Putting their best foot forward

Craig Wedge is bullish about the rising quality of Australian wines entering the Indian market

- Craig Wedge

When I was asked by the Editor recently if I would contribute to Sommelier India, this pioneering publication on all things vinous, I said, "Of course! Who would put aside the opportunity to stand upon a soap box and spout to the world about the wonderment of the grape? And what individual (not yearning like the rest) for 15 minutes of fame, still wants their voice heard over the vast, crowded sea of Indian "wine con-or-sewers".... This Aussie of course.

But herein lies the irony. For Aussie I am, and yet, whilst I still proudly put hand-on-heart and sing the mighty anthem, "Waltzing Matlida", I am what some would call, desi-fied after all the years I have spent here and very much a Mumbaikar at heart. So, when asked to put pen to paper and write about the current state of Aussie wines in India following the trade agreement between the two countries, I have to admit, I had to scratch my head and think about it.

But here is the thing. Aussie wine has really not changed in all the years I have been here. I guess you could say that it has simply refined itself.