A Glass of

ndian industry is in its infancy, Ibut surprisingly, its foundations were built on sparkling . Indian Shyam Chougule, an industrialist from , was very fond of . He decided to produce Bubbly in Narayangaon, Maharashtra and founded Champagne Zampa Vineyards, another new entrant Indage in the mid 1980s despite all also brought out sparkling wine, using the odds. He put on the world Chenin for the brut and Shiraz for wine map with the export of Omar the rosé. The defining moment for the Khayyam Brut which was fresh and sparkling wine industry came in 2013 fruity. Unfortunately, the company had when Moët Hennessey India launched financial problems in 2008 and the their brut and rosé brut by using experts bubbly is history. from Domaine Chandon Australia, who helped supervise the cultivation The leading producer Sula Vineyards of purchased grapes crushing them at started production in 2000. In 2002 the rented York Winery near Sula, but it released a similar version, Sula keeping the process a closely guarded Champagne, later changed to Sula secret. Brut by ‘Methode Champenoise’. It became popular and is a brand leader A month before the Chandon launch, today though has undergone significant Fratelli Vineyards, an Indo-Italian changes in style over the years. It also partnership introduced Gran Cuvée has a rosé brut using and using 100% with zero Shiraz. dosage. Quite dry and unique, this bubbly is becoming increasingly popular. Earlier this year, York introduced a Brut using 100% Chenin Blanc, fermenting a part of the free run juice and ageing in barrels, giving it complexity and autolytic character with Winemaker Karishma creamy texture. Grover

Sula Brut Tropicale Blanc de Noirs, recently released, uses a majority of Shiraz, Zin and grapes. This crisp and fruity bubbly has a tinge of Rajeev Samant with pink because of longer skin contact with Sula Brut Tropicale the juice and is more complex. Chandon sells around 10,000 cases and Keeping in view the spicy Indian food, is aiming for 20,000 cases this year. all except Fratelli Gran Cuvée Zero Indian sparkling wine is increasingly Dosage use around 10-12 gms of sugar. being paired with Indian food and Most of the leading Indian sparkling exciting times are ahead to enjoy a glass wines are produced with the ‘Methode of bubbly at any time of the day in Traditionelle’. Some labels like Sula Seco India. and Sula Seco Rosé are produced using the tank method. Casablanca is another BY SUBHASH ARORA brand produced in the ‘Prosecco style’. President of Indian Wine The total current market of sparkling Academy wines is under 100,000 cases, out of @Wineguyindia which about 65,000 are Indian produce, indianwineacademy.com with Sula having the majority share.

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