and vino india.

Brands at Bienvenue

Generous support by  the Embassy of France in India and particularly the Ambassador H.E. François Richier (we received three exclusive wines from his private cellar) saw that the attendees had pleasant surprises in store too!

From the French Ambassador's cellars

 Speaking of the food and wines, the effort was to incorporate a traditional French meal with all courses listed out in proper nomenclature. It afforded the opportunity to acquaint everyone on common French terms including their literal meaning and pronunciation. A quiz on wine and food  with an attractive Bordeaux Red up for grabs saw everyone labour to get it right. But eventually the prized wine was everybody's delight since the winning lady  shared it magnanimously with all during the dinner. The pairings are self explanatory from the menu given below:

Top: Terrine de Jerome, Middle (L): Goat Cheese Salad, Middle (R):  Sweet Potato and Ricotta Ravioli
and Bottom: Crêpes Epinard Gratinée 

Different moods of the soirée 

As mentioned above, the wines presented a virtually 360° glimpse of France. Here is how they worked out.

The beverages  line up

Champagne Piper Heidsieck Cuvée Brut - A Pinot Noir dominated champagne with excellent structure as well as freshness.

Joseph Drouhin La Foret Bourgogne Blanc 2010- A crisp light Chardonnay with mineral undertones.

Domaine Boisson Cotes du Rhone 2012- A mouth filling juicy and spicy wine.

Ormes de Pez, St Estephe 2009- A Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnel. True to its pedigree, the wine was robust, fleshy and a worthy companion to the powerful main course. The star of the evening.

Chateau La Lauzette, Haut Medoc 2010 - A medium bodied wine with rounded tannins and black fruit flavours.

Joseph Drouhin La Foret Bourgogne Rouge 2009- A light bodied fruity-vegetal wine that went hand in glove with the assorted French cheeses.

Cointreau- The iconic and intense orange liqueur from Angers (Loire Valley).

Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac- A fine eau de vie aged for 4 years in French oak barrels.

The team at Rara Avis handled the wine service deftly with exact pours and optimal serving temperatures. They bust the myth that only five star properties in India are capable of immaculate wine service. I  now know which place to go for a quiet sip when in the writing mood!

With more such engagements planned, I share the sentiments of oenophiles with the French saying- La vie est trop courte pour boire du mauvaise vin- meaning- Life is too short to drink bad wine!

Sante, Salud and Cheers!

Related Article: Bienvenue- A  French Indulgence

'Pigeon's' wine flight

Odds are high that a cricket lover in India will not be aware of a wine brand, but flip this and any Indian wine lover will surely know who Glenn McGrath is. The Aussie cricketer has a universal charm and is idolized by zillions of fans in  cricketing nations . But what does an iconic cricketer have to do with a wine brand? Same as Sachin Tendulkar  with a Cola or  Virat Kohli with an Anti Dandruff Shampoo. Being celebrity consumers, they instil a certain confidence amongst  the general consumer about quality of the product that they endorse.

Hardys, the Aussie wine giant, have appointed McGrath as their Brand Ambassador and dedicated a special label to him called "Hardys Art of Cricket" . The label carries  'Pigeon's' (McGrath's popular nick name)  photo and signature,with an obvious intent of  catching the wine  fancy of the Indian cricketing  buff.

Hardys Art of Cricket Collection with McGrath's photo and signature

I had the privilege of being invited to a special event called "Hardys fine Australian wine and True Aussie Lamb"  hosted by the Australian High Commissioner in India, H.E. Patrick Suckling at his residence in New Delhi this May. The highlight of the evening was  McGrath's towering persona- staturewise as well as literally (at 6 ft 4 in tall).  The icon mixed freely with wine lovers patiently addressing all their cricket and wine queries. The wines for the evening though, were Hardys already  available "Stamp Collection"  as the "Art of Cricket" collection will hit the Indian market only by August this year as intimated by Sula Selections- Hardys' importers in India.

Glenn McGrath with Ann-Marie Battista presenting an autographed English willow to H.E. Patrick Suckling
Pic: Australian High Commission, New Delhi

Hardys is a well recognized wine brand synonymous with 'value for money' wines. It all started in  1857, when Thomas Hardy bottled his first vintage and became one of the first exporters of Australian wines. In India, their wines have been available since 2003. In Asia, Japan is the largest market for Hardys wines with India ranking an impressive eighth – very encouraging for a country with per capita consumption of just a few milliliters of wine.

Random glimpses of Hardys "Art of Cricket" launch function in New Delhi

The evening at New Delhi started with rounds of Hardy's Pinot Noir Chardonnay followed by other variants of the Stamp Collection. To accompany the wines, there was a delightful dégustation menu put together by Chef Justin Zammit of Epicure (Brisbane) where  Aussie lamb in different preparations was the highlight. Pairings were as under:

(prices of wines are indicated ex Delhi/ Mumbai):

Hardys Pinot Noir Chardonnay Sparkling (₹ 1320/1755) 

A balanced and fruity sparkling wine. 

Served with corn fed chicken liver terrine with raisin chutney and rosemary brioche.

Hardys Riesling-Gewurztraminer (₹ 960/1390)

An aromatic wine with abundance of tropical fruits and an off-dry inclination. 

Served with homemade duck prosciutto, honey black pepper glaze, rye bread crouton.

Hardys Chardonnay-Semillon (₹ 1060/1390) 

A light and refreshing wine with stone fruit flavours. 

Served with poached green asparagus, extra virgin olive oil, sun-dried heirloom tomatoes and herbal buffalo mozzarella (served warm in petit jars).

Hardys Cabernet-Merlot (₹ 820/1390)

An expressive wine, showing red berries and oak aromas accompanied by a fruity palate.

Served with charred yoghurt marinated Australian lamb, salad of baby cos and pomegranate, toum and za atar flat bread; Spring Australian lamb confit, potato mousseline and jus; Roasted Australian lamb loin, butternut pumpkin,smoked eggplant and semolina fondant.

Hardys Shiraz-Cabernet (₹ 1080/1390)

A robust wine with aromas of blackberries, dark cherries and spice with a complementing palate and an oaky finish. 

Served with salt water Australian lamb, smoked carrot shavings and crisp ancient grains; Slow poached Australian lamb loin, coconut green curry.

Ann-Marie Battista, Hardys representative, told me that the brand is steeped in tradition and has won more than 9000 international wine awards. Hardys is largely recognised for being approachable, consistent, fun and dependable. Cricket mirrors these exact sentiments – technique, consistency, knowledge and years of hard work and perseverance. Hardys are honoured to introduce Glenn as their Brand Ambassador to India. "We believe our partnership with Glenn is perfect to raise Hardys brand awareness with wine consumers and become the Australian brand of choice in India", added Ann-Marie.

"Both cricket and wine are pursuits of passion and it is my pleasure to bring these two together", McGrath said. He claims that he lives to eat and does not eat to live. This association with Hardys will give him more chances to visit India, a country that he thinks of as his second home. In lighter vein, he also said that as a Brand Ambassador, he finds more acceptability amongst Indians since he is no longer bowling to Sachin Tendulkar!

McGrath was candid enough in sharing that he is not a wine expert but someone who is interested in good wines. Before his new role as Hardys brand ambassador, he spent time at the Hardys facility in Adelaide, understanding the intricacies of winemaking in order to be conversant with the winemaking philosophy of the brand.

The 'pigeon' looks set to fly the long haul.

P.S. I did manage to get an autograph as well!

This article is an adaptation from my original piece in  vino india