The modern Indian's guide to wine

After love, it's the next four-letter word that leaves us nervy. Daunting terms like terroir haven't helped either. So, here's a straightforward guide to wine, with answers to questions like What's the best wine to pair with Goan Fish Curry?

After love, it's the next four-letter word that leaves us nervy. Daunting terms like "terroir" haven't helped either. So, here's a straightforward guide to wine, with answers to questions like "What's the best wine to pair with Goan Fish Curry?"

Feel you are ready to graduate from the pint of beer to a more adult option, but not ready for the single malt just yet? It could be time to get acquainted with a bottle of fine wine. But if you don't know terroir (a group of vineyards or even vines from the same region, belonging to a specific appellation, and sharing the same type of soil and weather conditions) from terror, getting started could be a daunting task. "A Rose, which is an easy wine to drink, could be a good place to start for a wine virgin," says Paul Bailey, Chief Wine Maker, Vallee De Vin (producers of the homegrownu00a0 brand, Zampa). "It's a wine made of red berry fruits and is just 12.5% alcoholic, which makes it an all-day wine," he says.

Taking the word of a credible wine writer would be ideal, says Bailey, adding that the most common mistake novices in India make is to opt for an imported wine rather give a wine made in India, a chance. "There are some imported wines I wouldn't even clean my drains with," he laughs. "And then there are some absolutely incredible wines that come out of this country. It's not about whether a wine is imported, it's about do you like it or not."

Bailey suggests that first-timers could also try any sparkling wine, which tends to be lighter. But do keep these three thumb rules in mind before you sip:

>>Always drink wine at the correct temperature, somewhere between 15u00baC and 18u00baC.
>>Make sure you drink the wine in a wine glass. It's not just about presentation, but also about being able to see the colour of the wine clearly.
>>Take in the aroma before you sip.
>>For women, 2 glasses are ideal. For a man, 4 glasses at a time are enough.

Bailey dispels the myth that a beginner needs to try a sweet wine to enjoy it. "It has to be light, not sweet. A sweet wine is usually a dessert-style wine, which is best consumed after being poured on ice cream." Bailey advises you to trust your imagination and experiment with your wine. "You are bound to come across one that you will love soon enough. It's all about the experience," he smiles.

MATCH THE FOLLOWING >>>Goan Curry with Zinfandel?

Goan Fish Curry with 2009 Sauvignon Blanc
The kingfish is an oily fish and needs a strong wine to cut through the oil. Hence, the best wine to pair with the Goan Fish Curry would be the 2009 Sauvignon Blanc (which originates from the Bordeaux region of France). This dish has strong flavours and needs a full-bodied wine. If you pair a lighter wine with it, the flavours of the dish will drown out the flavour of the wine.

Chicken Tandoori with 2008 Chenin Blan
The 2008 Chenin Blanc (originates from the Loire Valley of France) or the 2008 Syrah Cabernet (a blend of Syrah and Cabernet) would be the perfect wines to pair with poultry. The Tandoori is a lighter dish and these wines complement it well. The Syrah Cabernet is a soft easy drinking wine and works well with the flavours, while Chenin is a wine that always works well with chicken.

Mutton Biryani with 2008 Syrah
Always pair mutton with a full-bodied red wine, in this case the 2008 Syrah. It's a rule that shouldn't be broken, since these two complement each other perfectly. The oil in the dish neutralises the acidity of the wine.

Paneer Kadhai with 2008 Syrah
This rich dish needs a full-bodied, strong flavoured wine like the 2008 Syrah. If you pair it with a lighter wine, the dish will overpower the flavours. Always pair a heavy wine with a heavy dish.

Chole with 2008 Rose
Since this is a spicy, tangy dish, no wine can really cut through it. But if you would like to sip on wine in any case, try the 2008 Rose.

