Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews the television shows and films that you simply cannot miss! Check out what you should not miss watching this weekend (13-15 March 2015)?

Television

Star Sports 4

Barclays Premier League has various important matches lined up this weekend, of which the match on Sunday, 15 March at 9.30 pm between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur is of massive importance. Both teams fight for a top four berth and will be a high-octane nail-biting match for all football fanatics.

Star Sports 1 & 3

With Team India putting up a show like never before, don?t miss the ?Mauka? of seeing another unbeatable performance by the team, as India plays against Zimbabwe at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 match straight from Eden Park, Auckland on 14 March. The match, which begins at 6.30 am, surely makes an ideal Saturday for all cricket fans. So get ready with your favourite drink and popcorn as you #Bleedblue.

Movies

?NH10?

After facing a lot of controversies and a delay in its release, the ?A? rated-movie NH10 starring Anuskha Sharma, has finally made it to the theatres. The movie, which also stars Neil Bhoopalam, has gained mixed reviews from critics and can be part of your weekend plan.

A cutting masala chai is not just sipped and relished in India but professionals from all over the world including Asia Pacific, Europe and America drink different types of tea because of its health benefits. There are multiple tea varieties that help improve digestion, metabolism and even prevent certain diseases. Check out the five types of teas that executives love to drink.

1. Green Tea:

Green tea has become immensely popular worldwide. It is made from steamed tea leaves, which are simply heated to destroy the enzymes that cause oxidation. Green tea contains many vitamins and antioxidant properties of the fresh green tea leaf. It is healthy and delicious. Green tea?s antioxidants prevent clogging of the arteries, burn fat, counteract oxidative stress on the brain, reduce risk of neurological disorders like Alzheimer?s and Parkinson?s diseases, reduce risk of stroke and improve cholesterol levels.

2. Black Tea:

Many acquire a habit to add a bit of milk to their regular cup of tea but Black tea is mostly preferred amongst working professionals due to its many health benefits.  Made with fermented tea leaves, black tea forms the basis for flavored teas like chai and masala chai. Black tea protects lungs from damage caused by exposure to cigarette smoke. It also may reduce the risk of stroke. Black teas include the world famous Assam tea, Darjeeling tea and Ceylon tea.

3. White Tea:

White tea is one of the most expensive teas in the world. The beverage comes from the same plant as green tea and has incredible health benefits. It is pale yellow in colour and is produced from unopened buds of tea shoots. White tea is said to have the most potent anticancer properties compared to more processed teas. Studies show that white tea can thin the blood and improve artery function. It helps lower high blood pressure and guards against the ravages of stroke.

4. Oolong Tea:

Oolong was developed in Wuyi mountains of China?s Fujian region. A lot of people are fond the beverage?s refreshing aroma and fruity taste. Oolong tea is semi-oxidized and can be consumed hot or cold. It helps to control cholesterol levels and also improves oral health by inhibiting the growth of bacteria that causes tooth decay and oral cancers. It is heavily marketed as a weight loss supplement as it enhances the metabolism of fat in the body. The daily consumption of oolong tea accelerates the process of lipolysis, which enables the body to burn more fat.

5. Pu-erh Tea:

Pu-erh Tea is known as a medicinal tea and is made from fermented and aged leaves. It is a compressed tea and just like wine, it becomes more and more pleasant as it ages. Pu-erh Tea is known for keeping the stomach fit and warm. The dried tea is aged in a dark location for many years. During this time, the tea undergoes a form oxidation in just the same way that wine is produced. Pu-erh tea has the ability to break down fatty foods and aids in digestion. It removes toxins from the stomach and offsets the negative impacts of heavy alcohol consumption.

Exec Lifestyle?s Weekend Watch recommends and previews the television shows and films that you simply cannot miss! Check out what you should not miss watching this weekend (6-8 March 2015)...

Television:

ICC Cricket World Cup Match - India versus West Indies

India is currently undefeated in the World Cup with three wins in a row, while West Indies have notched wins over Pakistan and Zimbabwe and the prediction: India to get their fourth straight win. Get set with all your buddies, waking up to an exciting Friday to witness Team India take on the Chris Gayle storm. Tune in to watch the match at 12 pm on Star Sports and starsports.com.

