SOMMELIERS & THEIR TERROIR

ProWine Mumbai 2024, a two-day event for the Indian wine, spirits, and hospitality industry, was held on November 8th and 9th at Mumbai’s Jio World Convention Centre. Co-organized by Messe Düsseldorf India and All Things Nice, the event introduced a new component, “ProSpirits,” to provide a platform for spirit companies to connect with buyers. The show featured representatives from numerous countries, including Chile, France, Hungary, Ireland, Portugal, South Africa, and the United Kingdom.

The event’s inauguration was marked by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a toast with Casa Bottega Prosecco. Beyond the exhibition, ProWine Mumbai also included masterclasses, panel discussions, and the ProWine Bartenders’ Competition, providing comprehensive learning and networking opportunities for attendees.

ProWine Mumbai 2024 proved to be an exceptional event for the wine and spirits industry, exceeding the expectations of exhibitors with its scale, quality, and professional platform. The event attracted high-quality attendees and facilitated valuable business interactions, fostering growth and innovation within the sector. With a diverse range of exhibitors from 18 countries, ProWine Mumbai 2024 successfully set new benchmarks and solidified its position as a premier event in the industry.

“The success of ProWine Mumbai 2024 exceeded our expectations. We were thrilled to witness record-breaking attendance, insightful panel discussions, heady ProWine Bartenders’ Competition and a wonderful showcase of the finest wines and spirits. The event has, once again, solidified its position as the premier platform for the Indian and international wine and spirits industry. We’re already looking forward to building on this success and delivering an even more spectacular event in the future.”, says Ajay Kumar Gulati, General Manager – Messe Düsseldorf India.

ProWine Mumbai 2024 introduced an exciting new addition to its lineup with the launch of ‘ProSpirits.’ This innovative segment focuses on the dynamic spirits industry, offering attendees valuable insights into the latest trends and products driving the flourishing spirits market in India. With a range of tastings, demonstrations, and presentations from industry experts, ProSpirits aims to showcase the cutting-edge innovations behind the world’s finest spirits.

As the demand for premium spirits in India continues to grow, ProSpirits has positioned itself as the vibrant heart of the global spirits industry. Through this new addition, ProWine Mumbai 2024 solidifies its commitment to staying at the forefront of industry developments, providing attendees with an unparalleled experience exploring the latest advancements in the world of spirits.

Bedz wines from Mendoza, Argentina, a region renowned for its delicious wines. It’s great to hear that you enjoyed them! Mendoza is a fascinating region with a rich winemaking history and a variety of terroirs that produce unique and flavorful wines. It’s no wonder that many of Argentina’s most famous wineries are located in Mendoza.

The Bedz Single Vineyard Malbec 2022 is an Argentinian red wine from the Mendoza region known for its intense ruby color and balanced profile. It presents aromas of plums, red fruits, and violets, along with notes of chocolate and vanilla from its oak aging. On the palate, this vintage offers a fresh, juicy texture with sweet, round tannins, a subtle minerality, and an elegant finish. The wine pairs exceptionally well with a variety of dishes, including beef, lamb, and other grilled or roasted meats.

The 2017 Bedz Cabernet Sauvignon is a full-bodied red wine from Argentina, notable for its depth of dark fruit flavors like plum and blackberry. Aromas of pepper, vanilla, and spices from oak aging complement its rich fruit profile. The wine is smooth, with firm tannins and a balanced acidity, making it an excellent pairing for red meats and cheeses. While ready to drink now, it also possesses the structure to age well.

Wise Monkey Rum, the award-winning Mauritian brand, is set to showcase its premium blends at ProWine Mumbai 2024. Celebrating a milestone, Wise Monkey will unveil its highly anticipated Mauritian Dark Rum. The brand’s lineup features three distinct blends: Mauritian White Rum, Indian Spiced Rum, and Café Rum. Crafted to capture authentic flavors from different regions, Wise Monkey offers a unique experience for rum enthusiasts.

Speaking about the decision to debut their Rum at the event, Brand Manager Kaung Htet said, “It all fell perfectly in place with Prowine’s theme of this year – ‘ProSpirits’, which aims to explore new innovations from the world’s finest spirits. With a new expression to offer, we think the stage sets the right light.”

Wise Monkey Mauritian Dark Rum is a rich, molasses-based rum crafted from local sugarcane and aged in barrels. It features a flavor profile with notes of dark molasses, oak, roasted nuts, dried fruit, and warm spices, complemented by an aroma of toasted wood, vanilla, and cocoa. It is well-suited for sipping neat or mixing into cocktails.

