An introduction to Stephen

British winemaker Stephen Donnelly set foot in the Sahyadris to take up the position at Viral Pancholia's Mercury Wines. Stephen has been around in the wine-world for the past 23 years, and his current association with the Indian wine industry has added to the tempo of progress here.

It was in the year 1985 that he completed  the Wine Chemistry Course from Davis University, CA, USA, which was followed by a Wine Analysis and Wine Faults Course in the year 1986 from Wine Lab, Napa, USA. Since then, he has worked in Napa Valley,  UK,  Hungary,  Romania, South Africa  and  has recently added  India  to the list.

Over to the winemaker...

Stephen Donnelly speaks his mind

In December 2006 I was contacted by Viral Pancholia, the owner of the newly built Mercury Winery in Nashik to become their consultant and head winemaker.

Destination India :-)

As a consultant winemaker I find myself travelling to lots of different countries not knowing what to expect. This was my first visit to India and I only had two days to prepare for vintage, so it was all hands on deck. But first I had to get there and I can quite honestly say that the road from Mumbai airport to Nashik was a four hour, hair-raising experience! So it was a nice surprise for me to arrive at the Mercury Winery and find it to be a well equipped, modern winery.

Hands on...

As I like to actually make the wine physically myself, it's important for me to set in place strict quality control and hygiene practices. I believe that it is the attention to detail that makes the difference between a good wine and a great wine.

Getting to know the potential of Indian wines

To get a feel of wines available in the Indian market and to give me some idea of the characteristics to expect with Indian wine, I tasted around 40 wines of both red and white, but I was surprised that many of them had common faults like oxidation, hydrogen sulphide, cork taint and both high and low levels of sulphur dioxide. However, of those wines which were good I managed to get an idea of the full potential of the grapes grown in India.

There is a definite need for a good commercial laboratory in India for the analysis of wine which can give more data to the winemaker .Winery labs in India are only set up for basic analysis so a commercial lab will also help improve the standards of the winery labs.

My first harvest at Mercury Wines

The harvest went surprisingly well and with some surprising results. The Sauvignon Blanc surprised me the most as it is like the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, having good gooseberry and asparagus flavours and aromas. This shows me that the Nashik soils really suit the Sauvignon Blanc grape, even though the climate is much hotter.

Chenin Blanc is the most widely planted white grape variety in India which also impressed me with its fruity characteristics. In fact the Aryaa Chenin won a recommendation in the Decanter Magazine International wine competition 2008. There were also some good write ups for the reds as well as the whites from Steven Spurrier, which is not bad for my first year in India.

Work at the vineyards

After the successful 2007 vintage we made plans to improve the quality of both the vineyards and the wines for the 2008 vintage. This meant getting more involved with the actual growing of the grapes and setting strict guidelines with the Mercury winery viticulturist. I encouraged more responsible spraying programmes and correct use of fertilisers and less irrigation before harvesting. Regular visits to each grower throughout the growing period helped with the grape quality. However, it wasn’t all plain sailing as some growers opposed changed, especially if it meant reducing the crop to improve quality.

I also changed some small winemaking practices like using different strains of yeast to improve the wine. There are still lots of things to do to improve the quality further but that will take time and more perseverance.

What ails the distribution system in India?

It is one thing producing wine and another thing selling it! From what I've observed it is difficult for a small winery to sell wine in India through a distributor because bigger companies are giving wine free to distributors as part of their promotions. Therefore distributors expect this as part of the deal. It is difficult for small producers of wine to give away part of their profit when they have worked hard in producing the best quality they can, compared to some bigger companies producing lower quality wines at cheap prices. I believe there should be more government regulation and support for wine producers and not just the lowering of taxes.

Here to stay

The 2008 harvest proved to be better than the previous year and even the road from Mumbai to Nashik has shown some improvement! It’s an exciting time for India and the wine industry as it can only go from strength to strength and I look forward in being part of its future development.

Venki
for indianwine.com

Note: The following are the information provided by the Karnataka Wine Board.

Karnataka is one of the important states growing different wine varieties of Grapes. In Karnataka, the important Grape growing districts are considered as Nandi Valley and Krishna Valley. Grape cultivation requires heavy investment of capital. In addition, to produce grapes of high quality, the farmers have to put in hard efforts and additional investment. Nevertheless, the grape growers are always found to suffer from the variations in the prices of grape in the market and often fall into severe economic crisis. To over come this problem, there is need for value addition of the grapes and promoting grape products in both the local and the international markets. One such important product of grape is Wine. In Karnataka, there are plenty of opportunities for production of wine. The climatic conditions in the state are best suited for the production of grapes suited for wine making. There is a very good demand for wines both in local and international markets.

Compared to the other countries of the world, the rate of wine consumption is minimum in India. In our country, the rate of consumption of wine is growing at 25-30% per year. By providing congenial atmosphere to the wine industry, giving up the thinking that wine is an alcoholic beverage, and simplifying the taxation system, it is possible to boost the production and consumption of wines. By providing proper impetus to the wine production and marketing, it is possible for the farmers to get good remuneration to their produce. Farmers are going to come out of the market uncertainties, by linking grape production with wine processing. Since the export prospects for wine are huge, always there is an opportunity to get additional profit. With this background, there is a need for an integrated policy as related to production and marketing of wines in the state. Understanding the need for supporting wine production and marketing, the Government has declared a “Wine Policy” in the state.

Karnataka is one of the largest producers of table grapes in India, has two well established wineries one in Bangalore and another in Bijapur. In Karnataka the total wine sales in 2003-04 comprised 4.9 lakh litres which grew by 13 lakh litres in 2006-07 and 16.6 lakh litres in 2007-08. Karnataka Grape Wine Board is formed generally to promote the wine industry and to motivate the wine grape growers of Karnataka. Two potential regions have been identified for the development of wine industry, the regions are named into Krishna Valley which comprises Bijapur, Bagalkot and Bagalkot districts and Nandi Valley which comprises Bangalore Urban, Bangalore, Rural, Chikkballapur and Kolar Districts. Karnataka government has declared the grape wine production units as “Horticultural and Food Processing Industries”, and accordingly is liable to receive all the incentives and facilities that are meant for such industries.

Wine Board Establishment
• Setting up of Wine Board during November 2007.
• The constitution of the board will be as follows:

1. Dr.B.krishna, M.Sc(Horticulture), Ph.D
Managing Director (On picture)
2. Mr.B.Manjunath B.Sc(Horticulture), M.Sc. (Botany)
Manager
Office address
Karnataka Grape Wine Board
#78, KSBCL Office,
Seethalakshmi Towers,
Mission Road, Bangalore 27

The Objectives of the Board are as follows:
a) Inspection and control of Quality of grape crop.
b) Formulation of standards for quality of grape varieties suited for wine making, approval of the same and putting them into practice.
c) Rendering approval to labels to grape wines.
d) Devising and putting into action / implementation of various programmes and practices for the promotion of cultivation of wine grapes, wine industry, research, exhibitions, trade fairs, tour programmes and visits both within India and Abroad, sales of wines and market promotion.

