Wine from the Kangaroo land

“A wine makes a meal an occasion, a table more exquisite, and everyday life more exciting,” begins Michael Carter, consul-commercial and trade commissioner for Australia to South India, as he quotes a famous wine critique. Carter was in the city to host a wine session, one of the first attempts being made to provide an Australian wine experience to some of the Hyderabadi wine connoisseurs. Burgeoning wine market in the cityCarter, who has had immense experience in the food and beverages industry, believes that consumers are now willing to experiment and look further beyond the conventional wine market viz, Italy and France. “There is a burgeoning wine market in Hyderabad, wherein consumers want a broad range to select from,” opines Carter, adding, “There has been an increase in the demand for the new world wines — which are from places like Australia, New Zealand and Chile. Australia is currently the fourth largest exporter of wine.”Wine for the Indian paletteWhen one thinks of wine, it is automatically followed by cheese or it is considered as a beverage that seduces the western palette only. However, Carter begs to differ. “Many people think that wine only complements the Western platter, which is a misconceived notion,” he clarifies and further explains, “It can also be consumed with Indian meals. For example, the very famous Hyderabadi biryani, which is full of rich and powerful flavours can be perfectly paired with a subtle wine like the Sauvignon Semillon Blanc. With such a combination, one can truly appreciate the meal as well as the wine.” And  that’s not all ­— he further reveals that wine goes great with cuisines like Kashmiri and Kerala, apart from the South Indian cuisine.  Responsible drinking“Drinking wine is an interesting affair — you either like it or you don’t,” says the connoisseur. While he does believe that wine can be enjoyed with a meal and on plenty other occasions, it is important to not go overboard. “One should know when they have had enough. It is only with responsible drinking that one can truly appreciate the beverage,” says Carter, signing off.