The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India

The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.

- NAMRATA ZAKARIA

Robinson was endowed with the Master of Wine title in 1984, becoming the first journalist to earn it. She has advised on the royal cellar at Buckingham Palace for Queen Elizabeth II and continues to do so for King Charles. Her column in the Financial Times completes 34 years (she has been writing about wine for 50 years now). She was ordained the title OBE in 2003.

Robinson also has her own eponymous website, which she recently sold. She has written more than 20 books on wine; the most notable ones are The Oxford Companion to Wine and the co-authored The World Atlas of Wine. Her website and books are bibles to wine enthusiasts the world over. Decanter magazine called her "the most respected wine critic and journalist in the world". She also appears in a wine show on BBC 2.

Her first evening in India was at Captain's Cellar at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi. The hotel had invited about 50 of their special guests for a tasting of Californian wines.