Red wine in Chennai - where to purchase?

Hi

This is a simple question - some friends and I would like to enjoy some red wine on our roof terrace.

Where can we buy some (which is not of the sickly sweet, sherry-like variety, or dodgy TASMAC produce)?

My friends are Chennai-ites themselves and do not know. The last time we wanted to do this we had to wait till someone went to Bangalore and brought some back.

I missed my opportunity for a nice Australian red when I went through customs last time. There must be somewhere in Chennai that sells some....?

Yours hopefully,
Tennis

Pondicherry?

Seriously, this is probably about the closest you'll find what a UKite would recognise as an 'off-licence'!

I have no idea what is actually on offer there, not being an alcohol buyer. If you'd asked me last month I would at least have looked in a couple of windows for you!

Nearer than Bangalore, and a nice day trip*, or even weekend away, whether the shopping is successful or not.

*A relaxed three-hour drive from the South of the city; a cab driver would probably do it in two.

Oh dear - I was worried someone might say that.

Yes - we were contemplating a trip to Pondicherry and it might have to come to that, if work schedules allow.

Thanks for the tip though. I was wondering if Amma Namma's (or whatever it's called - 'scuse spelling!) opposite the Park Sheraton might sell wine among its numerous imported goods, but yes - I doubt they have the licence.

If anyone's seen any there though - or anywhere else - do let me know!

Thanks

I have read several times, that Chennai is the worst city in already sad liquor culture of India.

Getting good liquor is not possible and most of the people who like their drinks make a weekend trip to Pondy to booze.

But again, its not first hand info, this is something I have read in articles in some magazines.

Maybe better not to have liquor culture!

But I think the experience of many countries' history is that prohibition is no solution.

With liberalised import policy & reduction in duty good wines are being imported and sold by local vendors. In Delhi very good wines from France,Italy,Australia etc are abundantly available along with good Indian ones.
If not imported I am sure you can pick up a decent Shula from a well stocked booze shop in Chennai.

We don't have booze shops in Chennai, let alone well-stocked ones.

We have only government-owned "wine shops". That's the TASMAC that the OP is referring to.

Nothing liberal at all in the Tamil Nadu attitude to alcohol.

Well... I guess it is more liberal than banning it altogether, which was once the case.

Why could'nt you go to a 4-5 star hotel and buy a bottle from them. They surely must have some decent wines on stock if they have a bar. Though I'm sure it won't come cheap.

A 800 rupee bottle of Indian wine is listed at 2000 rupees at any upmarket resteraunt in Hyderabad. Dunno five star rates.

Buying at a five star, you may find it cheaper to fly to Singapore to buy your wines from Chennai

Which is probably why all the trains to bangalore are full during the weekend.

I had an excellent bottle of red wine in Bangalore. But I cannot thuink of the brand at the moment.

how bout them new tasmac shops thats cropping up with the white boards? i heard their stock is better than those other filthy wine shops

Ive spotted one near central and one at guindy

As Nick has already mentioned, Pondi might be your best hope. This shop might be worth a stop when you get there...http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...52/ppuser/2115

Best be careful bringing any quantity back as TN bureaucrats might want to rap knuckles and charge tax....

W22

Delhi is really moving up. I visited the logs of a wine enthusiast site there and they were really into tasting..

Yes. Some decent Indian wines available in Delhi which have been unable to find here in Hyderabad

There has been news about making some of the TASMAC shops more comfortable. Well, comfortable, even --- currently they are just road-side counters without even a chair.

But I think they will continue to be places for a heap of guys to stop and get drunk before driving their bikes home to beat their wives...