Declaring that most people don’t spend time enjoying their food and drink, Nikhil Agarwal asks: “What if we could shut out the world and just concentrate on our sense of smell and taste for a while?” Director of food-and-beverage consultancy All Things Nice, Agarwal’s answer to that is Twisted Decadence. ‘Twisted’ because guests are blindfolded, and ‘decadence’ because it’s all about indulgence. Amid the clink of glasses, forks and spoons, you dig into the platter and sip wine. You then soak in the flavour and aroma, and attempt to guess what you’ve just relished. It’s fun, but no easy game… what with the spread including exotic vintages and the likes of Maori Lakes ‘free range’ rack of lamb, Garota Bay scallops, volcanic rock-grilled portobello mushrooms and Valhrona chocolate flourless torte.

Having honed his expertise at Moet Hennessy, Diageo and Sula Vineyards, Agarwal is a seasoned sommelier. “We love to eat and drink, and want to share this passion with you … the focus is on fine-tuning your taste for all things nice ranging from wines, whiskies, cognacs, single malts, cheese and charcuterie to chocolates,” he says.

All Things Nice launched at a restaurant in Mumbai more than three years ago with a ten-course dinner. “Food was paired with wines from France, Italy, South Africa, Chile, Argentina, Australia and India. We had around 34 guests and the response was overwhelming,” he says. That, in turn, kicked off Shine Nights, evenings that are a celebration of all things epicurean.

Foodie conversation “A lot of thought goes into shaping the concept for the evening. Our aim is to ensure guests cherish the experience forever. It’s also about making friends or catching up with old ones. I guide them through the evening, but it’s more like a conversation on what we are drinking and eating,” he adds. The choice of menu depends on the spirit of the evening and chefs often come up with four- to ten-course dinners.

Shine Nights are also a platform for the convergence of consumers and brands. “Tastings are experiential. We put together a range of brands and let the guest decide what he likes best,” he says. Corporates, too, use ATN for brand promotion. Such as the single malt tastings held as part of the Mercedes E class launch.

With beer and personalised wine and cheese tastings proving to be a big draw, Agarwal sees a bright future for wine events. “Although its consumption is less compared to other beverages, wine is getting popular by the day,” he says.

Tasting parties An air of extravagance pervades all ATN events. You would probably learn about the nose, palate and finish of Laphroaig, Glenfiddich 12, Glenmorangie 10 or Jameson at a whisky affair. At a Cognac appreciation evening, you could treat yourself to Remy Martin VSOP or XO. There are those who add an extra zing to private parties by throwing in an appreciation classe for single malts, cognac or wine. All Things Nice staff arrive with the spirits and glasses, and even a chef to whip up a multi-course dinner as you sit back and engage with the guests.

“Demand is very strong and, gauging from the events part of our business, which is still less than two per cent of the total, we now do roughly one event every three days,” he says. The firm also makes customised wine labels, and can ferry you the foreign wine or whisky that you are scouting for. Restaurants, retail chains and airlines consult it for compiling innovative wine and spirit lists. “For the first two years, we saw 100 per cent growth on a year-on-year basis and it hit 135 per cent in the third financial year. This time around, it is likely to reach a minimum of 90 per cent as the year comes to a close,” he says.

Spreading beyond Mumbai’s restaurants and art galleries, Shine Nights is travelling to venues in Pune, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad. Citing innovation as its punch, the company’s latest hit has been the Wine Week. After two heady rounds in Mumbai, it is soon set to uncork in other cities too.

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