The perfect wine match for curry is a step closer now that a Hamilton man is importing Indian vino.
Sandeep Mathur is starting with Indian restaurants in Auckland but hopes to get Waikato restaurants and national supermarkets on board.
“Nobody knows about Indian wines. I am sure that it would be a big hit,” he said.
The part–time marketing consultant started his import–export business, ‘New Zealand Wine and Beer Trade,’ in February 2014.
He exports several Kiwi wines and beers to the Indian market, and has recently started working in the opposite direction to get Indian wines to Kiwis.
He has secured rights to distribute wines from producers ‘Sula & Grover,’ including Sauvignon Blanc, Brut, Shiraz and Viognier.
“In New Zealand, people are open to taste. And if you go to a French restaurant, you are looking for a French wine. So I thought, ‘Why not with Indian restaurants?’ he said.
Auckland alone has 112 Indian restaurants, he said, and added that when approached, many were happy to carry the wines.
The first shipment arrives this month.
Kiwi connoisseurs say the wines’ best chance of getting into the Kiwi market is through Indian restaurants.
“If I went to an Indian restaurant, I would like to buy Indian wine, if it was available and it was good. And I know that the bubbles are extremely good,” said Auckland–based wine writer Sue Courtney.
“Indian sparkling wines in particular were successful in Britain.”
Sula was India’s biggest and most prominent sparkling wine producer, Ms Courtney said.
But wines like a Sauvignon Blanc, or those on a supermarket shelf, could face tough competition.
Primo Vino owner Henry Jacobs agreed.
But he said Indian wines would be a good match for spicy food.
“To be honest, that is a pretty hard task.”
Courtesy: Waikato Times/Fairfax New Zealand; Email: libby.wilson@fairfaxmedia.co.nz