Movies:

Dirty Politics

Dirty Politics is an Indian film that has been written and directed by KC Bokadia. The film stars Mallika Sherawat, Jackie Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Anupam Kher, Om Puri, Dikshit Dave, Dhruv Agarwal and Naseeruddin Shah. The film is a political drama, wherein Shah?s character is based on an idealised version of current Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. He will be portraying a character that stands for right things and succeeds thereafter.

They are successful and intelligent individuals with characteristic traits and rituals. Not only do they have the passion and drive to achieve what they want in life but also certain belief systems, which distinguish them from ordinary mortals. 

Whether it is waking up early or eating right, industry leaders share their unique life mantras that have helped them progress in the course of their individual journeys.    

?When my wife and I first came to our own house in Bangalore after marriage, an old couple told us that life is not about being 50-50; it is about knowing when to be 80-20 and when to be 70-30,? stated SapientNitro chief creative officer K V Sridhar.

Sridhar, who is fondly known as Pops by one and all, says that this mantra helped him in his personal and professional life. ?I have understood the value of relationships and this has helped in partnership dealings with clients,? he said.

Many industry leaders also try to spend enough quality time with family. Whether it?s over a meal or watching a movie together after working hours, they make it a point to prioritize and set aside time for people who matter in their lives. Top professionals also recognize that gradual preparations and planning will provide directions to their ultimate goal.

?To be successful, it requires one to be focused with great persistence on your goals. One needs to prioritize time, plan things and keep a disciplined lifestyle?, said the co-founder of indie musician service provider, Songdew.com?s Chinmayee Tripathi.

However, that should not deter one from taking risks.

?It is important to make mistakes. If you never make a mistake, you will never have the ability to take a risk and taking risks is an important aspect in the corporate world. I have made a couple of mistakes and I think some of them were good mistakes,? opined HBO managing director Monica Tata.

PING Network co-founder and director Rajeshree Naik throws light on the importance of mid-career education and how it really stimulates one?s thinking and opens the windows of the mind to new opportunities. ?One piece of advice I give to a lot of people who are in a mid-career crisis would be to go back to school and study. You have no idea the kind of stimulation it will provide you,? she asserted.

Top executives of many a corporation make it a point to meditate daily. One cannot deny the benefits of meditation, which include reducing stress levels and improving physical health. ?I meditate everyday, which is what keeps me focused,? shares Christian Dior Couture India, vice-president, marketing and communications Kalyani Chawla.

With rigorous schedules and heavy responsibilities at work, many of these successful professionals often draw strength and inspiration when they are living life to the fullest.

Chawla shared, ?Live for the present and try to make the best of it. The future is unpredictable but we have to be prepared. That is key.?

Treat your loved ones to the something sweet this weekend - heart shaped desserts, flirty drinks and memories that you will cherish together. Snuggle in your couch with a strawberry smoothie, a relatively easy and sneakily healthy drink. And to double the fun, add a couple of hearty brownies to ensure you have the perfect supper for this weekend. 

Recipe for Hearty Brownies & Strawberry Smoothie
brought to you by Cremica

Hearty Brownies

Ingredients

?          150 ml /3/4 cup) water

?          100 gr (1 cup) Cremica chocolate syrup

?          100 gr butter

?          100 gr (1/2 cup) sugar

?          5 ml ( 1/2 tsp ) vinegar

?          30 gr (3 tbsp) cocoa powder

?          160 gr (1 1/2 cup) maida

?          5 gr (1/2 tsp) baking powder

?          100 gr (1 cup) chopped nuts of your choice(optional)

Grease a 6 -7 inch baking pan with butter and dust lightly with flour. Melt the butter in a pan and add the chocolate syrup. Remove from heat and pour in the water-sugar and vinegar. Stear well till sugar is dissolved. Sift all dry ingredients together and stir into the chocolate mix. Pour into the baking pan-sprinkle the nuts on top if desired and bake in preheated oven at 150 c till an inserted skewer comes out clean. Let cool down before removing from molds. Cut heart shape cake of your choice and slice the in half for filling.

