ON INTERNATIONAL CHARDONNAY DAY WE TRACE THE WINE'S GROWING JOURNEY IN INDIA

This International Chardonnay Day, 22 May, is well-timed to reckon the trajectory of the wine in India. We take a look back to the early days, the way ahead and try it with chicken tikka, Goan kaju curry and mushroom pâté brûlée

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Chardonnay's shapeshifting quality enables it to be a humble crowd-pleaser as well as command a dizzying prize for its finest expression. Oaked, unoaked, fruity, buttery, having undergone malo-lactic fermentation or sparkling, with lingering aromas of baked apple crumble; the list is endless.

Indian white wines have gained ground, slowly but surely, plotting the evolving wine graph. Since the early 2000s, Chardonnay has trumped other grapes in favour of its pliant versatility.

Buoyant growth of Indian wines

The wine market in India was valued at $270.56 million in FY2024 and its value market size will increase above $977.02 million in FY2032, according to the India Wine Report 2024-2032 by International Market Analysis Research and Consulting (IMARC) Group. There are some strong drivers that are moving the needle here, such as increasing disposable income, changing lifestyles among urban consumers, particularly women who are seeking milder beverage options as opposed to distilled spirits and the definitive influence of travel. Another notable factor is that the country's sizeable Gen Z and Millennial population base of over 600 million that falls above the legal drinking age, are turning to wines as their drink of choice as it is also considered a status symbol.

In spite of the majority leaning towards reds, white wines which are lighter, represent 13% of the market, positioning themselves as a reprieve of sorts in the sweltering Indian summers.

One grape that has won the favour of urban Indian wine drinkers is Chardonnay, with its diverse range of profiles; from crisp and citrusy to well-rounded and buttery, and even sparkling. There is a promise with Chardonnay, and winemakers in India are up to alchemise the grape.