• At present the total area under Grape Wine cultivation in Karnataka is around 600 acres and the total Grape Wine production is around 8 lakh litres.

• Karnataka state has two wineries.
a) Grover Vineyard in Dodballapur
b) Hampi Heritage in Bijapur

 

·       Total Wine sales in Karnataka (including fortified Wine)

• Total area increase in Grape Wine crop is going to reach around 1600 acres in the short time.

• Another 5 new wineries will be added to the Karnataka state in the year 2008-09.



Future plans of Wine Board:
1. To increase the area and production of Grape wine crop in Karnataka state by encouraging the large numbers of farmers.
2. Making Contract farming agreement compulsory to all the Grape Wine growers and should register in the Wine Board.
3. Creation of institutional support for farmers and industry to easily access technology support for cultivation of Grape Wine through IIHR, Bangalore and UAS, Dharwad.
4. Development of short term skill based training courses (Diploma and certificate courses) in Grape Wine cultivation and Industry.
5. To create database on Wine by developing the Wine Board website with all the advanced information on Wine cultivation and Wine industry.
6. Conducting promotional activities for creating awareness about Wine Grape Cultivation, Wine Production and Consumption. (Wine festival, Wine Tour, Seminars on Wine and Wine Etiquettes)

Proposed Wine Policy Part 1

Proposed Wine Policy Part 2

Sample Winery Project

Progress report Powerpoint Presentation (Download)

The third edition of Vinitaly held in Mumbai and New Delhi had been special for the wine connoisseurs as they had a chance to try the just released 2003 vintage of Brunello di Montalcino wines.

The event was not only marked with a good review from trade but also from the media apart from the fact that the discussions also revolved around the difficulties of the Indian market including the heavy tax structure and a relatively low response to the event in terms of visitors.

A report:

The trade, press and the wine lovers in Mumbai recently got a taste of some great Italian wines at the Vinitaly, Mumbai. Vinitaly-the world’s largest wine exhibition is held annually in Verona in April and attracts over 140,000 visitors and 4000 exhibitors from around the globe. Over the past decade Veronafiere has been investing in promoting Italian wines through a series of events held in some of the most interesting and evolving markets. In 2007, Vinitaly events were held in India, Russia, Japan, China and the USA.

The one-day dedicated wine events was held on 15th January at the ITC Grand Central hotel, Mumbai and was held on 17th January at The Grand Intercontinental Hotel in New Delhi and had included a series of informative seminars and a walk-around tasting.

The event saw over 100 of Italy’s top wine producers from almost every region of the Italian peninsula showcasing their wines along with selective producers of distillates, olive oils and balsamic vinegar - most of which were not yet available on the Indian market and were being showcased for the first time ever in India.

A range of informative seminars were run alongside the walk-around tasting and were hosted by leading experts from both India and Italy including Magandeep Singh, Michele Shah and Prof. Atilio Scienza. These seminars were focused on giving a broad perspective of Italian wines and also a deeper analysis of specific wine-producing zones such as Montalcino in Tuscany and the island of Sicily.

Present at this occasion were few consortiums of Italian wines growers like the Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico represented by Silvia Fiorentini, the Marketing & Communication Manager and Consorzio del vino Brunello di Montalcino represented by its President, Francesco Marone Cinzano.

Excited to be a part of this event for the first time, Silvia Fiorentini, Marketing & Communication Manager Consorzio Vino Chianti Classico, said, “I believe there is a great future ahead for Chianti Classico wines in India. Though it seems like a difficult market at the moment, we are aware of the fact that India is one of the emerging markets.”

The Consorzio has already planned to come back to India next year with an aggressive marketing and promotional strategy. Silvia added, though we are aware that the prevailing tax structure ultimately makes Chianti Classico wines expensive for the Indian consumers, we hope that a positive change in future will surely help us invest further in the Indian market. Under a European community financed project, various promotional programmes and seminars will be conducted next year in India.

Chianti Classico represents 17 different wine estates from the Chianti region, Italy which represents 95 per cent of the Chianti Classico DOCG wines.

Silvia is looking at two possibilities to promote Chianti Classico wines. First through an efficient importer and distributor and secondly through hotels and restaurants.

However, “We are here to invest first on communication. A lot of educational and trade trips to Italy are in pipeline”, she added.

Alessandro Bindocci from Tenuta IL Poggione said, “We have never sold our wines in India but we are here to create awareness about our brand. We will be introducing two Montalcino wines, Brunello di Montalcino and Rossa di Montalcino very soon.” The company produces ½ million bottles of wine every year out of which it produces about 200,000 of Brunello and around 1,50,000 bottles of Rossa di Montalcino. We export around 60 to 70 percent of our production. We will be increasing our production to 30,000-50,000 bottles by the next 5 years.”

It was exhilarating to see one of the best Italian white wines produced by Jermann wines at the event. Speaking of the specialty of Jermann whites, Angelo Jermann said, “The region Fiuli, situated close to Venice has a perfect climate and soil to produce white wines. These factors make Fiuli the best place to produce white wines. Around 90 per cent of our production is of white wines.” The portfolio of Jermann wines has varieties including Jermann Chardonnay, which is the king of international white wines portraying elegance and a good body. Other important wines from Jermann portfolio are Jermann Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio. Angelo added, “But our most important white wines are blends, from different grapes planted in the same vineyard. We pick them altogether-from a vineyard which is a Grand Cru to the vineyards which produce wines from a single vineyard. For example, the Vintage Premiere is the best white wine produced by our company. For this wine, we have been receiving awards since many years. It is a blend of 5 different grapes. Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Malvasia, Picolit and Ribolla (locally produced grape varieties).

Jermann wines are available in India since 4 years through its local partner Brindco. The wines that Angelo showcased in this year’s Vinitaly were, ‘Vinnae’- which has 100 percent Ribollozzala which is a typical local grape variety indigenous to Fiuli, rich with mineral. Second wine was Tunina Venezia Giulia, which is a combination of Chardonnay and Pinot Grigio. “Pinot Grigio is the most successful and highest selling brand in India. In total we sell about 500 cases of Jermann wines in India and bout one fifth of it is Pinot Grigio”, he added. The price of a Pinot Grigio bottle in a restaurant in India is around Rs 5000/- and a bottle of Tunina Venezia Giulia is about Rs 8000/-.

The well known Sicilian wine brand, Donnafugata has just recently entered the Indian market. Elena Bortoletto, who represented the company, said “Finewinesmore, the importer and distributor of our brands in India, sells 2 whites, 3 reds and one sweet wine from Donnafugata’s portfolio. The entry level white wine is a blend of Pinot Grigio and Catarratto. There are also two Sicilian blends Ansonica and Catarratto in the brand called Anthilia. In red wine, at the entry level we have SEDÀRA, which is a 100 per cent Nero d’ Avola, TANCREDI which is a blend of 70 per cent Nero d’ Avola and 30 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon. This wine is aged in oak barrel for 14-16 months. Another red wine which has been getting good response in India is MILLE E UNA NOTTE with 90 per cent Nero d’ Avola and 10 per cent indigenous Sicilian grape variety. For vinifications the MILLE E UNA NOTTE grapes are harvested in September during the middle of the night. The night harvest provides cooler temperatures and less oxygenation of the grapes before pressing. The juice is fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel and skin contact lasts about 12 days. After malolactic fermentation, the wine is aged in new French barriques for two years and in bottle for one year before being released.”

