The Balsams™ Grand Resort Hotel

John White & Nishant Chaudhary of The Balsams

Ask Nishant Chaudhary about his primary role at this New England resort, and he will promptly tell you about his position as Maître d’ Hotel and his responsibility of taking care of the 400+ seat dining room.  However, this well-traveled man also has a passion for wine, and brings his expertise to The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel to help the guests fully enjoy their dining experience here.

Along with Director of Food and Beverage John White, who has been at this NH vacation spot for 20 years, Mr. Chaudhary creates the wine list for the hotel.  Together, they meet with vendors and taste hundreds of wines, choosing the best varieties that will complement any menu the chefs may put out.  Says Mr. Chaudhary, “we go with our gut feelings, our skills and expertise, and trust our palates.”

Mr. Chaudhary’s palate is quite refined.  After attending school in his home country of India, Mr. Chaudhary moved to France, where he earned his Master’s degree in Hospitality.  As part of his studies, he began to learn about wine, and by working in the industry there and then in Greece, his knowledge of wine began to take shape.  He says his interest “just kept growing since those days.”

The wine list for the summer season is a reflection of Mr. Chaudhary’s passion.  He is very excited that there is a general trend toward going “out of the box” when it comes to wine tasting.  “Now people like to try all the new wines that are coming from all over the world – South America, South Africa, New Zealand.”  As a result, there are some new international wines on the list, including a Cabernet Franc, a Chilean Carmenere, and a couple of Tempranillos from Spain.  Mr. Chaudhary adds, “We like guests to be more adventurous… if they stick to the same thing they’ve been drinking for years, it’s not their fault, it’s ours – we never made them aware of what’s new.”

“We are constantly working on wine service at The Balsams,” says Mr. White.  “We have cocktail servers and wine stewards who often attend our tastings and can recommend wines to go with each evening’s menus.”  Guests at The Balsams really benefit from the staff’s collective enthusiasm for wine.  Says Mr. Chaudhary, “They enjoy it – they really appreciate all the hard work we do, and they like the wines we pick out for them.  It’s a responsibility – the wines we choose should complement the guest’s palate… and should complement the meal.”

While on vacation in northern New Hampshire, trust the palates of these seasoned wine experts.  Your gourmet dinner, accompanied by an equally fine wine, will be top notch at this historic grand hotel!