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December 2006 - Posts
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Wine in India seems to be coming of age (whatever that means), so it would be useful to know who the top Indian wine companies are.
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The largest, both by volume as well as valuation, would easily be Indage (or ‘Chateau Indage’, as they grandly like to term themselves). The pioneers of the wine industry in India with their wineries at Narayangaon (on the Pune – Nashik road), Indage launched the sparkling wine Marquise de Pompadour in 1986, Riviera soon after, and Chantilli in 1989. They were also the first to make ‘Bottled in India’ wines – since discontinued. Indage is likely to do 250,000 cases this year, having gone for volume with the launch (and aggressive pushing) of a range of low-cost wines (Vino, Vin Ballet, Figuera) that will be bottled on contract.
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Grover Vineyards was set-up near Bangalore in 1989 after the promoters tested soil and climatic conditions in various locations – including their native Maharashtra – and settled on the area north of Bangalore as being ideal. Their first wines were launched in 1992, and the company has remained remarkably focused on delivering good value – their La Reserve (a Cabernet Shiraz) was adjudged the best new world red wine by Steven Spurrier in the August 1995 issue of Decanter, so all those years of consulting Michel Rolland have surely paid-off. GV should do close to 100,000 cases this year, spurred by increased volumes from the launch of a low-cost wine ‘Sante’.
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Their wines caused a sensation when launched in 2000: Sula was the first marketing- savvy wine company, and Rajiv Samant has worked very hard to ensure it stays that way. His strategy was simple: give a better product at a higher price – thereby positioning his wares at an aspirational level for consumers. Sula is also the only Indian wine company to be present in all price and product segments, and should sell over 150,000 cases in 2006-07.
And so it would have stayed, had the Maharashtra government not set out a forward-looking ‘Grape Processing Industrial Policy 2001’ (it was still anathema to officially mention ‘wine’) – which liberalized the industry in that state, making it easier and cheaper to obtain a license to produce wine, and easier to sell the product. Today there are nearly 50 new wineries in Maharashtra – though most are small and sell either locally or within the state, a few are worth mentioning:
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Sankalp Wines was the first winery off the block under the new policy, and their Vinsura wines (launched in 2003) are now available throughout India. Despite being based in the Vinchur Wine Park outside Nashik (how the government mindset loves these schemes) they make a decent range of wines, and should sell some 15,000 cases this year.
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Renaissance Wines has a picture-book winery – a red-tiled hacienda-style building set amidst rolling vineyards outside Nashik. With excellent packaging and very drinkable wines, this new winery is already making converts wherever their eponymous wines have been launched; they have also reportedly entered into a bottling agreement with the UB Group.
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The fourth-largest winery in India is ND Wines – also located outside Nashik – which would have produced over 400,000 litres of wine in 2006 but sell the major portion of that to Sula, with only a very small quantity being bottled under their own label.
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Vintage Wines (again near Nashik) probably produce the best wine in India today – while their production is tiny (some 100,000 litres in 2006) their regular range
(Chenin Blanc, Syrah, Chardonnay & a Cabernet Sauvignon) sold under the Reveilo label has won critical acclaim, and is a ‘must try’.
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Mandala Valley is a Bangalore-based company that has produced its first wines in 2006 under contract in Maharashtra, at the Solapur-based Mohini Wineries. While still young, the wines are attractively packaged and imaginatively marketed, and should carve a niche. The company has reportedly set up vineyards in Karnataka, and will add to their present range soon.
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Flamingo Wines is the second winery in the Vinchur Wine park outside Nashik, and produces a reasonable range of wines – but has been struggling to establish sales & distribution and has sold little of their wines so far.
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The list cannot be complete without including Vinicola, in Goa, which makes a wide range of wines using traditional techniques, and sells the resulting product largely in Goa
- with a volume exceeding 75,000 cases annually, they would normally qualify as one of the largest wine companies in India.
There are many other new wine companies in the pipeline: the UB Group’s wine foray will take off and gather steam in 2007, as will ventures by people like Deepak Roy or Ranjit Dhuru. But more of that anon.
Alok Chandra
Bangalore
27th December 2006
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Mumbai, India (18th December, 2006) – Established in 2004, Under the umbrella of the new found company Globus Wines, a part of the Globus Vision group, is launching its revolutionary wines under the brand name called MIAZMA® on 20th December 2006.
