Of late, the Patiala Peg loving Punjabi spirit is soaring to a new high. Moving over its age-old penchant for whisky and potent locally-distilled brews, the robust community is taking to wine drinking. With the upwardly mobile Punjabis downing Merlots and Chenin Blancs by the case, liquor companies UB and Seagrams have floated their wines and wine marketers from around the globe are arriving in droves to hold wine tasting sessions. Cashing in on the growing popularity of wines, plush wine studios are opening doors in Jallandhar, Amritsar and Chandigarh."Though Punjab is still a hard liquor drinking state, there's been a dramatic spurt in wine business over the last six years. From selling just one wine bottle in a week, we're now selling a case per day. Many of our clients come asking for condiments for fancy cooking that compliments wine drinking," says Sumit Ralhan, wine entrepreneur who imports wines from Australia, Italy, France, Argentina, South Africa, USA, besides stocking champagnes, imported cheeses, syrups and wine accessories for the discerning wine buff.Sumit and Aan Ralhan at their studio Ralhan came up with Punjab's first wine boutique-Nesh Wine Studio in Jallandhar. When this software engineer gave up his job to open the store, the concept of an exclusive wine store seemed alien in Punjab. "I converted my dad's plastic-ware shop into a wine studio and roped in my wife. I now have three wine studios across Punjab. Soon, I'm opening a wine lounge Soul Karma that will hold wine and cheese events."Following Sumit Ralhan's lead is 25-year-old Sidarth Munjral. The wine connoisseur came up with the D Vine Cellar wine boutique at Amritsar in 2005. Designed like a sleek, duty free store, Munjral's cellar flaunts teakwood shelves customised from London, stacking more than 80 imported and Indian wines. Vine Celler goes beyond selling wines.Sidarth MunjralThey hold wine tasting sessions, talks on wine appreciation and the intricacies of wine selection. Buoyed by the exponential response, Munjral launched another such wine studio in Amritsar's Hypercity this October.Looks like the region's winescape is maturing. "We started with 16 members in 2003 and today, we have 60 members. The aficionados now want to be familiar with all nuances of wine drinking," says Yashovardhan Saboo who started the Chandigarh Wine Club.With so much buzz happening in the region around wine, it sure seems like the season to sparkle. Info fileNesh Wine Studio, 409, Lajpat Nagar market, Opposite Gymkhana club, Jallandhar.D'Vine Cellar:Food and Beverages store, Kennedy Avenue, Amritsar.Top-sellers: Chantilli-Cabernet Sauvignon, Chantilli -Chardonnay, Carlo Rossi Californian, Sula Blush-Zinfandel.Published By: AtMigration Published On: Dec 23, 2010--- ENDS ---
