Red wine in Chennai - where to purchase?

anyone_for_tennis · Sep 10th, 2007, 16:54

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

Nick-H · Sep 10th, 2007, 17:43

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.

anyone_for_tennis · Sep 10th, 2007, 18:09

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

shashank.aggarwal · Sep 10th, 2007, 18:13

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.

Nick-H · Sep 10th, 2007, 18:41

Maybe better not to have liquor culture!

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

jyotirmoy · Sep 10th, 2007, 19:16

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.

Nick-H · Sep 10th, 2007, 19:23

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.

ananda2193 · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:16

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.

capt_mahajan · Sep 10th, 2007, 21:21

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

crvlvr · Sep 11th, 2007, 01:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

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

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.

PLaneMad · Sep 11th, 2007, 03:09

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

Wanderer22 · Sep 11th, 2007, 05:03

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

edwardseco · Sep 11th, 2007, 05:09

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

capt_mahajan · Sep 11th, 2007, 09:07

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

Nick-H · Sep 11th, 2007, 14:58

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...

Sep 10th, 2007, 16:54	#1
anyone_for_tennis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 24	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

Sep 10th, 2007, 18:13	#4
shashank.aggarwal The Fortunate One Join Date: May 2007 Location: Road Posts: 6,820	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. __________________ Spineless Travelogue - Around India

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:21	#9
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,606	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 __________________ . Outside the machine

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Sep 10th, 2007, 17:43	#2
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	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.

Sep 10th, 2007, 18:09	#3
anyone_for_tennis Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: UK Posts: 24	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

Sep 10th, 2007, 18:41	#5
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	Maybe better not to have liquor culture! But I think the experience of many countries' history is that prohibition is no solution.

Sep 10th, 2007, 19:16	#6
jyotirmoy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 5,223	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.

Sep 10th, 2007, 19:23	#7
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	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.

Sep 10th, 2007, 21:16	#8
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,904	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.

Sep 11th, 2007, 03:09	#11
PLaneMad Senior Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 107	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

Sep 11th, 2007, 05:03	#12
Wanderer22 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 502	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

Sep 11th, 2007, 05:09	#13
edwardseco Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Land that shakes and bakes. Posts: 5,841	Delhi is really moving up. I visited the logs of a wine enthusiast site there and they were really into tasting..

Sep 11th, 2007, 09:07	#14
capt_mahajan Infidel Sufi Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: styx Posts: 13,606	Yes. Some decent Indian wines available in Delhi which have been unable to find here in Hyderabad

Sep 11th, 2007, 14:58	#15
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,197	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...