December 18, 2023: From a list of 460 wine and sake nominations, 219 winning wines in multiple categories were announced for the fifth edition of the India Wine Awards, which are hosted by Sonal Holland Wine Academy in collaboration with ProWine. The greatest blind-tasting competition of Indian wines, both domestic and foreign, was held on November 24 at Jio World Convention Centre. Twenty jury members evaluated each wine in the competition using a 100-point rating system to make sure the winners represented the preferences of Indian consumers.
Swati Bhat
110 wines were awarded in the Silver category, and 79 in the Gold. The wine that received the highest score among the 30 Best in Show winners was declared the best in show for that particular category. This year, sake was also added as a new category to recognise its growing popularity in the Indian market. In some categories, the jury found it difficult to choose a single winner, which occasionally resulted in a two- or three-way tie.
600 distinguished industry figures, including luminaries, leaders in hospitality, international trade organisations, and winemakers from all around the world, gathered for the Winners' Night. Among others, the evening honoured Rajeev Samant, the founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards, who is particularly notable for having laid the crucial groundwork for the development of the Indian wine sector. Sonal C. Holland herself gave him the "Indian Wine Industry Leader and Champion Award," which he well earned.
This year's event also marked the debut of a brand-new feature: IndiaWineAwards' 50 Best Places To Drink, a selection of the nation's top eateries and bars that provide outstanding drinking experiences for their patrons. Based on votes from the general public and jury members, the list was created to honour not only the best places to drink but also the hard work, skill, and friendliness of the staff who go into making these places especially memorable.
Mumbai-born Americano took first place in this category and became a fan favourite. Nine other notable venues that made it to the Top 10 Best Places to Drink came after Americano. These include Sidecar (New Delhi), Sula Tasting Room (Nashik), Copitas (Bengaluru), Masque (Mumbai), Hideaway (Goa), Comorin (Gurugram), Slink & Bardot (Mumbai), and The Bombay Canteen (Mumbai).
As the founder and chairperson of the India Wine Awards, Sonal C. Holland MW, noted, "With every passing year, we are growing bigger, better, and even bolder and that only reflects where the Indian wine industry firmly stands today." She also praised the hundreds of brands that ensure the steady growth of the Indian wine industry. The awards were a success this year.