Four Seasons Wines Limited (FSWL), a subsidiary of UB Group’s spirits arm United Spirits Limited (USL), has cornered a 26 per cent share in Andhra Pradesh’s wine market within six months of the launch of its products, according to company director Abhay Kewadkar.
Kewadkar said FSWL was presently selling 300 cases of wine a month in the state, worth about Rs 25 lakh. Its main competitor, Sula Wines, however has around 40 per cent of the market share.
He said the company would now leverage the distribution strength of USL and make available its Zinzi and Four Seasons brand of wines across the state. It would also launch Blush and Reserve range of wines in the state by the middle of next year.
Though there was good response to FSWL red and white wines, Kewadkar said, “It is not a rosy picture for wine as a category.” There was a need for a change in state government policies for the wine market to take off.
For instance, he said, there was no excise duty on wines in Maharashtra. Consequently, FSWL wines were priced around Rs 400 for a 650 ml bottle, whereas the price of the same bottle in AP stood around Rs 650.
The area under wine yards has gone up in Maharashtra with the state government supporting the wine industry.
The same could happen in AP if the government extended its support. A representation has already been made to the AP government by the grape growers in this regard, Kewadkar added.