Filling

?          200 gr (2 cups) fresh cream well chilled

?          1/2 cup of Cremica Strawberry syrup

?          1/2 tsp gelatine

?          2 tsp water chilled

?          Sugar as per taste

?          Dash of vanilla

Soak the gelatine in the chilled water fo app 10 min till fully blossomed. Meanwhile whip the cream till stiff.

Warm the gelatine on low flame till melted. Remove and add the strawberry syrup. Let cool down till starts setting and fold in the whipped cream spread on the bottom part of the brownie heart and cover. Chill well in the fridge till ready to serve.

Strawberry Smoothie

?          Vanilla Ice Cream 1 Scoop

?          Milk 1 Cup

?          2-3 Tbsp. of Cremica Strawberry Syrup depending on the Glass Size

Place all ingredients in a mixer and blend well. Pour into Glass and garnish with a fresh strawberry if available. If available blend a few Strawberries with the Liquids.

By Ritwika Gupta

We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine, said novelist Eduardo Hughes Galeano. Touted as one of the healthiest beverages, the vino, made from fermented grapes, is generally loved by a large portion of people around the world. Indulging in light banter over wine and cheese can be a delicious endeavor. Wine consumption in India has been on a rise over the last few years, with peoples? preference skewing towards the red wine.

?Overall, the wine market in India is on the rise and wine consumption in India is witnessing about 14.5 per cent growth annually. Today, the steep increase in wine drinking habits is due to the many choices of brands and wines available in the market for consumers,? says Myra Vineyards founder and managing director Ajay Shetty.

The Indian wine industry has seen a phenomenal increase, not only in consumption pattern, but also in the number of newer international and domestic wineries and brands that have evolved over the last five to seven years. With disposable income on the rise, Indians have been traveling more than before. This has also led to adopting global cultures and lifestyles; appreciating good wine and its consumption is one of them.

Shetty believes that Indian wines are becoming popular in the overseas markets as well as making an appearance in the global food culture.

?Current developments in the Indian wine industry also gives us a great opportunity to bring the best quality wines to the table and to work around our offerings and products according to the customers? expectations, especially the young wine consumers,? Shetty says.

A Pune based wine enthusiast B Shankaranarayan, who organizes wine festivals and writes restaurant reviews for BBC Good Food India Magazine, shares, ?Indian wines have started winning awards in global wine competitions. That's a good start in terms of quality. India does make large volumes due to the high cost of production.?

With the emergence of boutique wineries, the wine market has matured, and in Maharashtra specifically, annual sales have gone up by 30 per cent.

Shankaranarayan, who conceptualised the first wine tasting festival in Pune in 2007, reveals that the lack of a level playing field for wineries inspired him to launch these festivals in India that have now set a benchmark for wine events in the country.

According to Vallonne Vineyards, CEO, Shailendra Pai, there's a lot more interest in Indian wines because excellent wine is being produced, some of which are on par with quality wines in the global market. There is a great amount of interest in Indian wines internationally and during the Decanter Asia Wine Awards, our wines have won top medalsi.

"The Indian wine industry has grown substantially over the past 5-7 years. People are more aware of wines today and all this is great news for a boutique vineyard such as Vallonne where we have always made very superior quality wines and offered something new to the customer," he shares.

Pai elaborates that he has seen an increasing number of expats, international winemakers, writers and guests coming to taste wines at Vallonne, a boutique winery with an emphasis on French grape varietals.

"Nashik is slowly being recognised as a wine destination.  Even holiday makers from various parts of the world make a trip to nashik for a winery trail," he states.  

Harbouring a differing opinion, Grover Zampa Vineyards chairman Kapil Grover believes that India has a long way to go to make a footprint in the global wine industry.

?The wine market in India is growing at a small pace of 20-25 per cent. We will certainly see more wine being consumed but we still have not reached a good number. Also, 65 per cent of people prefer red wine, while 35 per cent like white wine. Red wine is more popular mainly due to a list of added health advantages,? Grover says.

