Three day wine festival opens

: A three-day wine festival, jointly organised by the Karnataka Wine Board and the Horticulture Department, began here today.
"The festival is expected to witness participation by a total of 12 wineries showcasing over 150 brands," Wine Board Chairman Ravindra Shankara Mirje told reporters here.
The board will showcase the state's wine heritage at the festival in order to popularise the wine culture and create awareness on the health benefits of drinking wine, he said.
The board had been promoting wineries in Karnataka to support grape growers and has drawn up plans to promote them as part of its drive to popularise wine culture.

The 'grape stampede',where visitors are given a chance to crush grapes at the venue,will be the highlight of the event.
There would also be demonstrations, exhibitions and sale of wine at a 10 per cent discounted rate.
Besides wine, food courts to facilitate food pairingwith wine, music, entertainment and cultural programmes wouldbe held as part of the festival.