Nashik-based Good Drop Wine eyes overseas market

Nashik-based Good Drop Wine Cellars, a new entrant in wine business has expanded its product portfolio by launching new collection of sparkling wines. With this, the company is eyeing overseas market.

The new collection of sparkling wines is made in an Italian frizzante (semi-sparkling) style and is available at Rs 150 per pint (375ml). The new collection includes Rio Risso , Rio Bianco and Rio Rossa. These wines have a lower alcohol content of 9 per cent (compared to 13 per cent in normal wines).

Speaking on the occasion chartered accountant turned winemaker and director of Good Drop Wine Cellars Ashwin Rodrigues said, "I am confident that sparkling wines will grow in popularity in near future in India as it has done world over. Sparkling wines are livelier and have a different flavour profile as compared to still wines. Our winery in Nashik is has the first pre-engineered winery building in Maharashtra with a capacity of 3 lakh liters per year."

The company's target this year will be to sell 30,000 cases. At present the company sells its wines only in Maharashtra and Goa and wants to establish and consolidate before it ventures into other areas.

The company is also scouting the possibility of exporting these wines in 2013 to Asian and African countries which include China, Vietnam, Thailand, Kenya , Tanzania and Nigeria. "We are hoping to export at least two consignments of 800 cases each to two of these countries," said Rodrigues. According to Rodrigues, the idea is to popularise wine drinking and make wine a mass market product in India. Sparkling wines are typically seven per cent of the total wine market, amounting to 70,000 cases for India, 8,000 for Mumbai and 5,000 for Pune. The total wine market is around one million cases. The category is growing at a fast rate of more than 20 per cent.

He further added, "We will also launch a champagne style packaged wine made in a Charmat style aged on lees (process of fermentation). We are planning to introduce new collection in 750 ml and 375 ml bottle priced at Rs 750 and Rs 400 each respectively."

The company launched its first wine in 2011 and had sold about 50,000 litres. The company has witnessed annual growth of 40 per cent from then and had sold 1 lakh liters in 2012.