Grover Vineyards was set up by Kanwal Grover in 1992 and is now being managed by his son, Kapil. The vineyards have expanded from 100 acres to 400 acres under his able leadership.

?What?s been grilled into our heads is the importance of the raw materials, that is: grapes. We spare a lot of care on the vineyards, carefully capturing the essence of grapes through internationally accepted techniques and practices reliably brought to India for making the finest range of wines. We keep the quality high by limiting yields to bring out the complex aromas and delicate flavors from the grapes,? Grover says.

Shedding light on the new flavours for 2015, Shetty mentions that Myra Vineyards is introducing a couple of varietals in 2015. ?Last year, we launched Reserve at the super-premium segment and Two-Headed Bird (THB), at the entry level segment. These two portfolios have received a tremendous response from the consumers and have been doing very well in the market and we aim to build on that and introduce more varietals this year.?

Pai specifies that Vallonne will be launching an unique blend of Shiraz and Merlot this year called viognier. Along with it, a special super premium wine called Anokhee that has been barrel aged for 15 months and then aged in a bottle for 42 months, is also on the pipeline for launch this year. 

Shankaranarayan feels that the 2014 vintages will be making their appearance on the shelves this year. According to him, Sauvignon Blancs and Oaked Viogniers are must try alcobeverages for the season.

?Tennis player Vijay Amritraj launched his own Reserve Wine collection with us recently and this could set the trend of celebrities associating with alcobeverage labels in India,? predicts Grover, who is looking forward to the new sparkling wine collection from his company?s Bengaluru unit this year.

There are several factors that contribute to the quality of the wine?the natural soil, climate conditions, viticulture practices, infrastructure, the vineyards and the wine making process in general. 

Pai deems that the process of winemaking starts from the ensuring that the vineyards are healthy.

?We have viticulturists who tend to the vineyards throughout the year. Our vineyards are planted on south facing slopes as this ensures just the right amount of sunlight for healthy development of vines and grapes. The soil we have is a requirement for good vines where the water does not collect in the soil. The climate in Igatpuri with warm days and cool nights is also suitable for healthy development of the vines and concentration of aromas in the fruit,? he reasons.

Throwing light on how the wine making process differs in his vineyards, Shetty informs that the basic principle they follow is to do the right thing at the right time.

?At Myra we take care of the minutest of details in the entire winemaking process. Utmost hygienic care is taken at each and every step. We harvest grapes at optimum maturity at cool temperatures and transport it in highly hygienic refrigerated containers. Fermentation is carried out with skin maceration at optimum temperature. Malolactic fermentation and further ageing takes place in French oak barrels for a minimum of 12 months before the bottling process where the wine is then bottle aged for a few more months before its release in the market,? Shetty explains.

Shankaranarayan adds that it is imperative to control the generation of alcohol and balance the acidity levels in order to make wines taste better. ?The process is rather simple. Make grape juice, let it ferment and add yeast, let it sit for six months and one should have wine. How drinkable it becomes depends on the skill of the wine maker,? he affirms.

Talking about the level of competition in the local wine industry, Grover informs that the company organizes different kinds of events to cope up with the rivalry. ?To name a few, we have done The Great Grover Stomp, Pune Farmers? Market, Bandra Wine Festival and a couple of other events in Bangalore all of which had over 2000 attendees each,? he says.

Shetty, whose love for wine drove him to venture into the wine industry, believes that wine is all heart and although he?s a new entrant in the wine industry, Myra Vineyards has made a formidable space in the Southern market including Karnataka, Maharashtra and Goa.

?As a new wine brand, we have had our share of highs and lows but the driving force has been early market acceptance. Our wine portfolio coupled with the exciting price-points has set new standards within this cluttered market. We entered the industry well-versed with the landscape. Our intention is not to compete but to bring forth a paradigm shift in the wine consumption patterns through engagement, education and segmentation,? he explains.

Shankaranarayan, on the other hand, believes that there is no competition as such because no two wine makers create similar brew. ?Firstly, a true wine lover makes his or her purchase based on the palate and not the label or the price. And secondly, each wine is unique. So where's the competition?? he candidly concludes.