The company also sells its top sweet wine called BEN RYÉ. It is a white wine naturally Sweet DOC Passito di Pantelleria Zibibbo. The wine displays its extraordinary personality and depth initially with its bright amber yellow color.

Donnafugata produces 2 million bottles in total every year. However, just 250 cases are sent to India yet.

Italian wines are amongst the best and the vast range of wines produced in this country makes it one of the most interesting wine-producing regions of the world. Over recent years the popularity of Italian wines has increased significantly. This can be attributed to the qualitative improvements introduced by the producers thus enabling them to offer great value-for-money wines. More specifically, in India, another reason for this surge is the increasing number and popularity of Italian fine-dining restaurants across metros.


WINES OF BRUNELLO DI MONTALCINO

The evening tasting session of Brunello di Montalcino wines was conducted by Michele Shah, the well known journalist and wine writer and author, a specialist in Italian wines. Happy to see the level of awareness, she said, “Brunello is not an easy wine to taste so, I was impressed with the awareness level of the people during the tasting session.”

Speaking of the wines from cloned sangiovese grapes, she said that Brunello wines are from cloned sangiovese grapes too which the producer selects from its own vineyard. Cloned sangiovese represents few of the finest wines of Italy. It is worth mentioning that there is a lot of research work going on regarding the cloning of sangiovese grapes in Italy at the moment.

Some of the wines tasted during the session were:

1) Poggione 2003– Produced by Franceschi Leopolde e Livia – In south of Montalcino, the winery is of 19th century. The producer uses new clones of sangiovese and there is new vinification cellars used for this wine. The producer is keen to maintain and retain a traditional style of wine making. The winery is spread over 100 hectares of land. The wine is stored in large oak barrels for 36 months. The wine is soft at the palate with long tannins. It is a well balanced wine.

2) La Poderina 2003– Produced by Saiagricola S.p.a – The wine comes from the south western part of Montalcino. It’s a medium sized estate with the vineyard situated at 350 meters above sea level. The winery is built on a less traditional model.

La Poderina is a ruby red with a good concentration, nice hint of cherry berry, fairly tannic but young. The wine fruity on nose but has a solid structure underneath. This wine goes well with food.

3) Ciacci Piccolomini d’ Aragona 2003- Produced by Bianchini Societa Agricola S.s- The winery is situated in the South Eastern part of Montalcino. The winery is spread over 200 hectares. The wine has a sweet aroma and a balanced taste.

4) Banfi 2003- Banfi S.r.l. – Established in 1960, the winery is owned by Mariani Family. The winery is spread across 800 hectares. Banfi is one of the largest wineries in Montalcino region. The vineyard produces Rosso – 7, 20,000 out of 100 hectares and Brunello – 7, 00,000. The winery uses 50 different clones of Sangiovese grape. Banfi 2003 is a nice and fruity wine with an aroma of cherry and silky tannins, great acidity. It has a round and fullness on the palate.

5) CoL d’ Orcia Riserva 1999– Tenuta Col d’ Orcia S.p.a. – The winery produces 4, 30,000 bottles of wine in total. The wine has a dense ruby red colour and it offers a lot of complexity. The first batch of Riserva was produced in 18th century. The winery produces nice and elegant wines most of it stored for 4 years in oak barrel. This winery belongs to Franchesco- the president of the Consorzio of Brunello di Montalcino. The winery is based at 450 meters above sea level and the vineyard faces direct south. The climate and the soil are just perfect for Brunello.


A TASTE OF ITALIAN CUISINE WELL PAIRED WITH WINE

The same evening, Finewinesnmore and Hyatt Regency celebrated the introduction of some great wines from Donnafugata and Carpene Malvolti vineyards along with great Italian cuisines prepared by the new Chef Giuseppe Zanotti.

Chef Giuseppe presented hot Neapolitan puttanesca sauce of olives, tomatoes ,capers and fresh parmesan cheese, rich, satisfying wines with a smooth satiny texture from the valleys of Sicily “An Italian table is incomplete with out its wine said Chef Giuseppe.

The dinner included Chef Giuseppe ‘masterpieces’ steamed prawn salad with heart of artichoke, parmesan shaving and lemon dressing; Tortelli Piacentini with spinach, ricotta filling and butter sage sauce. The chef's artistic influence was obvious in tuna tartar that comes heart-shaped, with chopped red, green and yellow bell peppers, zucchini and saffron sauce.

This Magical Combination of Excellent Italian Cuisine and the Finest Wines transported the guest to the world of Fine dining Italian Haven.

- Rojita B. Tiwari
 

Courtesy:  http://www.ambrosiaindia.com
 

Dr Jaideep Kale, Technical Coordinator, Wine Park, Maharashtra tells IndianWine.com about how he found his place in the Indian wine industry...

Q. Please tell us about your background, especially how you came to join the Indian Wine industry?

A. I completed my Bachelors degree in Horticulture Science from College of Horticulture, Pune, Maharashtra. I followed it up with a Masters degree in Agriculture Plant Pathology from University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad, in the state of Karnataka. I pursued my Doctorate in viticulture from Agriculture University, Gujarat.

After these years spent in academic pursuits, I took up jobs with multinational companies like Synjenta, State Grapes Association and Seed company.

Since I had pursued the study of grapes for my PhD, grapes were my latest interest. It was opportune that at the same time, the Central Government of India was taking a serious interest in establishing Food Processing Industries in India, particularly Maharashtra.

At that point of time in India, particularly in the grape growing and winemaking industry, we were all new. Maharashtra was just exploring its grape growing and winemaking potential. The time was just right for me to join the Indian Wine industry and pitch in with my academic expertise. Those were the beginnings, and we have come far, but still there is way to go!

Q. What are your personal favourites in wine?

A. In white wine I like Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and in red Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel.

Q.  Please update us with the latest news from Wine Park, Maharashtra...

A. I am working with Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation as Technical Coordinator for Agricultural Export Zone for Grapes and Grape Wine. Over the past seven years, my work at Maharashtra Wine Park and consequent close interaction with the grass-root farmers, has been a very interesting one.  For an update: Today as in the year 2008, 8000 acres of land is under cultivation for wine grapes and 57 wineries have been established in the state of Maharashtra under our guidance.

Q. What is the role of MIDC's Wine Park and how are farmers and entrepreneurs benefitted by it?

A. We have been giving guidance to farmers and entrepreneurs about cultivation of wine grapes, production of quality wines, marketing of wine and also effort for export of Indian Wines for the last five years. I have visited Italy and Germany for research in the wine sector there. I learn from domestic and international exhibitions on wine also, and share useful information with the wine industry participants back home in Maharashtra. 

