Most Popular

Top 5 Pune Monsoon Weekend Getaways

Indian Athletes Competing in The...

The Best to Experience in India

R.K.Narayan: The perfect story t...

5 Highest Individual Match Score...

Different styles of Draping a sa...

Revamping Bollywood - Bold is Be...

Mango - The King of All the Fruits

Bharatpur: Beautiful Travel Attr...

Mitsubishi Car Prices in India

Awadhi Cuisine's Culinary Terms ...

Manas National Park - Top Wildli...

Tree House Hotels-Where your roo...

Famous Folk Dances of North India

Best of Indian Wines: Top 10 Indian Red Wines

by: Noreen

About 10 years ago Indian wines and Indian wineries were almost unheard of. They were existent, but didn't have a presence or show any promise in the Indian wine market let alone the international wine scene. But today, that has changed quite drastically. With Indian Vineyards and Wineries popping up across the country, especially in Nashik and Karnataka, Indian Wine's and Indian Wine Brands are making waves and gaining recognition not only domestically but internationally as well.

In my previous guide I highlighted The Top 5 Indian Vineyards and Wineries which Include the three large players in the Indian Wine industry- Grover Vineyards, Indage (Chateau Indage) and Sula Wines, who together enjoy over 90% of the total market share. However this has not stopped new entrants and more Indian Wineries joining in the competition as the demand grows tremendously.

Here are The Top 10 Indian Red Wines today based purely on research of articles, reviews and discussions online and of course...personal taste. I am no wine connoisseur so this by no no means is a definitive Top 10 guide but merely step towards making wine buying a bit easier.

1. Grover La Reserve

Winery: Grover Vineyards
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
Style: New world Wine
Awarded 'Best New World Red 2005' by the Decanter magazine. Aged in french oak barrels, this has a luscious bouquet of fruit and spices with a distinctive oak flavor. It luscious ripe fruits and an exquisite hint of spices. It is an attractive wine that will complement roasted lamb, tenderloin and will also perfectly match Indian specialty such as mutton biryani. Best enjoyed with stronger meats, game and spicy food.

2. Château d’Ori Cabernet Merlot 2007

Winery: Chateau d'Ori
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
This intensely aromatic deep red wine with spiced and candied prune notes just dances on the palette. It is a very smooth wine with a hint of oak that which leave a lingering taste. This strong tannins of cabernet and the elegance of merlot bring pleasure to ones palate when this wine is combined with grilled red meats, game and fowl.

3. Nine Hills Cabernet Sauvignon 2007

Winery: Seagram
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Nine Hills stands apart with its soft tannins, which make it drinkable, just enough spiciness, long aftertaste, and a memorable mouth feel. Great for a mutton burra platter, but not a food wine for vegetarians.

4. Reveilo - Syrah Reserve 2005

Winery: Vintage Wines
Grape Variety: Syrah
A smooth-tasting wine, it is nicely balanced and drinkable. Syrah Reserve has been barrel aged in European oak for 9 months – this imparts an extra smoothness and oaky notes to the wine. A delightful symphony of spice, pepper and berries, this wine is just what you’d order with your sheekh kebabs.

5. Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz 2007

Wine Producer: Sula Vineyards
Grape Variety: Shiraz
The Dindori Reserve Shiraz is fragrant, elegant and smooth, with lush berry flavours and silky tannins.

6. Chantilli Cabernet Sauvignon

Wine Producer: Indage Wines
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
A full bodied oaky wine with a hint of black currant black cherries and rich complex finish. This wine won a bronze at the International Wine and Spirit Competition in 1995

7. Ivy Shiraz

Wine Producer: Indage Wines
Grape Variety: Shiraz
Type: Dry Red
Full bodied, deep purple with a minty nose of mulberry fruits and new oak.

8. Grover Vineyards Cabernet Shiraz

Wine Producer: Grover Vineyards
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz
This deep, ruby red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah or Shiraz grapes, Full bodies, with a rich bouquet overlaid with notes of spices, it has delightfully delicate, lingering taste.

9. Sula Red Zinfandel

Wine Producer: Sula Vineyards
Grape Variety: Zinfandel
A luscious, jammy red Zinfandel redolent with blackberry aromas and cinnamon and plum flavours. Balanced, spicy, supple, delightful! Pairs with pizza and hearty pasta dishes.

10. N. D. Syrah

Wine Producer:N.D Wines
Grape Variety: Syrah/Shiraz
N. D. Syrah has the color of the royal insignia, deep purple. N.D. Syrah feels velvety to taste with a distinct peppery flavor that lingers in the mouth.