‘I don’t believe in the Republican party or the Democratic party. I just believe in parties’ – said Samantha Jones from Sex and the City.

While I may or may not agree with her on most other things, this is surely something I agree with. Come summer and its time to host a zillion get-togethers at home – be it a boozy brunch, a celebration dinner or just another drunken night – we don’t really need a reason to party, do we? Also, considering how hot its getting in the city, the best way to beat the heat is by downing one-two-many glasses of bubbly.

So when I heard that Chandon India is introducing a new sparkling wine variant, I knew I had found my drink for the season. Launched over a fun soiree hosted at TOTE on the Turf, Délice was just as delice-ious as its name. Crafted at the brand’s state-of-the-art winery in Dindori, Nashik, keeping the Indian palate in mind, this vibrant and versatile variant goes perfectly well with spicy Indian flavors. Its versatility comes from the fact that it breaks the typical sparkling wine codes and is best enjoyed when had directly from a tumbler – chilled, on the rocks or with a slice of fruit (preferably a slice of orange).

Speaking about the new offering, Stéphane de Meurville – Managing Director, Moët Hennessy India said, “At Chandon India, our endeavour has been not only to gain share of heart, but also to introduce new consumers to the Chandon world. One way in which we will do this is by reaching out to consumers who currently shy away from the traditional Brut and Rose style of drinking. Délice is our next step towards consolidating this vision. While the Indian market loves its bubbles, there is still a strong affinity for sweeter drinks and cocktails. Délice is the result of 2 years of extensive research and development by our team of winemakers led by Gustavo Agostini. We are very proud of this new product from the house of Chandon India which we believe will resonate with the Indian consumer.”

The launch was a sparkling affair with some renowned names from the industry. The decor, inspired by a French Fête in an orchard was a visual treat with orange trees bursting through the bar, an ice cream trolley serving Délice ice lollies, and a walkway inspired by the gardens of Versailles. That’s not it. The soiree also brought together 7 of Mumbai’s coolest Chefs like Chefs Alex Sanchez (The Table), Shilarna Vaze and Chris Perrin (Gaia Gourmet), Kelvin Cheung (Bastian and One Street Over), Pooja Dhingra (Le15 Café), Prateek Sadhu (Masque) and Viraf Patel (Café Zoe), each of who prepared dishes inspired from the taste and spirit of Délice.

Here’s a run down of all the dishes we sampled. So next time you have your girls coming in or a brunch with the fam, you know what you need:

– Mag St. Vada Pav (a tempura-fried potato puree scented with saffron tucked into a buttery brioche roll) by Chef Alex Sanchez (The Table).

– Szechuan Snapper & Wild Mushrooms by Chef Kelvin Cheung (Bastian & One Street Over) made with corn pudding, corn husk powder and pickled cucumbers (Corn was the main ingredient used in both the dishes as he thought it would go perfectly with Delice’s refreshing fruitiness).

– Chilly Caramel Truffles, Dark Chocolate Macarons, Ginger Raspberry Financiers by Pooja Dhingra (Le 15 Cafe).

– Caciocavallo Brûlée with figs and a Char Sui Pork Belly with Chicharrón and green apple by Chef Prateek Sadhu (Masque)…Cheese and sparkling wine are a match made
in heaven.

– Chevre with watermelon, grape and blueberry by Chef Viraf Patel (Cafe Zoe). His creation was as fresh and fruity as the bubbly.

I think its time to stock up on Chandon Délice for all your upcoming celebrations. After all what’s a party without some bubbly?

FYI:
Chandon Délice is available at leading wine boutiques, hotels and restaurants in Mumbai and is priced at INR 1500.