It is no coincidence that just a post ago I had described some latest wine arrivals in India as those from Sicily, the southernmost wine region of Italy. Here comes another one related to the country- this time from Veneto, one of its northernmost wine regions famed largely for its Valpolicella, Prosecco and Soave wines. The uber fresh wines to arrive in India are from Zenato- one of the top wineries of the Veneto region.
Lately, Italian wines have been highly proactive in the Indian market, something that was foretold by Giuseppe Martelli, then President of the National Wine Committee of Italy. In an interview to me a few years back Martelli told that though Italy might have been a late starter in the wine market of India, it was going to catch up really fast. Sure enough, India has seen many Italian wine labels being introduced ever since, with Zenato being the latest to hop on the Indian bandwagon. Zenato wines are imported in the country by VBev, a rapidly growing wine and spirits importer.
About Zenato
A family owned winery founded in 1960 by Sergio Zenato, Zenato makes some of the finest wines from Lugana and Valpolicella Classico, two key territories in the Veneto region. They take pride in representing the true varietal and terroir characteristics of the region while respecting the local traditions in tandem. Sergio Zenato is widely acclaimed as a pioneer from the Lugana region, having started producing exceptional quality wines from the Trebbiano di Lugana (now officially called Trubiana to avoid confusion with Trebbiano grown elsewhere in Italy).
Sergio was also the first to age Trebbiano in oak which at the time was unheard-of. He was also one of the first producers to revive the Ripasso method (secondary fermentation of Valpolicella Ripasso wines with the Marc of Amarone della Valpolicella) in the nineties. Today, Zenato is one of the most awarded Italian producers for Amarone and Ripasso wines.
Zenato Wines with Indian Food
(Prices indicated are ex Delhi)
VBev showcased the newly introduced range of Zenato wines around a dinner hosted at The Lalit New Delhi that featured some robust cuisine from Baluchi– the hotel’s acclaimed Indian restaurant. I was one of the fortunate few to be introduced to these wines where Marco Milani, Brand Ambassador Zenato specially flew in to share some insights.
For those who still think that Indian food is difficult to pair with wine, they may not have tried it adequately. A diverse country that India is, the type of cuisine varies every few hundred kilometers and it is just a matter of deliberation to decide on the right food to pair with a wine or vice versa.
This was something amply demonstrated by Team VBev and Charles Donnadieu, Corporate Sommelier The Lalit , where various pairing possibilities existed within the “officially paired menu”. It gelled well with an interesting fact brought out by Milani that different expressions of Valpolicella wines were possible using the same grapes (Corvina, Rondinella, Oselata) depending on their area of cultivation. For example, the grapes for Zenato Bardolino come from the adjoining areas of Lake Garda whereas those for their Ripassa and Amarone come from higher up on the hill sides. Despite using the same grapes, all these wines are remarkably different in character- the Bardolino being soft and juicy whereas the other two being robust and highly complex.
Our dinner started with Zenato Soave (₹ 2490), that was a perfect start to the evening with its refreshing and balanced acidity. The wine was served with Baluchi’s signature Phenni Parantha followed by lightly spiced Tandoori Prawn and Panch Phoran Yogurt Patty.
Then came the Zenato Bardolino (₹ 2490)– a light bodied red with hints of red fruit and almond- which was served with Clay Oven Chicken Tikka, and Char Grilled Cottage Cheese but I also liked it well with the Lamb Skewers (Mutton Seekh) served in the next course.
The menu progressed to more intense dishes to match the complex Ripasso and Amarone. The Lamb Skewers paired well with Ripassa Valpolicella DOC Superiore (₹ 5320)- a wine with great structure and dense black fruit flavours. Again, I tried it with the next course of Baby Lamb Shank with Spicy Mince Sauce and it worked there too!
The main course of Baby Lamb Shank with Spicy Mince Sauce was served with Zenato’s Amarone della Valpolicella (₹ 11,870) – an intense type of wine made from partially dried grapes. Such is the versatility of a good Amarone wine that it can stand up to any robust cuisine including rich desserts. This dexterity came out shining as the Zenato Amarone carried on with the dessert course of Dark Chocolate coated Badam Halwa Tart to be savoured till the end.
A Promising Prospect for Zenato
Milani was happy with the outcome of his visit saying: “Arriving in India after travelling across Asia Pacific was a big surprise, it suddenly felt like home. India and Italy are culturally quite common, and I believe that wine can contribute to develop this connection even further. Our partnership with VBev in India is well poised to build on such cultural affinity. As regards our wines, I am optimistic that the Zenato Amarone and Ripasso will do very well; their full body, complex aromas, intense flavours and strong character will find great acceptance with the Indian consumer.”
Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO VBev added: “We at VBev are committed to bringing the finest wines from around the world to the Indian sub-continent. Zenato stands testament to the best that fine Italian wines can offer, their Amarone and Ripasso are some of the best from the region. Zenato wines we believe will find the perfect pairing with fine dine Italian and Indian cuisine, two of the top cuisines preferred by the Indian consumer.”
For wine lovers in India, the options may just have become even better.
