The KRSMA Manifest 2018: Sip of things to come
Just four years after its ritzy launch, India’s KRSMA Estates is busy re-doing, re-thinking and re-vamping its portfolio. The single constant factor is a laser-focus insistence on quality.
A quick check in with the Chigurupatis spells out the changes and the constants.
KRSMA wins Best Indian Winery at the Living Foodz Epicurean Guild Awards 2018
At the recently held Living Foodz Epicurean Guild Awards 2018 in Mumbai, the award for Best Indian Winery was given to the Hampi Hills-based KRSMA Estates by a 22-member jury.
This is not the first time that KRSMA has won an award and it is unlikely to be the last. In the four years since its launch, it has quickly established itself as a quality-focused owner-driven Indian wine producer who pretty much marches to its own drumbeats, steering clear of crowd-pleasing decision-making. And its wines, currently available in just two Indian cities fly rapidly off the shelves. Regular grumbles among wine lovers about the difficulty in accessing stocks has given it something of a cult following. Whenever I travel to other parts of India, wine-loving folk often ask me KRSMA-related questions. What’s up? What’s new?
When I recently met up with both the owners at a KRSMA wine dinner at Bengaluru’s new dining hot spot, The Smoke Co, it was a rare opportunity. Krishna Chigurupati keeps busy with his ‘day job’ at his pharmaceutical company and his wife Uma her own commitments (though they continue to remain firmly hands-on with their wines) so it’s a rarity these days to catch them both together over a KRSMA-paired meal. Ergo, it was the perfect moment to get a first-hand update on the ‘what’s up’ and ‘what’s new’ questions.
Uma and Krishna Prasad Chigurupati
Seated next to Krishna Chigurupati at the dinner, I asked him about the latest from the Hampi Hills. Here’s an update.
KRSMA Estates Cabernet Sauvignon
After the release of KRSMA Cabernet Sauvignon 2011, the 2012 vintage was released and sold out in a jiffy, establishing KRSMA as one of the top wine brands in India. However, Krishna Chigurupati deemed the 2013 vintage not good enough to be bottled as their flagship Cabernet. Things improved with the 2014 vintage, which if you can get your hands on a bottle, is presently drinking at its peak. 2015, the current vintage in the market is still growing into its elder sibling’s boots but promises to reward the patience of those willing to wait a few more months. “Stocks of the 2015 will last until early 2019,” Chigurupati tells me. “Our Cabernet is improving year on year. Wait for the 2016. And I think the 2017 will be very good.”
Updated reports on the Cabernet Sauvignon 2016 from the KRSMA winery says to expect good things and more from the 2016 vintage – a wine that will be fruit forward (red fruit and dark berries) with good structure from the oak (currently a little harsh as expected but will settle) and all the complexity you can expect from one of India’s top red wine brands. Promise of excellent acidity and balance.
And as for the Cabernet Sauvignon 2017, it has reportedly been harvested at the perfect time, is showing promise of perfect fruit and acidity and is developing rapidly. Should be a biggie. (more…)