Q. What would you consider your special contribution to the Indian wine industry?

A. Though I have been actively involved in the growth of all aspects of the wine industry in Maharashtra, it is my book in Marathi about grape growing and the Indian wine industry, aimed to benefit local farmers, entrepreneurs and all grass-root people involved in the industry, that gives me a special sense of satisfaction. This book in the local language is the first of its kind. Recently, Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has recognised my contribution to the Indian wine industry with an award. 

Q. You have seen the local wine industry grow from strength to strength, and would be in a position to comment on gaps and opportunities for further growth. What  improvements do you suggest for the Indian wine industry?

A. It is a pleasure to be part of the revolutionary change that has come about in the Indian wine industry. Well, it all started with Maharashtra! It has been a remarkable experience, watching the Indian wine industry grow and at such a speed, yet there is more that needs to be done. Suitable growing conditions for the Indian wine industry will enhance all aspects of the grape and grape-wine industry here. I look forward to the following developments in the Indian wine industry:

1) Increase in cultivation of wine grapes

2) Increase in wine units

3) New ideas for marketing of wine

4) Increase in export

5) Joint ventures with foreign developed wine industry for nursery, varieties, technical know-how, marketing, etc.

6) Research

Presently, the government of Maharashtra through Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation has got into a joint venture with the government of Italy in grape wine sector. This project is under my guidance and still underway. It would translate as growth for Maharashtra's grape wine industry. 

Q. How do you feel when you look back at your decision to join the Indian wine industry? 

A. It feels good. I took up the challenge which suited my interest in grapes as well. It was passion and patience that I invested in my work, and still do. It has been seven years. And it has been a very satisfactory investment, seeing the Indian Wine industry grow from scratch. We are now going places, domestically and internationally, and not to forget the benefits to farmers here. It is good to belong here :-)

for indianwine.com Venki

IndianWine.com chats up with Viral Pancholia, CEO (Chief Evolution Officer) Mercury Winery Pvt. Ltd. ...
 
1. Please tell us about your education and background...

MBA from UK , and a professional background in banking, with expertise in strategic management & marketing.

2. Where did you pick up the interest in wine?

The passion for wine runs in the family! I got interested in wine through my grandparents interest in them. IT has been three generations of family interest. In my grandparents era, when wine was certainly not a common commodity, to my surprise, we had French Wine at home. This was pre-Independence India. 

How I wish that had he kept some bottles from that period, I would have certainly been a known face in at the auction houses! :-)

My parents too are highly passionate about what wines they drink and this is how I got into wines as well! Not to mention my underage wine-tasting!

Later the passion grew as I've been travelling around the globe and meeting people. It may sound surprising but until I ventured into my own winery project I had never really tried Indian Wines. Even as I travelled I heard no mention of Indian wines. And if I discussed them I was greeted by surprised faces. Indian Beers - certainly Cheers ! But people don't generally imagine wines from India. Believe me, this notion has not changed yet. 

3. What made you begin Mercury Winery Pvt. Ltd.? 

The concept behind Mercury Winery came up over a dinner discussion when my parents & myself were at our farms in Nashik, surrounded by vineyards and enjoying Cloudy Bay (Sauvignon). In the green setting, we naturally questioned ourselves, 'why not create wines locally that would establish Incredible India, and which could also be one of the leading premium wine producers at par with wines from the New World? If we Indians have marked achievements globally in the fields IT, Automobiles, BPO, etc., then why not in Wines?'

We still have a long way to go, but the journey of a million miles begins with a single step! And from that day till now, in a span of two years, what Mercury Winery has achieved is certainly remarkable. This sounds very exciting but setting up the winery has not been a smooth ride by any accounts. But again it is the support from my parents and blessings from God, that has been with us in this venture.

This is how the passion of enjoying & appreciating fine wines, picked up from my grandparents and parents, got converted into passion for producing the finest & best wines from India!

It’s important to mention that I do take some premium wines as a benchmark. But, I would like to point out that it is quite wrong when people compare wines from different countries. Just as no two individuals are the same how can wines produced from two countries be the same! It is different people, soil, terroir, climate, etc. The idea should not be to compare wines, rather enjoy the flavours...

4. What is your role in your company?

CEO – Chief Evolution Office! Dare to challenge everything, apart from good taste.

5. How successful are you?

The term success or successful is very subjective. Well, our wines have received very positive comments for the first year vintage from International Wine Experts & Wine gurus! Apart from that I believe we are the first winery in our country to have won Decanter Worldwide Awards in its first vintage. Which means, the credit goes to my team at Mercury Winery. 

When I see our Mercury Winery from India recognised as a premium wine producer at par with other such in the new world, that would mean 'success' for our India & me. This is only possible if we keep trying to achieve better quality year after year at Mercury Winery and let the quality speak for itself !

5. What are Mercury Winery's plans for marketing and introducing new products?

We are promoting our wines aggressively in European markets. It’s not an easy task when competing with wines from Europe as the price variance is very significant. The basic cost of raw material (wine-grapes) in India is far too high when compared with that of France or Australia. But again at Mercury Winery we don’t compromise on the quality of the wines we produce.

We are trying to gain foot in foreign markets and so far we would say it’s been a good experience.

As for the domestic market, our wines are currently selling in Mumbai and Pune region, and we are looking for distributors in other regions of India. We need to put in more marketing in North & South of India. Since, the hotel industry is booming in our country, trade is definitely interesting here. I do hope that in the near future different states have a unified policy on wine. That would boost the entire business working in Indian wines.

6. What is the response to your wines so far?

Until now we have been well accepted by the people in Mumbai & Pune who appreciate fine things in life and quality products. In terms of sales we see things moving in the positive direction.  In terms of pricing we are priced in the medium segment -- Rs. 400-500 per bottle, which is, very well priced for the quality that we are currently offering.

 
7  Please tell us more about your company...

Our winery is well equipped with top facilities of international standards. Our winery has a built area of about 35,000 square feet, which makes it one of the biggest constructed wineries in the region.

We have strict quality controls from the raw material to the finished product  stages. Maintaining hygiene in the entire process is our utmost priority. Currently we have the capacity of 200,000 litres, which can be expanded to five times its current capacity in the current setup. Our state of the art bottling line is equipped to bottle 2500 BPH -- completely automated and with on the line labelling. Our chilling plants run 24x7. We are particular that the cooling is not effected even during power cuts. Although the power bills are very high but again compromising on these things would have immediate effect on the quality of the wines.

8. What does the Indian Wine industry need to develop further?

India has a good potential to develop wines as the weather is also suitable to grow some good wine-grape varietals. What we see is that more trained human resource is required in our wine industry in all areas of the process. Right from qualified Viticulturists, Winery Managers, Wine Makers, Plant operators and experienced Sales people are all very limited in the current scenario. Since the demand is high the retention of the people is becoming vital.

Currently we do not have any good university or colleges, which are training people specifically to cater to this industry although there is a good number of trained people required.

In regards to the marketing what I see is that in the near future, specialized off-trade for exclusive sales of wine would be developed along with the retail boom we are experiencing and with the relaxed policy in Maharashtra for wine & beer. But again the logistic needs to be addressed. Currently there is no proper system in place to transport & store wines at correct temperatures across the nation and thus the wines which are excellent in wineries turn out to perform poorly when transported through different temperatures.

