The world is a tough place to be in right now. For producers of premium, expensive wine, it can be a nightmare.

India’s foremost awards, the India Wine Awards entered its 3rd year, and performed better than ever. Seventeen top wine experts judged 320 wines over a marathon tasting which lasted 2 days at the Leela Mumbai.

While the rain pounded Mumbai and the Ganpati visarjan was on in full flow, 16 top-ranked judges gathered to judged the best wine in India, Indian and imported.

High taxes, a preference for beer and whisky, a complicated tax regime.

Bordeaux wines are considered among the top-rated wines in the world. Indian cuisines are among the most celebrated and loved.

We know about Swiss cheese, Swiss chocolate and Swiss watches. So why have we not heard anything about Swiss wine, considering the Swiss are the world’s 4th largest wine consuming country?

Argentina is famous for its Malbec, that powerful red wine grape that originated from France. But today, Argentina’s new wine producers are making beautiful, award winning malbec in a variety of styles, each one unique.

Steven Spurrier, the renowned wine professional who has just published his much awaited memoirs, Wine A Way of Life’ speaks about how he developed his love for wine.

While China gallops ahead, thirtsty to learn about wine and spirits, India lags behind in wine and spirits education.

The decades -old Indian wine industry is a baby compared to the stalwarts in the Old World, but it has been making rapid headway in terms of quality.

Everyone associates rosé wine with summer. But around the world, as the popularity of rosé wine soars, critics are talking about its easy approachability and food friendliness. Plus, for a hot country like India, it makes for the perfect summer sip.

Is Indian food to rich, too complex and too spicy for pairing with wine? Wine critics from around the world have been asking this question even as the world looks towards Asian countries to expand wine culture in.

Ruma Singh is a former full-time journalist turned wine writer and freelance wine columnist who writes on wine along with spirits and other beverages, food, travel and lifestyle subjects.

Ruma Singh, an expert on wine besides a leading journalist, was present throughout as well as invited to be on the jury as an expert.

In a first for the wine industry in India, four international big names have been named judges for the India Wine Awards 2018 in the category of Excellence in Restaurant Wine Programme.

Over the last few years, Italy’s prosecco, the light, pocket-friendly and delicious sparkling wine has topped sales of all sparkling wines worldwide, including India.

Maharashtra’s York Winery, known to be one of the top wine brands in India recently launched 2 wines, one red and one white with a cricket theme. Named All Rounder, they are easy to drink, well -made and well-priced.

India has entered the big league with the latest Indian wine brand, J’NOON(meaning passion) by Fratelli Vineyards being launched.

Ruma Singh opted out of a full-time career as a journalist at India’s top national newspaper to pursue her passion for writing about wine.