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'In Wine There Is Truth...'
Published: Volume 20, Issue 7, July, 2012

Rooted in Italian tradition and cultivated in Indian terrains, Fratelli Wines is a product of passionate labour, emotional toil and enthusiastic entrepreneurial spirit

‘In Wine there is Truth, let the Wine speak for itself’ – is the philosophy that brought wine enthusiasts Secci brothers from Italy, Sekhri brothers from New Delhi and Mohite-Patil brothers from Maharashtra together, to pursue their passion for wine-making. With a dream to nurture their brand into an international product par excellence, they started Fratelli Wines in India ensuring that every stage of wine-making was undertaken with the same zest and love like that of an Italian wine maker. The word Fratelli means ‘brothers’ in Italian.

Fields Of Passion
At the Fratelli Vineyards in Akluj, with a belief that good quality wine is first grown in the vineyards and later processed in the winery, every inch of the 240 acres of virgin land has been graded to form gentle slopes which are better than plain fields as it preserves the fruity flavour and provides breeze and aeration which is essential for the berry to develop colour. Twelve varietals of wine saplings have been harvested in perfect conditions here to the complete satisfaction of the brand’s viticulturist.

It is an institute where every vine sapling bears the characteristic and individuality of its grower – Chief viticulturist and oenologist Piero Masi, whose love of wine is reflected in each part of his journey. Piero Masi is credited with the production of some fabulous wines that are acclaimed by connoisseurs throughout the world. He also owns a small stake in the business.

Using centuries-old knowledge and expertise from Italy, Fratelli grow their own grapes to produce Indian-made wine. The 350,000 wine saplings that were specially handpicked by Piero Masi and his team, imported from France and Italy, have been planted in the acreage and mothered, in keeping with the practices in Tuscany.

The Wine Factory
The Fratelli Winery, an iconic structure embellished with state of the art plant and machinery, houses the produce of the vineyards that is stored and monitored to bring out all the qualities of the carefully harvested grapes. Equipped with 58 multi-capacity tanks imported from Velo, Italy (a first by anyone in Asia), the grapes are processed in absolutely fresh condition within an hour of harvesting. The winery also boasts a fully equipped high-tech laboratory for testing at each and every stage of the production process from grapes to the finished product.

Sweet, Sweet Wine!
Knowing well that the true flavours of wine are enhanced during storage, Fratelli Wines imports Oak Barrels from tonnellieries like Saury and Radoux in France that gives the wines its unique characteristics. With every passing stage the bond between the vineyards and the winemakers thickens, ultimately giving birth to a product that is resultant of years of hard work. With a pan-India presence, Sette – their premium brand of red wine – proves the excellence of Fratelli’s wine-making with its cherishable flavour full of warmth.

It’s not very often that one stops to think about the very people whose talent and skills are present in each drop of wine, but Fratelli Wines makes you want to dissect each sip caressing your palate. So revel in its fervour... always and forever!

Magandeep Singh
(India’s First French-certified Sommelier)

“Today, ten wines strong, Fratelli’s portfolio is impressive. Sette, the first true red blend remains the show-stopper, but other varieties of white and red blends minus any added alcohol or sugar are also gaining popularity. That said, the Sangiovese and Merlot are definitely a first for the Indian market and have been well received by the wine-drinking community in India.”

INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM
Fratelli Chardonnay 2011 won a commended medal at the Decanter World Wine Awards and the International Wines Challenge 2012 each, while the Sauvignon Blanc 2011 and Chenin Blanc 2011 both won a commendation at IWC Awards 2012...a total of four awards.

INTERNATIONAL FAVOURITES
Steven Spurrier
(International Wine Connoisseur)

SAUVIGNON BLANC
Fine pale yellow, bright and fresh nose, both floral and white fruits plus gooseberry, good length, a very good example of Sauvignon in the European style.

CHENIN BLANC
Clear mid-yellow colour, lovely slightly honeyed nose, quite broad (good) flavours on the palate, a really lovely Chenin Blanc that could be kept for five years but better to drink on the fruit.

CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Good bright deep cherry red, nice crunchy summer fruits, very good in this fresh approachable style.

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