Finally there has to be a joint effort by wine producers & govt. bodies to promote the Indian Wine industry and build Brand India wines for the international platform. 

At the national level, I would certainly like to see a unified policy across the country on duties and taxes as this would help our Indian wines' accessibility in all cities in India.

In the current scenario, I have been told that it is much simpler for importers to promote foreign wines in various states, than it is for Indian companies trying to sell its Indian products in different states of India. 

for indianwine.com Venki

Craig Wedge shares his views on the wine events and visitors response to it.

Over the last month I have been fortunate to have been invited to 2 wine events hosted in Mumbai. The first of these wonderful wine tastings under the mantle of ‘Les 5’ was a re-acquaintance for me with 5 special producers from the Bordeaux wine region of France. Special in so much, first time this programme had been conducted in Mumbai, and as such, confirmed my suspicion that even the highest achievers in the wine world were coveting India as a market. A small ensemble of journalists, foodies and winos from stand alone restaurants and 5 star hotels were in attendance. The second of these events and something on a grander scale was an event named Vinitaly. So here it was! A fabulous collection of near on 60 wine producers, with nearly 1000 wines from every nook and cranny of Italy, in India to showcase their products. They came in their droves, in vehicles of all shapes and sizes. I drove a bus with 16 on board licking my lips in anticipation of the afternoon that was to open up in front of us. I had booked into seminars on wines from Sicily and Montalcino. I had pre warned people I was arriving with a posy of service staff thirsty for knowledge and eager to understand what it was that could make a grown man like me all a quiver with excitement about so many wines in one place. We arrived like a tsunami; the crew from the JW were here!

It was bright lights city! An absolutely fabulous setup! Nothing was amiss as far as I could ascertain. This was for all intents and purposes a world class event right in the middle of Mumbai.

But something was amiss. Where were the people? Joe public was lamentably absent from the event.

I was confident that something as dynamic as wine, would pull a big crowd eager to try what was hot in Italy. I at least thought that all of that booze under one roof would be like honey to a bear. But alas they were not to be. I immediately thought of that one tag line from the Kevin Costner B grade movie Field of Dreams, “Build it and they will come”
It was …. And they didn’t!!

I assure you I did my best for all that were absent, yet alas, I was somewhat disturbed that these people had invested considerable money and time to be here, yet Mumbai, both professional and personal, had failed to live up to the expectations of the wine makers and vineyard owners that were coveting India as the newest super wine market. The general consensus around the room was that this event was world class, that the intended marketing goals for each of their wines may have been a partial flight of fancy, yet each goal was sound and achievable, that Mumbai and India as a whole, even though a new player on the global wine market, was a fantastic launching ground for both new wine producers, and a re-acquaintance and consolidation of the market for those that had come before. But where were the people?

It is a sad enough affair that we deal with idiosyncratic legislation set in place to erode the development and health of the imported wine industry, yet even this falls short of the regrettable lack of enthusiasm from the wine drinking populous. It is events like this and many more of them that are bound our way, whose intrinsic modus operendi is to expose you, the unsuspecting wine drinking public, to the beauty that is the outside world of wine. It is only through exposing you, the people, time and time again to the wine of the world where it is has been at the very heart and soul of civilisation for countless thousands of years, will you hopefully understand and gain the knowledge that empowers you to make more informed decisions on the wines you drink and further enables you to discern what is good quality and what is not.

In the end, it is the power of these people that will force the local industry to take note and gauge themselves against the wine benchmarks from the outside world, and truly see themselves for the products they produce.

Come on people!

By not getting behind the imported wine industry, by not attending these fabulous events in your droves, you are allowing mediocrity to rise to the surface and be accepted as the norm.

The light is on, and someone is home!!

You just have to knock!


Craig Wedge is the Global Wine Consultant at J W Marriott, Mumbai
 

Courtesy:  http://www.ambrosiaindia.com
 

Verona, the city of Romeo and Juliet, becomes the setting of another legendary love story: Vinitaly.

Vinitaly is the landmark event for the Italian and international wine world. The largest wine show in the world has progressively and increasingly become a mainstay even on an international scale by welcoming innovations and appealing to operators not only as a trade exhibition but also as a full-scale reference "event".

The visit to VINITALY provides an opportunity to learn more about Italian wines through tastings and discussions, to meet Italy's leading wine makers and to establish new business relationships with producers for those who are interested.


Italy is a treasure trove for the wine lover. If you are a fan of international varieties like Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet, Merlot, Syrah, Pinot Noir, etc., you'll find plenty to please you. If you like to try indigenous varieties, you won't have to look too hard to find something to pique your interest, whether it's a Nebbiolo, Barbera or Dolcetto from Piemonte; a Teroldego, Marzemina or Lagrein from Trentino; a Montepulciano from Abruzzo; an Aglianico from Campania; a Primitivo, Negramaro or Malvasia Nera from Puglia; or a Nero d'Avola from Sicily.

This year it was six memorable days from April 3rd to April 7th in Verona and a dream come true for me to attend VINITALY, the largest and most comprehensive international wine exhibition for the trade, with more than 4,500 exhibitors from 31 countries and more than 140,000 visitors from around the world, offering more than 70,000 square meters of stand space. Over 160 wine manufacturers with a long history of wine making attended from Italy. And as never before - since it is the only show focusing on all the needs of all operators in the field: producers, importers, distributors, caterers, technicians, journalists and opinion leaders.


This role has been developed over forty years of activity by accompanying the development of a sector that in turn has become the best ambassador of "Made in Italy" worldwide as the flagship of excellence in the quality agro-foods system.

VinItaly embraces traditional appointments alongside several innovative events designed to involve operators from all over the world. The impressive line-up includes: Tasting Express - international wines presented by leading wine-sector magazines; Taste & Dream - great historical Italian wines; Trendy today, Big tomorrow - selected companies investing in the future; Taste Italy, the tasting of "Lista dei Buoni 2006" wines presented to 5000 foreigners journalists and buyers; Designer Restaurants - outstanding performances by the best Italian chefs; Citadel of Gastronomy - interpreting the best regional Italian cuisine; the Haute Cuisine Area, trait d’union among High Gastronomy, Oil and Wine world; JRE On Tour Restaurant: every day three different chefs propose a special menu, while close circuits monitors show the "back stage" during cooking.


Though there’s lots to taste, unfortunately, the show's timing is horrid, falling at bottling time, which means that most of the wines being poured are freshly bottled, shocked to death, and very closed -- or they're barrel samples. Barrel samples are unfiltered and therefore not nearly as likely to be shocked (though they do get shaken up in getting to Verona). Their bouquets tend to be badly skewed, showing a strong predominance of oak if it was used, while the fruity/floral aromas that develop in the reducing environment of the bottle are weak or simply not there yet.


