A Desi Wine & Cheese affair !

I visited the oldest operating winery in India, Grover Zampa Winery, located at the foot of Nandi Hills in Bangalore. GZV invited media and industry people to showcase their revamped winery and launch two new wine labels – La Reserve Brut Royale, a 100% Chenin Blanc sparkler, and Vendanges Tardives, a 100% Viognier( Red wine) -based dessert wine.

The day was quite eventful, after a quick tour to their bottling unit and sample tasting at the barrel room, it was time for some cheese and wine pairing. Who does not love cheese and when paired with wine the experience reaches a whole new gastronomical level which can only be experienced and not entirely explained in words.

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A cheesy affair with the grapes! Indulge in luxury with our finest estate-bottled Chêne Grande Reserve paired with your favourite cheese. #GroverZampa #WineAndCheese

A post shared by Grover Zampa Vineyards (@groverzampa) on May 16, 2019 at 6:55am PDT

 

Cheese from Auroville

The curated wine & cheese pairing session at the winery was hosted by Mathias Pellissard (Winemaker) of Grover Zampa vineyards. A wide array of cheese styles was on offer and surprise element was that all the yumminess was desi. The Cheese on platter was not from any foreign land but was locally produced by La Ferme Cheese which operates at Auroville (near Puducherry city) in south India. The company believes in sustainable manufacturing process.

 

The Pairing

 

A mild Cheese & a subtle red

The first wine pairing featured Vijay Amritraj Collection, a red blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Shiraz, and 1% Viognier aged for 18 months in oak barrel. It presented a well-balanced and structured wine with soft tannins, subtle oak, medium acidity, sweet spices on the nose, and ripe red berries on the palate. Mild and nutty 34-month-aged Gouda cheese, which varies in flavor with age, complemented this medium-bodied red wine perfectly..

 

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#Repost @alcohowl (@get_repost) ・・・ WINE REVIEW: VIJAY AMRITRAJ COLLECTION GROVER ZAMPA . In 2014, Vijay Amritraj, one of India’s most prolific tennis players launched his own special wine range in association with @groverzampa. Here’s our review of this fine selection of beautifully fermented vinos. . The VA Reserve Collection White is a barrel fermented and barrique aged Viognier with a 30% oaked component giving it a fuller body. Interestingly the choice of the varietal was made by Vijay Amritraj himself, who is passionate about wine and always vouches for a nice glass of white over hard liquor. . “These wines are a lot like me. An Indian make out to prove it’s worth in the world. India isn’t known for its wines, neither was it known to produce quality sportsmen in the Sixties and Seventies“ – Vijay Amritraj. . Comment and tell us if you have tried this fine collection and what did you think of it? #Alcohowl #alcohol #drinks #nightlife #Instadrink #drinkstagram #instalike #drinkup #igers #instagood #drinkmagazine #instadaily #drinksofinstagram #wine #winelover #winetasting #winenight #winery #winestagram #winelovers #winetime #grover #groverzampa

A post shared by Grover Zampa Vineyards (@groverzampa) on Apr 3, 2019 at 1:52am PDT

 

A piquant cheese & a lively Brut

ext wine was a dry Chenin Blanc sparkling aged for 9+ months on yeast.  The 100% Chenin Blanc brut sparkling wine presented crisp notes of citrus, bready, and toast with a creamy mouthfeel and a clean, dry finish. This wine was complimented by equally interesting six months aged Auroblochon cheese –  sharp flavour and creamy texture.

 

 

A hard cheese & a mouth-watering white

Wine number 03, Grover Art Collection Sauvignon blanc was paired with Cheddar cheese. Sauvignon blanc’s citrusy fresh  notes paired well with 24-month-aged cheddar’s strong and salty flavours.

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#Repost @sinplypretty (@get_repost) ・・・ I got to drink this #CheninBlanc #WhiteWine from the #Grover #ReserveCollection 2017 vintage with 13.5% v/v Alcohol. This wine is from the Grover Art Collection range and bears the artwork of famous Bengali Artist #SanjayBhattacharjee with vivid colours and depth . I do not care much for the illustration though , I was just curious about the taste of this wine . Here are my observations Colour – Pale straw Nose – Yellow fruits , Peach , Citrus Style – Dry Acidity – Medium Palate – Great mouthfeel , silky and full bodied , really loved the way it feels and moves around the mouth. Flavour – Yellow apples ,lemon… I could taste some green and fresh notes and a bit of oak that gave this wine a complex but great taste in every sip . Incidentally this was also the bronze medallist at the #DecanterAsiaWineAwards 2017 . If you are looking for a good #white #wineunder1000 this can be your pick . I paired it with a watermelon , apple and feta salad and it went quite well with it highlighting the salt of the feta and the sweetness of the fruit. It also went well with red gravy curries. Which do you like more – Red or White Wine ? • • • • • • • • • Keep following @sinplypretty for more such updates ! #doctorblogger #foodreviewer #foodlover #foodblogger #sinplypretty #devourpower #likeforlike #like4like #indiblogger #wineblogger #winelover #wineandwomen #indianwines

A post shared by Grover Zampa Vineyards (@groverzampa) on Apr 5, 2019 at 12:53am PDT

 

 

 

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Unravel the essence of the major sites of Bangalore, with Insignia by your side! The limited edition, single vineyard wine, exclusively sold through the cellar in our Bangalore vineyard. #GroverZampa #Insignia #Bangalore

A post shared by Grover Zampa Vineyards (@groverzampa) on Jan 3, 2019 at 5:00am PST

 

A Bold cheese & a Bold Red

Mark’s explanation of the mold-ripening process of blue cheese, resulting in visible veins throughout, peaked excitement when paired with Grover’s Insignia.

Blue cheese has a creamy, salty, and pungent taste that requires a bold wine to tame its strong flavours. Grover’s Insignia, a 100% Shiraz, aged over 20 months in new French oak barriques, complements the cheese perfectly.

 

 

 Mounika Uppu