Wine Tasting by Global Fine Wines – Long Island Wineries

20^th February 2006 at Rippon Hall, Hotel Viceroy

In little over quarter of a century the Long Island wine industry has grown from one small vineyard to 3,000 acre of vines and over thirty wineries producing world class wines.

 Located in New York State, on the East Coast of the United States, Long Island extends some 120 miles into the Atlantic Ocean.  Its maritime climate, geography and soil characteristics provide ideal conditions for producing wines of exceptional quality. 

 Global Fine Wines representing a range of wineries from Long Island is the Exclusive Distributor of these world famous wines to Indian Sub-continent.

 It is a welcoming start of year 2006 for Hyderabad Wine Club.  HWC slowly but steadily developing wine culture here, with various wine related activities.  Last years wine events definitely showed Hyderabad’s love for shifting to Wines.

 M/s Global Fine Wines is in contact with us for quite some time, for organizing a wine tasting session in Hyderabad.   Global Fine wines from Ronkonkoma, New York representing a series of wineries – including majors like Pindars, Duckwalk, Jason etc., is on its way in introducing  a range of wines to Indian subcontinent. 

 Mr. Neil Khanna, Vice President, South Asian Sub Continent came out with seven of their selected wines for HWC tasting session.  Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Summer Blush, Sweet Scarlet, Pythagoras, Merlot and their flagship wine Mythology from Pindars, Duckwalk and Jason wineries.

 The initial plan was to have two sessions, one purely professional - technical for F&B personnel of Hyderabad Hotel Industry, then second for our club members and important socialites of the city.  Due to time and venue constraints, the first session could not materialize, where in the Social session went on well, beyond the expectations of wine lovers present.

 The flow of wines was like symphony – smoothly flowing from Sauvignon Blanc and ending with Mythology – refreshingly fresh, aromatic and floral - could win the heart of Hyderabad wine lovers.   Each wine is detailed with tasting notes by GFW and members were asked to give their opinion about each of the wines,   Most of the wines tasted just as described in their tasting notes.

 Menu for the tasting session included Cheese straw cream crackers,  Assortment of canapés, vegetable crudities, while the dinner followed wine tasting session with Green salad, Minestrone soup, Chicken Confit with orange and olive jus, Batter fried potatoes, pepperonata with raisins with dessert Chocolate tie Marie.

 In spite of small group,  Mr. Neil was enthusiastic to answer each query from members and interacted well.  Real opportunity to know more about vineyards, wineries, wine process was lost in, members concentrating more on enjoying wines.  Mr. Neil was appreciative of the efforts of HWC to bring together like minded wine lovers,  the idea of developing wine culture in Hyderabad.

 Mr. Neil willingly offered his support HWC in its effort to develop wine culture by sponsoring their wines from time to time.  Only time will tell, how they can fare in Indian sub-continent, with all the restrictions, enhanced import duty and variable price structure.  It is high time, that Indian wine makers too take active interest in developing wine culture, than seeing wine as other marketing product.

Balaji Rao BK