I got to visit many wineries, some of them with history of over 150 years. Marco Felluga, Bertani, Maculan were undoubtedly my favourites. Maculan winery is situated in the hills north of Venice. Fausto Maculan has done an amazing job. They are famous for their dessert wines; Dindarello and Torcolato can stand firm against the world’s best. Even his reds Fratta and Crosaro are exceptionally great ones. 1994 Le Lave was my favorite amongst the white, an unique blend of Chardonnay and Garganega grapes.


I even got a chance to visit Jacob Poli the great Grappa makers; where one can feel time has stopped, the visit to the Jacop Poli was one of my cherished moments.

I must say the wines made in this era are better ones and easily liked by consumers. The major reason behind such great results is the technology used for viticulture and vinification.

Of the countless wines I tasted in the fair I can count on my fingers few I may have disliked. Wines were like stars unlimited, each portraying its culture and terroir. Fascinating at times, I think, as its all coming from a small fruit called grape.

For a wine lover like me a country like Italy can offer a lot. What more can I say when you know they grow over thousand indigenous grapes apart from the classic ones. Undoubtedly, Italy has lots more to offer than any other Wine growing country in the World.

for indianwine.com

Sajan K.I.

Group Sommelier and Wine Columnist Savvy Cook Book Magazine.
Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt Ltd.
 

Maharashtra Chamber of commerce requested indianwine.com to suggest few points that helps to improve the Indian winery industry. We have strongly suggested to create Independent Wine Body council. Shorter version of this document is appeared in the Maharashtra Chamber of Commerce monthly magazine. Our community member Puneet Dhall also contributed few points here.....


1. Create an Independent Wine Body/Council: It is imperative to have an independent body in India that takes care of all aspects of the wine industry here. A holistic approach to integrating the wine industry in India will have a bigger impact on all areas of operations, including marketing, credibility and sales of Indian wines in the local and global markets. This is a lesson we should have long learnt from Australia. Despite being a new world wine producer, the Australian wine industry has benefitted. As of now, Australian wines illicit better brand recognition than Indian wines, because the Indian wine players are going entirely on their own steam, while the Australian industry has a support system by way of their Wine council.

2. Indian Wine Council should work independently and without any favors to a particular company or group of companies: No favours please! With established players in the arena, it is only fair that no undue advantages are allowed to individual beneficiaries at the cost of holistic growth for the Indian wine industry which includes the farmer growing wine grapes, the winery technicians, sales and marketing team, and of course the owners of these enterprises.

3. This independent Wine Council should work with Indian wine exporters and foreign agencies to create brand awareness: Brand awareness is the ultimate tool to introduce any product to its consumers, new and old. Any effort at boosting brand awareness for Indian wines will benefit all cadres of the industry here, and open choices for consumers -- I repeat, local and global. The domestic consumer market is as important as the international consumer base. Increase in exports build brand credibility among local consumers too.

4. Independent Wine Council should work with major wineries to commit to build 'Branding for Indian Wine region': The Indian terroir needs to be talked about. It is what gives Indian wines their substance and identity, everything else from grape varietals to winemaking technology and winemakers being the same as available elsewhere in the world. Branding for the Indian Wine Region is hugely unexplored at the moment and presents lots of potential to show Indian Wines in an even better light to build its consumer base. It just takes a consecrated effort to grow up from an individual company identity to the bigger entity of being part of 'The Indian Wine Industry'. There is a saying in Indian scriptures: 'Sangho Shakti Kaliyuge', meaning, in modern times there is strength in unity, in coming together for a common cause.

5. Independent Wine Council should work with wineries to maintain good quality in wines, at the same time striving to reduce cost of production which is till now much higher than the global norm. This will keep Indian wines competitively priced for the global market.

6. Integrate 'Indianness' in the brand building process. Branding should reflect ethics such as honesty, culture, tradition and spirituality: May be we can take a cue from our national motto, 'Satyameva Jayate' to streamline our branding exercise. Truth and transparency, especially when an honest effort is in action to maintain high quality and competitive pricing, naturally endear the product to its customers, old and probable. We need to bring out the Indianness of Indian wines, and what better way than coming together for a mindshare session under the umbrella of an independent Wine Council...

7. Independent Wine Council should share the global laws and varying cultural experiences with every winery in India: This will educate all wineries about ground realities in the global consumers' mind and rules of the land. Knowledge will help wineries expand their potential and take Indian Wines to greater heights.

8. Independent Wine Council should assist the regulators and the government to create unified laws in India: An independent Wine Council will be the Indian wine industry's leverage to ask for unified laws in India. Presently the highly varied taxation from state to state is a challenge for wineries and wine players' optimal functioning.

9. Independent Wine Council should assist the wineries to approve and ensure the quality of the wine, labels and packaging: Packaging and labelling is a weak area with Indian wines, but surely gaining in strength by the day. With a Wine Council to support these aspects of the industry, all wineries would have the benefit of expert guidance and not only the moneyed niche. Overall improvement in quality of wine, its labelling and packaging will result in greater consumer confidence for Indian wines as a whole.

10. The bottom line is that the independent Wine Council should make the Indian wine-producing regions famous through appellations: This will surely add to consumer confidence in the international market.

With a Wine Council guiding the Indian Wine Industry it can be safely assumed that wine lovers around the world would come forward to buy Indian wines with increased confidence, from knowing the brand, appreciating the packaging and tasting the great quality of our wines .


Venki

“French wines are the best! New World Wines do not age well and Rosé wines are the latest trend.”- Sumedh Singh Mandla, Partner, Finewinesnmore analyses the trends in wine production and consumption in India.

Having given over 18 years to the Food & Beverage Industry, I have lost count of the number of times I have come across these remarks. After enjoying a great tenure with Hospitality Industry, it was my passion for Wine and the yearning to find the truth which motivated me to move into the import, marketing and distribution of wines.

One of the greatest things about wine as a subject is that you can keep learning about it throughout your life. There is learning every time you open a new bottle of wine! Though that may not be the only way I’ve gathered my learning!

During the last 3 years, I have traveled extensively to Italy and France. As my travels increased, so did my passion for wine. These travels to Europe have been a great source of knowledge for me. While enjoying some lovely wines at some of the top restaurants and wine bars, I noticed that most of the service staff was quite confident in recommending, up selling and service of wine. However, they did negate my earlier belief that Europeans know everything about wines. While traveling through different wine regions in these countries, I was quite surprised to discover that people in general had their knowledge limited to the wines available in their region – so much so that they would not even try the wines from the adjoining region, let alone adjoining country. Still, Wine is such an integral part of their culture and day to day life that knowledge on wines, grape varietals, pairing with food comes quite naturally to them.

One question I invariably ask my European friends and feel extremely amused by their responses is whether they like the wines produced in the New World. The response is seldom positive. What amuses me is their response to my second question which is whether they have tried these wines – the response remains “No!” Back in India, even when I visit some of the best restaurants, I get a feeling that the service staff (leaving a handful of people) is not very familiar or comfortable with their wine offering. This results in lack of confidence in the recommendation and service of wines. Needless to say, the passion does not translate to the consumer and fails to create a complete experience for them.

