From California to Chennai: American wines to tickle Indian taste-buds

The US Embassy New Delhi’s Office of Agricultural Affairs hosted an elite event titled “Taste of America,” at the Taj Coromandel in Chennai. Aimed at capturing a greater market share, generating enthusiasm and demand for US wines and spirits in south India, US Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin unveiled an interesting selection of wines for the Indian market. Curating the event was T Vikram Achanta, founder, and director of the Tulleeho Beverage Academy, and the tasting programme was led by well-known sommelier and food writer Magandeep Singh.

Speaking about the event, Consul General Judith Ravin said, “Showcasing California wines in South India demonstrates flourishing bilateral trade that benefits U.S. and Indian businesses and wine enthusiasts.”

Expertly hosted by the very glib and witty Magandeep, the guests were given a taste of fine wines from the US, particularly California, which is the world’s fourth leading wine producer, with an unmatched diversity of grape varietals across the state including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, and Viognier, to name a few.

As the world’s largest whiskey consumer at 1.9 billion litres in 2020, and a rising consumer of wine, India provides a multitude of opportunities for U.S. alcoholic beverage exports. In 2021, U.S. exports of wine and distilled spirits to India reached Rs. 51.98 crore, a 113 percent increase from the previous year. U.S. Embassy New Delhi’s Minister Counselor for Agricultural Affairs Ron Verdonk said, “India is an up-and-coming consumer of premium wines. I cannot think of a better time to bring top-quality California wines to the Indian market.”