New Delhi, Nov 13 (ANI/Business Wire India): The India Wine Challenge 2008, now in its second year attracted nearly 501 entries, it included samples from France, (including Bordeaux), Germany, Spain, Portugal, Italy California, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and South America as well as examples from almost all of India’’s leading wineries.

It is the most efficient and authoritative wine competition to assess anonymously presented Indian and international wines, and provided impartial information that facilitates Indian professionals and consumers to select the best and best value bottles.

The Indian wine market is set to nearly double - from five m litres to nine m litres - in 2010. The wine producers across the globe are eager to export their wine to India. There has been a rapid influx of wineries in states like Nasik and elsewhere.

Indian wines took the highest numbers of awards at India Wine Challenge 2008 event held in Hyatt Regency in Delhi. There were 501 entries from 16 countries, including 76 entries from India. Indian wines took eight medals (which include five bronze and three silver medals) out of the 185 medals in total. The winners who won silver medal are

– Chateau Indage Marquise de Pompadour
– Chateau D”Ori Cabernet Merlot 2007
– Sula 2008 Late Harvest Chenin, won Silver Medals each

The winner’’s names were announced, by IFE Chairman Robert Joseph in the presence of the panel of eminent national and international judges at the competition.

At this occasion Robert Joseph, chairman of London International Wine Challenge said, that India still has to go a long way as much of the work remains to be done before the general quality of winemaking matches India’’s potential, but we are very impressed by the achievement of India so far, especially considering the fact that the conditions here are very difficult as compared to the classic wine regions, where the wines rest through the cold winters.

Robert Joseph is founder of the London International Wine Challenge, the world’’s biggest wine competition. He had written various award-winning books such as the Ultimate Encyclopedia of Wine. He had also played a vital role in the launch Meininger’’s Wine Business International magazine, and he is also working as an editor with them.

The eminent panels of illustrious judges led by Robert Joseph are:

Subhash Arora, President of Indian Wine Academy, Delhi Wine Club, Editor of delWine and the India Correspondent of Wine Business International magazine

Magandeep Singh, India’’s first French-certified sommelier, a celebrated author, a frequent contributor to several newspapers and a leading wine expert on television (including a recent series)

Apart from the eminent judges from India there were several overseas visitors flown to India especially for the competition, which included the renowned names of the industry like:

Vanya Cullen, of Cullen Estate in Australia, 2000 Qantas / Wine magazine Winemaker of the Year.

Gina Gallo, Chief Winemaker of Gallo Family Vineyards in California, the world’’s biggest family-owned winery

Robert Bava, co-dierctor of Bava Estate in Piedmont, Italy, one of Italy’’s most dynamic estates (and already an exporter to India among many other countries)

Dr John Forest of Forest Estate in Marlborough, New Zealand whose wine was awarded the supreme trophy at the 2007 India Wine Challenge

Mike Ratcliffe of Warwick Estate and Vilafonte, two of the top wineries in South Africa.

John Quarisa from Australia, producer of the prestigious Jimmy Watson Trophy in Melbourne and Stodart Trophies in 2004. (ANI)