A Toast to Flavor: Wine & Cocktails Take Center Stage in Indian Fine Dining

Fine dining has historically been focused on exquisite food with beverages taking a backseat. But increasingly, top restaurants in India are giving wine and cocktails equal star status for creating a multi-sensory dining experience. Fine dining establishments are investing in specialised drink menus crafted with as much care as their food. With gourmet beverage options for Wine & Cocktails expanding, the future of Indian haute cuisine will seamlessly blend both drink and dish.

Wine Gets Serious Attention

Wine was once an afterthought at Indian fine dining restaurants, with limited selection and little attention given to pairings. But sommeliers are now being brought on to build exemplary wine lists. Restaurants are dedicating whole sections to “Wine and Food Affinities”, expertly pairing grape varieties with flavours on the plate.

Menus spotlight wines from esteemed Indian estates like Fratelli and Grover Zampa alongside global regions like Napa Valley and Tuscany. Premium wineries are creating specially commissioned labels for top restaurants, indicating a new seriousness surrounding wine.

The growth of wine-focused dining events reflects this rising passion. Food and wine festivals like SulaFest provide interactive tasting experiences of Wine & Cocktails. Winemaker dinners at restaurants like Le Cirque give intimate access to labels big and small. Pop-ups like Matterden at Culinaire in Mumbai combine set menus with wines tailored to each course.

Inventive Wine & Cocktails Using Indian Ingredients

Cocktails and mixology have also moved far beyond standard fare. Like their kitchen counterparts, India’s top bartenders are highlighting native ingredients in drinks that provide a taste of place.

Restaurants are infusing Indian spices into imaginative cocktails. Pepper House in Chennai has a Kerala sour with curry leaf-infused whiskey. MasalaBar pops chilli, cardamom, and peppercorns into drinks. Mustard-laced gin and tonic provides a savoury experience at The Bombay Canteen.

Indian dessert flavours are inspiring liquid treats too. Gajalee Bar serves kokum bellinis while Ek Bar mixes up rose and fig old fashioneds. Jagerbombs get an Indian makeover with gulkand at The Irish House.

These drinks using local ingredients cater to the growing appetite for modern twists on tradition. Menus stretch beyond classic cocktails to also feature mocktails, tonics, and artisanal sodas. Biryanis, chaats, and curries may still take centre stage, but drinks support the full experience.

Pairing Drinks and Dishes

Ultimate fine dining satisfaction comes when drinks like wine & cocktails and dishes are designed in tandem. Masque pairs each course on the tasting menu to a wine, like a delicate John Dory fish with lightly oaked Chardonnay. Olive also suggests specific cocktails to start each meal, like kaffir lime and chilli margaritas before their tacos.

Some restaurants have dedicated cocktail programs synchronised with the kitchen. Qualia’s “Culinary Cocktails” include coriander and white rum paired with seared scallops. Tonico does collaborative dinners matching their Latin American small plates with specially invented cocktails.

Forward-looking restaurants realise drinks can harmonise with cuisines from across India. Antares pairs craft Bengali cocktails with contemporary Naga dishes for complementary flavours. Before the modernist takes on thalis at Gaa, guests enjoy gin and tonic with curry leaf ice cubes.

Raising the Bar on Fine Dining Experiences

Once relegated to wine lists as an afterthought, beverages are now integral to India’s fine dining identity. Drinks menus have become destinations in their own right. Bar takeovers, mixology workshops, and cocktail masterclasses satisfy the thirst for immersive experiences.

The future will see more innovation at the intersection of food and drink. Molecular gastronomy already plays with disappearing cocktails and caviar margaritas. Restaurants will continue to push boundaries marrying cuisine and mixology.

With diners seeking novel experiences beyond the plate, the stage is set for beverages in starring roles. The flavours we taste are only part of the story – the history, science and craft behind drinks and food deepen the experience. Indian fine dining is ready to pour that story a drink and toast to the next chapter.

Also read- 8 Fine Dining Restaurants in Bommanahalli, Bangalore