British supermarket chain Waitrose has started selling two brands of Indian wine in its stores as it looks to increase the diversity of its wine range. After introducing wine from other unusual wine-producing countries such as Croatia, Lebanon and Morocco as part of the Waitrose World of Wine Showcase, Indian wine is the latest exotic beverage to be brought to the market. Offering the Ritu Viognier 2010 and the Zampa Syrah 2008 to customers is the first attempt by a European supermarket to provide wine from this emerging nation.
The two wines, a red and a white, are made from traditional grape varieties grown in the Maharashtra region of Western India. RituViognier is described as a crisp, aromatic white wine with aromas of white flowers and ripe peach and fresh apricot fruit flavours, well matched with classic spicy dishes. It is produced in a winery in Baramati. According to Waitrose, the Zampa Syrah is a 100 per cent Syrah wine, which is produced by winemaker Nic Van Arde, in the dry, tropical climate of the Nashik Valley near Mumbai. The red wine is said to be rich and fruity with hints of pepper and spice. While the Syrah will initially cost £8.49, Ritu Viognier is on sale at a discounted price of £6.99.
"India is arriving as a wine nation”, said Matt Smith, wine buyer for Waitrose. "I've been looking at Indian wines for four to five years. It's taken a while but the quality has improved a great deal.” (6 Sept)
© 2011 - ESM: European Supermarket Magazine
