Sunset Soiree with SULA at Westin, Mumbai

As far as ambience goes, the setting was perfect – the sun had just set, the lights came on and the Westin Mumbai Garden City poolside look absolutely beautiful!
Sula Vineyards, The Westin Mumbai Garden City and Bosca Cellars hosted a beautiful soirée welcoming the lovely Polina Bosca of Bosca Cellars from Italy.  The evening celebrated the beautiful & luxurious elements in life – chocolate and wine pairings, spa treatments, fashion, and wonderful easy conversation with a glass of DIA wine in one’s hand.
Cecilia Oldne, VP – Marketing, Sula Vineyards, spoke about the beauty of wine and chocolate pairing – and also some of the health benefits of wines.

The wine for the evening – DIA. The stylish Polina Bosca greeted the guests and introduced them to DIA and shared her now 10 year love story in India and successful partnership with Sula Vineyards. The idea of DIA came up when she met Rajeev Samant of Sula on a beach 10 years ago.

DIA Wines, one of India’s most loved semi-sparkling wines, is available in two variants – a white Asti Spumante style, and a red Lambrusco version. The wine flowed and did the conversation around it. DIA’s sweetness makes it a wonderful luncheon wine and would appeal to people who like a touch of sweetness in their wine. Low in alcohol, semi sparkling with a fruity taste, it gives a feeling of freshness which makes it a fine wine for the sultry summer days.
Ashish Kumar Rai, General Manager, The Westin Mumbai Garden City said: “Wine and conversation in a beautiful setting is an unbeatable combination.  We are happy to welcome Polina Bosca and the lovely ladies to our hotel for a relaxed evening.â€�
And relaxing it definitely was, and the taste buds were nicely tickled too. The silky white chocolate and DIA white was enjoyed by everyone around. The luscious milk chocolate too paired well with the wine. I found DIA red more suited to my taste as it was just a touch less sweet and had more body to it than the white.
Another hit was a Parmesan and Red Chilli Fusilli Pasta paired with Sula Riesling – a fruity, fresh and aromatic wine. I understand that the Riesling is one of Sula’s bestsellers during the summer season.
Sula Vineyards is of course by far India’s first choice in wine. Their award-winning wines are available nationwide at the finest hotels and restaurants, and are also exported throughout the world. I was told that Sula is on track to sell a million cases of wine in 2016! With over 200,000 visitors last year, Sula is one of the most visited wineries in the world and the #1 spot as India’s first taste wine.
When my hosts heard that I am partial to Shiraz, I was served a glass of Sula Rasa Shiraz, I loved the complexity and finesse in it and was given to understand that Sula produces Rasa only in the best vintage years.
At the dessert table, I discovered that the semi-dry, slightly sparkling DIA Red pairs well with most desserts, anything that has chocolate in it. The discussion hovered around whether the White or Red was a better choice.
With a glass of DIA red, I looked around, and the thought which crossed my mind was that both the Red and the White were perfect for celebrations. There are something celebratory in the lightness, the sweetness – a bit of sparkle, so to speak! The lovely packaging make them wonderful gifts too.
Cheers!!!