Wine produced from grapes grown near Nandi Hills will be available in French hotels and restaurants.
It’s a wine grower’s ultimate dream, to retail and be accepted in France - the mecca of wine world; and a Bangalore-based wine growing firm is doing just that.
In a measure of how far Indian wines have come, hotels and retail outlets in France will soon start stocking Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet and Shiraz Rose - all varieties of wines produced from the grapes-growing regions located near Nandi Hills. The wines will retail in hotels, restaurants and retail outlets abroad having an India connect.
“We plan to export 15,000 cases to France by the end of this financial year,” said Sumedh Singh Mandla, CEO, Grover Zampa Vineyards. He adds that another 10,000-15,000 cases would be exported to Italy, the UK, China, Singapore, Germany and other countries by March 2014.
One case consists of 12 bottles or 9 litres of wine, with each bottle containing 750 ml.
“We are also looking at exporting to the US and Canada,” says Mandla.
According to experts, France and Italy are keen to experiment with Indian wines. “The very fact that France accepts our wine reflects the high quality and taste attached to it,” says Mandla.
France and Italy are the two largest wine producers globally. Both are known to individually produce over 4.5 billion litres per year. Both the countries also consume a lot of wine.
Per capita consumption in France and Italy is anywhere between 45-55 litres per year. In contrast, the per capita consumption in India is a minuscule 10-12 ml per year.
Industry experts say wine tourism is an important factor that helps in sale. About 80% of the sale in France and Italy happens during wine tours, says Mandla.
Raise a toast
As per statistics from the All India Wine Producers Association, India produces 15 million litres per annum.
Consumption in India was around 1.1 crore (litres) in 2008. It is expected to be 7.2 crore (litres) by 2020.
Wine is consumed most in metros. With 37% of total consumption happening in Mumbai, followed by Delhi (25%), Bangalore (12%), Goa (10%) and other cities at 16%.
Indian wines can cost anywhere from Rs75 per 750 ml (port wines), to even Rs1,700 per 750 ml (super-premium wines).
Area under grape cultivation was 10,000 acres in 2008, and will grow to 21,000 acres by 2020. Maharashtra (Nashik), Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh is where most grape cultivation happens.
The wine industry was estimated to be worth Rs1,050 crore in 2008. By 2020, it is expected to be worth around Rs10,000 crore.
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