Globus Wine’s grapes are produced in the sunny hills of Nasik, which is approximately 200 Kms north of Mumbai where light soil and year round sun makes this area an ideal choice for growing wine grapes. Nasik's favourable local conditions provide the intense fruity flavours in grapes required for making mouth-watering tastes and enjoyable wines. Not surprisingly, Nasik is India's biggest grape growing region in India.
The word Miazma that literally means mist and haze is undeniably a unique name and the brand affiliates itself with art and unconventional thoughts. The creators of Miazma believe that Wine is not only an art making process but it is the poison for an art lover, an admirer of art an arty individuals. The company has also designed its labels distinctively, backing their theory that art is closely linked with wine. Globus Wines is taking the non-traditional route in promoting the brand as a ‘’one of a kind’’ in the minds of the consumer.
The company has done ground breaking work for more than 2 years to produce wines that truly matches the spicy palate and is confident that MIAZMA® will out beat most expectations.
• Globus Wines is the first company in the world to ‘’formulate’’ Wines with Ethnic Food.
• First to cater to Spicy Palate with ‘’Indian’’ wines.
• First ‘’Indian Wine’’ company to gain true appreciation outside India for quality.
Globus Wines CMD and CEO, Karan Jain comments ‘’The strength and exclusivity of our brand ‘’MIAZMA®’’ lies in its sheer ability to present a taste that matches the spicy food pallet’’ Miazma® combines the Indian aromas beautifully to mesh with traditional Indian food that features the authentic Indian spices. Not only does Miazma® go well with Indian cuisine but also with all fare that has a dash of spice in it.
The company’s product range includes;
Reds:
Cabernet Sauvignon
Shiraz.
Whites:
Chenin Blanc
Sauvignon Blanc.
Yet another first is GPRI (Grape Processing Research Institute) and Globus Wines tie-up. A first of its kind in Asia. The countries largest research institute’s mission is two-fold: educate India’s winemakers of tomorrow; enhance livelihood of the farmers. Globus’s collaboration with Research institute ensures "the mother unit", which provides machines, technology, laboratory, manpower remains profitable allowing students and farmers to gain access to the demonstrations thereby helping them prepare for future.
Speaking from Globus Wines, Karan Jain states, ‘’ Our collaboration with GPRI allows our company to outsource our specifications and technical know-how to an institute that’s purely set-up to enhance the livelihood of farmers, their families and educate India’s future winemakers. It also gives Globus access to world-class equipments and local substance required to fuel growth in the near future, including very high quality grapes required for making premium wines. In all, it’s a win-wine situation for all parties involved right from the grape grower to the end-user’’.
From 20th December 2006 onwards, MIAZMA® will be available in Mumbai at all the leading retail outlets followed by A+ grade restaurants and institutions by early 2007. Miazma® is placed at the Premium end of Indian wine market priced between Rs 450 to 510 per bottle (Inc Taxes). Delhi, Goa and Bangalore are expected to receive the product by March 2007.
For more information please contact the company at info@globuswines.co.in or visit www.globuswines.co.in
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Gao December 5th 2006, Seagram India launched Nine Hills wines, varities including Cabernet Sauvignon (Rs 450) , Shiraz (Rs 450) , Sauvignon Blanc (Rs 450) and Chenin Blanc (Rs 400). Mr. Rukn Luthra General Manager- Business Development of Seagram informed us Seagram winery located near Nashik, This year Seagram produced around 10,000 cases of wines. All these wines are fully made in India with help of French Wine Maker Mr. Jean Manuel Jacquinot - master winemaker.
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By Reuters Monday December 4, 07:40 PM NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India is hoping to resolve through dialogue a trade dispute with the European Union over high import tariffs, its commerce minister said on Monday after a meeting with his visiting French counterpart. Last month, the European Commission said it was taking India to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in a dispute over New Delhi's high duties and taxes on wine and spirit imports. "The (French) minister has strongly raised the issue," Kamal Nath said at a joint news conference with Christine Lagarde. "I hope we will resolve this by dialogue and it won't have to reach the next stage of dispute settlement." Consultations at the WTO can last for 60 days but if no agreement is reached, Europe's complaint could eventually lead to retaliatory tariffs being imposed by the EU on Indian exports. For More information please visit Yahoo
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