Why the Shiraz is special
According to Bailey, who won a trophy for Best Gold Winning Shiraz at The National Wine Show, Canberra, 1994, the Shiraz or the Syrah combines the best of both worlds for a wine-maker. It's a rich, generous and finely flavoured variety that's extremely versatile. It's full flavoured, yet soft. You can compare it to the Cabernet, which lacks the sweet generosity of the Shiraz. The two wines have been blended as the Cabernet tends to be a bit austere, and the Shiraz fills that void. After all, drinking wine is supposed to be a satisfying experience, and the Shiraz fulfills this requirement.

4 top restaurants for wine IN MUMBAI

CU Copper
At: The Beatle, JMJ House, Orchard Avenue, Hiranandani Gardens, Powai.u00a0
Call: 40895000
USP: CU Copper boasts of a wine library with French, Australian, Italian and Indian varieties. The wine library stores at least five varieties of wine from each country.u00a0
Must order: Don't forget to try their Cheese Fondue (Rs 399) and pair it with the Italian white wine Bawa Gavi Dei Gavi (Rs 5,650 for a bottle).

Opium Den
At: Opium Den, The Oberoi, Hilton Towers, Nariman Point.
Call: 66325757
USP: They serve a wide variety of wines from France, Chile and India. They have some of the most expensive wines available in India the Chateau Petrus (Rs 2.75 lakh per bottle) and the Chateau Cheval Blanc (Rs 1.35 lakh per bottle).u00a0
Must order: Savour their Golden Fried Prawns (Rs 925) with the Danzante white wine (Rs 2,800 per bottle).

Indigo
At: 4, Mandlik Road, Colaba.
Call: 66368999
USP: They offer a wide variety of wines to suit every budget, from the expensive 1982 Chateau Latour (Rs 1.5 lakh) to the Indian Tiger Hill (Rs 1,800) Chardonnay. Apart from these, they also have wines from Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and America.u00a0u00a0
Must order: You can try their Chilean Sea Bass (Rs 1,850) with a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc (Rs 5,250).

Vong Wong
At: Express Towers, Ramnath Goenka Marg, Nariman Point.
Call: 22875633
USP: They stock wines from 6 countries and offer high-end, middle-end and lower-end wines. They offer French white wines such as Laroche Chablis (Rs 9,900) and Macon Village (Rs 7,000) as well as local French wines such as Piat d'Or (Rs 2,200). Also sip on their sparkling wines like the Dom Perignon (Rs 28,000) and Asti Spumante (Rs 2,700). They stock wines from France, Italy, South Africa, Australia, Argentina, Chile and India.u00a0
Must order: Have the Sea Bass with soya and garlic/ginger sauce (Rs 1,200) with the Hugel Riesling (Rs 6,600) from France.

Know your wine expert
Who is Paul Bailey? The chief wine-maker at Vallu00e9e de Vin (producers of the new homegrown wine brand, Zampa), is a veteran from Australia, whose passion for wine-making has led him to Nasik, where he now lives. He has studied oenology at Adelaide University in South Australia and worked at the famed Barossa Valley, Mildura and Sydney, for 10 years, before he moved to Orlando Winery, makers of Jacobs Creek. He began consulting with Vallu00e9e de Vin in 2006, before joining the company as chief wine-maker in 2008.

Best Rule out of Bailey's rule book: There are some imported wines I wouldn't even clean my drains with. And then there are some absolutely incredible wines that come out of this country. It's not about whether a wine is imported, it's about do you like it or not.

Best BOOK, WINERY, EATERY
Paul picks his favourites

Best book on wine he's read: James Halliday's Guide to Australian Wine. He is a lawyer who has great insights on wine. His knowledge is legendary and he's a good writer too; he manages to share information and facts without sounding technical.
Best winery he has visited: Cullens in Margeret River, Western Australia.
Restaurant with best wine collection he's been to: I think Indigo in Mumbai has a great collection.

WIN
Five lucky Mid-Day readers win a bottle each of 2008 Zampa Chenin Blanc.