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By Jim Boyce

Word is that CWS will start importing and distributing wines from longstanding Indian operation Grover within the next three months. CWS, which stands for China Wines and Spirits, was founded in 2005 and handles brands that range from Beluga vodka, Trois-Rivieres rum and Wenneker liqueurs to wine labels Joseph Cattin, Trapiche and KWV. A source at CWS says the company will import two reds and one white, including one created with the assistance of Michel Rolland.

The winery was founded in 1988 by Kanwal Grover, who died last July at age 85, the operation now in the hands of his son Kapil Grover. Grover and George Vesselle, then with Champagne house Mumm, researched several regions of India and experimented with nearly three dozen grape varieties before ultimately picking the Nandi Hills region. Nine varieties were planted; the first vintage was released in 1992. Grover is considered among India’s most important wineries. For more on the winery, see these pages from the Grover website and the Indian wine website as well as this obituary of Kanwal Grover on India Sommelier.

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