The Gift Of The Grape

Manek S. kohli visits a boutique wine estate on the outskirts of nashik.

- Manek S. kohli

First, lift the wine glass from its stem. Take care not to touch its bowl, since you don’t want any fingerprints. And then, see. Hold it against a bright white background—the ceiling or a wall should do—and observe its clarity. Particulate matter of any kind is unacceptable. Then, observe the colour. Assess its richness, evaluate its depth and focus, particularly at the top rim of the liquid. For red wine, the brighter this rim, the older it is. For whites, darker is older.

And then, swirl. With a free, loose wrist. Watch your drink rotate, almost hugging the rim of the glass, and then watch it settle. You have now released its fragrance. Sniff. Take a strong whiff, and describe what you smell. A fruity, citrusy or perhaps nutty, caramel-like aroma? Or spicy? And finally—sip.

This formulation isn’t mine. As we sat in Soma Vine Village’s winery, at a table surrounded by wine-themed display pieces, humongous barrels and rows of sparkling wine at various stages of fermentation, we were being educated in the art of wine tasting by Cellar Door Manager, Amritpal Singh.

Soma Vine Village is located 12km from ‘India’s Napa Valley’, Nashik, Maharashtra, in a belt of wine estates which also includes the well-known Sula Vineyards. Continue on the same road, enjoying the freshness of the lush rainfed vegetation coupled with the constant scent of petrichor, and turn left to find the splendid vineyard resort. Slanting roofs supported by wooden panels, its balconies and verandas overlooking a hill on one side and the infinity pool, the Gangapur Dam, vineyards and distant hills on the other.