WINE LOVERS, get ready for an experience you haven't savoured yet. Madhulika Bhattacharya, better known as Madame La Cave because of her super-cool wine store (La Cave, home to 310 wine labels, what else?) at Select Citywalk, Saket, has curated an event of the kind that Delhi-NCR has not seen before.
Imagine drinking 10 standard pours of the world's top wines for all of Rs 1,000 (taxes included -- and no service charge!) and as many as you can physically knock back for Rs 2,000 (50 is the upper limit -- red alert for Uber and Ola!). Pay another Rs 500 and you'll be able to attend one of the 'Grand Tastings' that will be conducted by international winemakers attending the event.
Book your tickets now for The Fine Wine Affair, which takes places on the long corridor of the retail arcade, also known as The Concourse, at The Oberoi Gurgaon on the post-Dussehra weekend (October 14-16). You can choose from three slots: 12 noon to 3 p.m.; 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.; 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
"This is our way of connecting with consumers because we believe great stories always start with a bottle of wine," Bhattacharya said over lunch where we blasphemously paired gobhi parantha and a delicious 'white chicken' prepared by Madame La Cave's cook with a Chateau des Graviers Margaux 2008.
Thank God, this is the Durga Puja season, the time for feasting, not fasting. (A word about the wine: Introduced to me by Atul Lall of The Claridges New Delhi, the organic wine comes from a chateau in Bordeaux carrying the uncommon Cru Artisan classification, which was introduced in 2006 and granted by the French government to just 44 independent producers who have consistently maintained high quality standards.)
Apart from wine tasting sessions, there will be lots of wine centric activities have also been planned as part of the event. ‘Classes With The Masters’ will feature prestigious wine houses being flown in from around the world that include names such as Marchesi de Barolo, Castello Banfi and Marchesi de Frescobaldi, who will be conducting expert sessions on wine evaluation and ideal gourmet pairings.
Artisan Square will revolve around key interaction with the people behind the labels of award winning producers over a 45-minute detailed insight in the ‘Grand Tastings’ of the day.
Guided sessions – Santé – on creating the perfect cheese board paired with exquisite French wines, gourmet butter, homemade baguettes and macarons in signature flavours will be conducted by The Oberoi Patisserie & Delicatessen.
Emerged and Arrived will help understand new world wines from Australia and New Zealand along with the aforementioned countries’ culinary favorite – Roast New Zealand Lamb with Homemade Pickles.
Para La Buena Salud will showcase Latin American highlights including the perfect combination of ceviche of Chilean Seabass and wine along with traditional confection - Alfajores.
Stars and Stripes will witness the New York cheesecake, Californian walnuts and almonds, Californian grapes, Washington apples, pears from the United States of America to the household favorite apple pie being paired with wines from the county of Sonoma and the valleys of Napa, Columbia and Willamette.
Italian wines will be paired with antipasti, premium olives, Prosciutto di San Daniele ham and a special tasting of regional extra virgin olive oils and Balsamic vinegar aged 12 and 24 years from the gastronomic center in Saluti. Lastly, resident sommelier Rakesh Awaghade will pair four wines over the course of 20 minutes to learn how to pick a winning wine for your next dinner party in Cellar Door Experience.
Talking about the upcoming event, David Mathews, General Manager, The Oberoi, Gurgaon, said, “The Fine Wine Affair is the city’s first edition of a wine appreciation weekend dedicated to creating an enriching experience for our guests. It is an honour for The Oberoi, Gurgaon to host India’s first Wine Theatre featuring 100 premium labels and several wine connoisseurs. We truly hope our invitees will enjoy this exquisite three-day extravaganza.”
The passes for The Fine Wine Affair are priced at: Rs 1000 to taste 10 wines; Rs 1500 to taste 20 wines; and Rs 2000 to taste 35 wines. As for the Master Classes, the tickets are priced at Rs. 500 per person and also include signature wines with artisanal pairings.
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Sourish Bhattacharyya is the Executive Editor of BW Hotelier. He is also a New Delhi-based newspaper columnist and blogger.
