A wine-wine situation

Pune Gourmet Club wants to popularise Indian wines among the middle class by pairing a suitable desi wine with international cuisine at reasonable rates

A wine-wine situation

Pune Gourmet Club wants to popularise Indian wines among the middle class by pairing a suitable desi wine with international cuisine at reasonable rates

It's common knowledge that food tastes better with the right kind of wine and the Pune Gourmet Club (PGC) wants to take it a step further.

"For a given kind of food, we have a specific Indian wine that savours the palate," says B Shankarnarayan, founder of PGC. The club's 200 members meet once a month, prepare mouthwatering dishes and pair the food with a suitable wine.

For the middle class
The club's aim is to popularise wine among the middle class and to offer five-star luxuries at a reasonable rate. "We have all kinds of wine here, including the exclusive Cabernet Shiraz, Chenin Blanc, Sparkler or Rose," says Shankarnarayan.

All a person needs to be a member of PGC is have passion for cooking, love for wine and the willingness to create awareness about wines. "I have been with PGC since its inception. It has been an educative journey for everyone. I did not know much about wines, but thanks to PGC, I know much more now," said Deepak Patwardhan, a lawyer and PGC member.

Added Shanth Mannige, an active member of PGC and executive director of a softw are company, "PGC is all about being adventurous in terms of trying out new cuisine and figuring out which food goes with which Indian wine. All you have to do is know how to cook. You get the recipes and you have to cook it. It is a fun place to be."u00a0

Wide menu
At each monthly meeting, a different cuisine is tested and paired with suitable wines. "You will find Tapas, BBQ, Greek, Middle Eastern, European, Biryani, Cajun, Far and South East Asian, Kashmiri, Banarasi and South American cuisines on our menu. We've tasted nearly every wine made in India and have even published a comprehensive Indian Wine Guide," said Shankarnarayan.

The club has the distinction of having organised India's first ever wine-tasting festival for the common people last December.

The event featured more than 50 Indian wines, and the attraction was the gourmet food stalls. Also, there were wine-appreciation sessions with celebrity chefs. The varieties included Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Zinfandel.