Other expressions from Wise Monkey include:

Indian Spiced Rum: Blended with organic Indian spices like cardamom and cinnamon.

Café Rum: Infused with Arabica, Robusta, and Liberica coffee beans.

Mauritian White Rum: An authentic, unaged Mauritian rum.

The Wren Estate Marsanne is a dry, medium-bodied white wine from Australia’s Heathcote region, known for its balanced acidity and creamy texture. Reviews consistently note a complex profile with aromas of pear, green apple, and citrus, often accompanied by floral and spicy notes. A short period of oak aging adds to its light creamy mouthfeel, and while approachable when young, it has the potential to develop richer, honeyed flavors with age. This versatile wine is considered an excellent pairing for seafood, chicken, and dishes with cream-based sauces.

Wren Estate Merlot is an acclaimed Heathcote wine noted for its vibrant and balanced character, a result of the region’s climate with warm days and cool nights. The unique terroir, featuring ancient Cambrian soils, produces a Merlot with fresh, bright fruit notes alongside a deep, weighty palate and soft, fine tannins. Recognized for its quality, the estate’s Merlot has earned distinctions such as Best Red Wine at the 2019 Heathcote Wine Show. The overall result is a memorable, elegant, and polished red wine.

Duxton Vineyard participation in Vinexpo Mumbai 2024 showcased their passion for winemaking through their exceptional lineup and varietal range. Each bottle on display shared the story of their craft from grape to glass, captivating visitors and demonstrating their commitment to winemaking excellence.

The Rewild Pinot Grigio 2023 from Duxton Vineyards is a sustainably produced, vegan-friendly Australian white wine known for its crisp, light-to-medium-bodied profile. It features attractive aromas of pear, citrus, and granny smith apple, with a concentrated palate and a hint of sweetness on the finish. The vineyard prioritizes environmental responsibility by using renewable energy, implementing water-saving techniques, and composting grape waste to enrich the soil. In 2023, it was recognized at the Dan Murphy’s Decoded Awards as the “Best Value Lighter White Wine.”

The Duxton Vineyards Pete’s Pure Shiraz 2021 is a vegan-friendly, Australian Shiraz known for being fruit-forward, approachable, and an excellent value. It won a trophy at the Riverland wine show in 2021, and is described as having bright aromas of blackberry, plum, and spice. The full-bodied palate features notes of red plums, pepper, and cocoa, with a smooth, velvety finish. Due to its straightforward and easy-drinking nature, with soft tannins, it is a versatile and “quaffable” wine that pairs well with barbecued red meats or cheeses.

The 2024 Duxton Winery Pete’s Pure Chardonnay is a medium-bodied, fresh, and fruit-driven white wine from Australia’s Murray Darling region. It offers aromas of white peach, nectarine, and citrus, with a creamy palate balanced by subtle oak and refreshing grapefruit acidity, leading to a lingering finish. The sustainably and vegan-friendly wine was awarded a Bronze medal at the 2024 Melbourne Royal Show and is designed for early drinking.

The Staffilo Prosecco DOC Extra Dry Millesimato is an organic sparkling wine from Italy’s Veneto region, praised for its bright, straw-yellow appearance with fine, persistent bubbles. It has a characteristically aromatic profile, featuring notes of golden apple, pineapple, and citrus alongside floral hints of acacia. With a soft, slightly sweet, and savory palate, it is considered a versatile and approachable wine, suitable for serving as an aperitif or pairing with delicate foods like risotto, seafood, and white meats. As a “millesimato,” it is made from the highest quality grapes from a single vintage.

The “For Sommeliers, By Sommeliers” panel at ProWine Mumbai 2024, led by Kevin Rodrigues and other leading sommeliers, highlighted the maturity of India’s wine culture. The conversation underscored that collaboration between sommeliers, producers, and educators is key to shaping a consistent national wine identity and nurturing Indian-grown expertise.In essence, the panel depicted India’s wine journey as entering a pivotal phase of professionalization, blending global standards with local authenticity through education, craftsmanship, and creativity

Key takeaways included the importance of education and training, using storytelling to curate wine experiences for Indian diners, and acknowledging the quality of local Indian wines from regions like Nashik and Karnataka. The discussion emphasized that younger consumers are driving a shift towards exploratory drinking and that collaboration between industry players is crucial for building a sophisticated wine ecosystem.