For those that love wine, food and song, Panjim is abuzz
with all three this weekend. The Grape Escapade a festival which is prominent
in terms of showcasing wine began in the capital city on January 23, 2015. In
keeping with the festive spirit that the event brings with it, the event has
been regaling its visitors with performances by a host of live acts. The four
day mega-event was inaugurated by the Chief Secretary, Govt. of Goa, Kewal
Sharma, IASin the distinguished presence of the Commissioner of the Corporation
of the City of Panjim, Sanjith Rodrigues, the Managing Director, Goa Tourism
Development Corporation, Nikhil Desai as well as severalother prominent
personalities.
Nilesh Cabral, the Chariman of the GTDC, the organisers of
the Grape Escapade shares his views, saying “This is a festival primarily for
the entertainment of Goans, who love to be entertained. From live music, to
good food and wine, we have attempted covering all key areas. The number of
wineries in the state has increased and we are hoping to reach an international
standard. We will have South African wines feature as part of next year’s
edition of the festival. This is the only festival in the country that focuses
on the promotion of wine on the whole. I believe that only October 2 is a dry
day in Goa, and as such January 26 will see the festival continue in full
swing.”
The event, which has been conducted for over a decade, has
come to be known as one of the biggest lifestyle festivals in India and aims at
bringing together restaurateurs, hoteliers, wineries and lifestyle brands under
one roof. This year, more than 20 wineries have participated in the
extravaganza, with approximately 15 restaurants and catering companies offering
a range of gourmet food classics, including barbecues, pasta, oriental cuisine
and the like. Vegetarianas well as non-vegetarian cuisine options are on the
menu, as well as a bevy of sweets. The Grape Stomping, which is a tradition at
the festival, is a source of much delight and fun for the visitors and is an intrinsic
part of the festival. The crowning of
the Grape Escapade 2015 Queen is also a much-awaited highlight.
The camaraderie at festivals such as these is always of
great value. One such tale of interest is the reappearance of Sandwich King, a
stall owned by Kanishka Sharma. The founder of denim concern Mahout, owned an
eatery that went by the same name as the stall, in the heart of Panjim, which
was a popular hangout in its prime. “After six years and three months, I have
revisited my sandwich shop venture, Sandwich King which was known as Tango in
its initial stages. I am extremely grateful to all the people who stopped by
the stall and showed us much love. It’s what I call a hint of ‘toastalgia’,” he
says.
So whether it be for the good food or memories of taste buds
long since teased, the Grape Escapade is an attraction with a couple days still
left, that one should certainly not miss.
The Grape Escapade begins from 6pm onwards and is open to
all