I spend a lot of time traveling across India to meet old industry friends and to develop our Business. Considering that the growth of Domestic Wine Industry is not older than 5 years, there is serious lack of infrastructure and knowledge of wines. Most of the Food & Beverage professionals in India have not had the opportunity of experiencing the ambience of a vineyards and getting first hand experience on wine making - which can prove to be quite an eye opener.
 
However, off late, Food & Beverage professionals have started spending a good amount of time reading, traveling and tasting wines to update their knowledge of wines and the latest offerings & trends.
I am quite often reminded of the old proverb, “Little knowledge is a dangerous thing”. As I said earlier, I quite frequently hear quotes like: “I like only red wines. I don’t like sweet wines, as they are too sweet. New world wines cannot match French & Italian wines. New world wines are not to be aged. Older the wine better it is……..”, I smile within. But I feel happy about the fact that at least the consumers are finally discovering wines and forming some opinion.

There have been some good initiatives taken by domestic wine players as well as Importers to educate people involved with wine at all stages starting with importing, buying, selling, service delivery and consumption.
However, I do feel that the Indian government has to take a lead by declaring Wine as an industry and by creating infrastructure for the development of Wine. The domestic wine players with their bigger reach can be instrumental to the growth of this Industry. Currently less than 1% of total grape production in India is used for making wines. This shows the potential that exists for this Industry in India. We need to work on quality, infrastructure, packaging & international marketing to grow this Industry and to gain international recognition and create openings for export.

There is a need to develop the concept of Wine Tourism in India. A visit to vineyards for education and recreation is a successful concept in lots of wineries across the world supported by the travel industry. Yarra Valley in Australia, Piedmont in Italy, and Bordeaux in France is some of the popular tourist destinations in these countries. As a first time tourist in Australia, way before my life revolved around wines - my itinerary included the Opera House in Sydney, the Whale cruise in Nowra and most definitely a trip to Yarra Valley. Considering the huge potential India has, this is one area which seems totally untouched. Many big wineries abroad have even invested into fine dinning restaurant in their vineyard to complete the experience for the visitors.

We understand that the real growth of wine in India started only in the last 5 years. However, in spite of over 40% growth in last 3 years, we still lack infrastructure for the storage, transportation and service of wine. A few years earlier, a retail store which used to carry 5 to 10 imported wine labels, now offers over 100 plus labels. Retail and concepts like Wine Bars could be a great learning point for several wine consumers.

Wine Bars work very well for the fresh impressionable consumers. There is a need to provide opportunity for training about wines and tasting even at the retail level for consumers. Currently, for organizing a tasting in retail in Mumbai, one needs an excise permit costing over Rs. 6050 per day which acts as a deterrent for the organizers. However, if the process was made easier, the frequency of these tasting could multiply rapidly - contributing to the growth of the industry. This could be a stepping stone for wine education in India.
Media has played a great role in promoting wine culture in India - Whether it is for the Health conscious, the social net workers, the hip-n-trendy crowd or any other reason. More focus on wine education on print and electronic media will definitely assist in the further growth in understanding and creating passion for wine in India – the way I see in some other countries.

I will take off with this noble thought that India definitely has the potential to become one of the top wine producing, consuming and exporting country in next 10 years!
 

Courtesy:  http://www.ambrosiaindia.com
 

The feeling to be behind the bar is much exhilarating than to be in front of it. Ask Kankshi Mehta and she would lend you all tips on ‘how to manage yourself behind the bars’. While many of her friends are still pondering upon the thought of deciding a career, Kankshi, a management degree holder has already made a mark in bar tending.


So, what makes Kankshi so special? There are many reasons. She is the youngest bar tender, female, creative and ready to experiment with what ever she is good at, ‘mixing drinks’. It’s not been long that she has started bar tending. However, the incident that led her to get into this profession is quite interesting.

It started about 2 ½ years ago. Her family owns a restaurant called Spice Tree in the suburbs of Mumbai. As an Ice Tea buff, once she was looking for her daily dose of Ice Tea in her family restaurant only to find that her bartender was not around. She was well aware of the ingredients and places where her bar tender used to keep all stuff, so she started to make her own drink out of curiosity. To her surprise, the drink turned out to be really good and since then she has not looked back. With a desire to experiment with different kind of drinks, cocktails, mocktails and liquor mixings, she discovered that in the profession of bar tending, creativity has no boundaries.

You can be as creative as you want and go as crazy as you like. You don’t have to stick to the rules and that’s the best part of bar tending unless you are making classic cocktails. One should always have fun with the drinks, she says.

While she was looking to earn a professional degree in bar tending, she heard about Stir Academy of Bartending, where she enrolled herself for a six months professional course in bar tending.

Like any other field, it is important to have professional skills in bar tending too, she says. The only requirement is one should be willing to learn and should have the flair for making a good drink. Bar tending also requires knowledge about mixing of different chemicals and a through idea of history of different type of alcohols, the kind of glasses being used for different drinks etc. A bar tender can also create his/her niche with the way he/she would garnish the drink.

The understanding of appropriate proportion of alcohol in a drink, kind of glass to be used, presentation style, all these make a drink real special, she says. However, use of glasses is not that much restricted any more. Sharing one such experience, she says, “Once during my trip to South Africa, I have tasted a Cosmopolitan in a Margarita glass. Now a days bar tenders make Caprioska, Mojitos and bloody merry in tall glasses instead of the old fashioned cocktails glasses too.”


Her signature drink is Strawberry margarita. You can swear by my Strawberry Margarita and Caprioska, she says. The recipe for Strawberry Margarita is Tequila, a little bit of cointreau and lots of fresh strawberries. However, the classic recipe of a Margarita is Tequila cointreau, Orange liqueur, lime juice and sugar syrup and ice. Blend it and pour into a tall glass. And do not forget to rim your glass with salt, she says.

With Strawberry Margarita you will not add orange liqueur but you will add strawberry syrup or sugar syrup.

Sharing her views on the bar tending scene in India, she says, lot of people these days want their drinks to be specialized. They want the flair and showmanship. They are very fascinated and they very often ask a bartender, can you flare? I have got into flare recently. However, the first mantra is to make the drink right.

According to Kankshi, Mumbai needs a good homie bar. It needs people who know their stuff to actually make a good drink and not for the sake of earning money. Her plan is to open an Irish bar in Mumbai someday. Why an Irish Bar? She says wooden floorings and table and the whole concept of an Irish Bar is really fascinating.

Talking of trends these days, she says, lot of foreigners visit bars. For them it is quite normal to see a women behind the bars which is a normal seen abroad. However, in Mumbai, lot of people have heard about me and come to my restaurant just to meet me.

Another important trend that I have noticed is there are a small percentage of people who really experiment with their drinks. But I have also noticed that lot of women usually want to get drunk. They don’t care what’s in their hands and what it tastes as long as it gets them high. The first thing they drink is Tequila shots. I tell them please go beyond that. There are so many other varieties of drinks.

On a serious note, she shares her views on the ongoing protest against women bar tenders in New Delhi, she says, in Mumbai people are more open to women bar tenders. In fact, there are many who are fascinated to see a woman behind the bar. It is not just because of the pretty face but also because of the taste of the drink that I prepare for them. I have also bartended at private parties.

Bartending is a skilled profession. Since we are a democratic country and we are moving forward we should progress towards making women professionals’ life safer rather than stopping them from work. Some of the solutions that she provides are like adding more bouncers to the bar and adding more CCTVs. In fact, women are safe behind the bars because there are male bartenders who are very protective of their colleagues. Some tips that she offers are to be really professional, be dignified and a female bar tender should be clear with her gesture that she is just making drinks with a smile. She should never wear indecent clothes. Don’t sit in one corner and smoke. Avoid situations like ‘when do you finish work or can we have drinks later’.

True to her passion and profession, she says, moving further in this career I have decided to expand bartending skills to event management. The trend is changing these days as most of the corporate events and major concerts have also bars. So I hope to see more of such opportunities created for women bar tenders. She concludes.

Courtesy:  http://www.ambrosiaindia.com

John Harris, Green Point winemaker from Australia in his recent visit to India said that India is one of the major emerging markets for all companies. This is primarily because of the increasingly wealthy middle class which is looking out for popular lifestyle choice. We hope they embrace wine as their first choice in beverages.

As the Indian wine market becomes a hot spot, many international players are ready to gamble their fate. We decide to gather some response from the domestic players.
Read more:
The total wine production for the year 2007 has grown by 37 per cent in India over the previous year and seven new wineries were added to take the total tally in India to 54 during this year. A

As per the statistics provided by Jaideep Kale, wine consultant for the Grape Wine Park of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation, commercial wine production during this season touched 1.42 crore litres, up from the 1.04 crore litres production during the 2006 season.

Of this, Maharashtra alone, with 51 of the 54 wineries in the country, accounted for 1.32 crore litres, while the three remaining wine units in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh produced 10 lakh litres. Seven new wineries were set up in Maharashtra and became operational during the new season, taking the total investment in the State from Rs 160 crore in 2006 to Rs 247 crore this year.

While most of the wine produced is for domestic consumption, four wineries, three from the Narayangaon-Nashik belt and one from Karnataka exported wines to European markets.

Currently, around 5,000 acres of land in seven districts of Maharashtra are under wine-grape cultivation, and grape crushing is an annual activity that happens in February every year. Several new wine projects are in the pipeline.

All these indicate that the Indian wine market is set for an upheaval with the world’s largest spirits maker Diageo declaring its intent to enter India. Currently, short of 1% of the overall domestic spirits market, the wine market is already growing at a rapid 20-30%. But the entry of Diageo is expected to accelerate this growth.

In an industry that is dominated by three players – Indage, Sula Wines and Grover Wines – who command 90% market share, the entry of USL and Diageo will significantly change the demographics.

Yet, Diageo is likely to fund United Spirits Ltd (USL) – India’s largest and the world’s third largest spirits maker – as a key rival in this nascent, yet fast growing, industry.
In an interview with Ambrosia, Abhay Kewadkar, Chief wine maker, United Sprits Limited and Director, Four seasons wines limited said that the UB Group has realized the potential of wines business in the country and has decided to form its own strategy for the same.

To go with the image of being a global player and to confirm its intentions, the Group decided to buy Bouvet-Ladubay, a quality winery with 156 years old heritage in the Loire valley of Saumur region in France. This is the first time an Indian Company has ventured into buying a winery outside India. In this case, it is special as wines are from France, a country which is the global leader in the wine segment.

Revealing his plans, he also said, “Bouvet-Ladubay products have been already launched in Maharashtra and soon they will be launched in Delhi, Karnataka and Goa in the next 3 months. To be present in all prices and product lines, there will be a Company, M/s. United Vintners Ltd., which will deal with import of wines from all over the world, viz. France, Italy, South Africa, New Zealand, etc. to name a few.”

A green field project is coming up in Baramati, which will be India’s best and the biggest winery. 300 acres vineyard will be owned by the Company and long term contractual agreements will be made with local farmers for 1000 acres. The winery itself will be in the middle of 300 acres vineyard. This will give 5 million bottles production of wines exclusively using wine varieties of grapes over the next 5 years.

The bottling will start in October and in the first year of operation 600,000 bottles will be sold which will consist of 6 different varietal ranges. Additional 8 brands will be added over the next 3 years, to manufacture premium wines which will go through French oak barrels. Plans are also in position to manufacture sparkling wines using traditional French method (methode champagnoise) and with the technical guidance of Bouvet-Ladubay.

The wine market in India today is still in its nascent stage. The industry is one million cases of wines manufactured in India and 0.15 to 0.2 million cases of imported wines. This, against spirits industry which has 125 million cases and beer which is at 100 million cases. A lot needs to be done in terms of education, awareness and demystifying wine as a product. This will help in expanding the consumer base of wine as a category and this is what UB Group would like to achieve.

The wine market is expanding at 30% every year but considering such a small consumer base, though the figure sounds impressive at 30%, it is not enough.

The growth in wine industry will be directly beneficial to farmers, cultivating wine varieties of grapes and this will also create job opportunities in the rural area. The Government of India and different State governments should realize this potential and promote wines. In India, wine is considered as any other alcoholic beverage while in countries like US and Europe, wine is always separated from alcohol for licensing procedures. In these countries, the retail price of wine is hardly 30-40% more than ex-winery prices while in India, the minimum is 100% and can go up to 300%, in certain States.

Considering the health benefits of wines and the fact that it is associated with food, the authorities should look at this potential and take measures to promote Indian wine industry.

The Bouvet-Ladubay products have been received extremely well in the markets of Mumbai and we have listings in prominent retail shops, fine-dining places and star hotels. The general impression has been that the quality of wines is extremely good and at a given price. Bouvet-Ladubay has won many international awards and the list is enclosed herewith. Bouvet has also been associated with Art and Theatre, sponsoring the “Festival d’Anjou”, the “Premiers Plans” festival (Deubut films festival) in Angers, Arcachon, Biarritz, Brest and Mont Doré and the Company has been present at The Cannes film festival for the last five years.

UB has plans to invest about 20 crores in the first year of operation will be and same will be scaled upto 80 crores in the course of 4-5 years.

Marketing plans are in position to grow the wine as a category as stated earlier. Packaging will be premium and the product/presentation will be to match international standards, he said.

UB has already recruited best professionals from the industry and the focus is to also attract the best talents in marketing/branding even from outside the trade to bring in innovative ideas.

With the launch of UB wines, the industry experts expect huge volumes offered to consumers, backed by big marketing and promotional expenditure in the industry which has a very low consumer base right now.

Diageo has already appointed Adrian Pinto, former marketing head of Sula Wines, to explore opportunities in the domestic market. Asif Adil, MD of Diageo India has already said that the Indian wine industry is in for great times ahead and Diageo wants to be a part of it. He, however, declined to outline a time frame for his entry into the domestic wine market.

Established players like Chateau Indage foresaw this development four years ago and had prepared themselves, says Arun Shah, director Indage.

“We were the only one to bear the cost for the last 15-20 years. Now that will be shared.