Following Bacchus

Oenophiles can now look forward to a guided trip around a vineyard of their favourite Indian wine. In an effort to promote wine tourism and to increase awareness of domestic, Tulleeho Portals Ltd plans to organise a series of wine trails in the country.

For starters, the Delhi-based company, which runs a community website (tulleeho.com) for drinkers, has tied up with Grover Vineyards in Karnataka. On February 12 and 22, it is organising two separate Tulleeho Wine Trails in the 210-acre Grover Vineyards.

According to Tulleeho co-founder, Vikram Achanta, the Grover Vineyards trail is only the beginning of wine tourism in the country. The idea is to generate interest among wine aficionados and boost demand for Indian wines. "We are already in the process of initiating wine tourism in Maharashtra and we're in touch with Sula Wines to organise a similar Tulleeho wine trails," he says. Tulleeho is expected to approach Chateau Indage, the other major wine producer too.

The company's first wine trail will be conducted at the Grover vineyards, located at the foot hills of Nandi Hills in Dodballapur, 45 km from Bangalore.

At Grover's, visitors will get to see the vineyard bursting with fruit before the March harvest. Tourists can also look forward to a crash course on what makes a perfect terroir for wine growers. On the trail, they could also learn to differentiate between their white and sparkling wine as well as vitis vinifera and ordinary grapes.

On the itinerary is a visit to the cellar where the company's premium La Reserve matures in oak casks. What's more, they could get to sample Grover's different wines at the winery.

Grover Vineyards, which has a joint collaboration with Veuve Clicquot, a champagne house that's part of the LVMH group, currently produces five wine brands "" La Reserve, Cabernet Shiraz, Shiraz Rose, Blanc de Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. Sauvignon Blanc began retailing in Bangalore and Mumbai two weeks ago. Hindustan Export & Import Corporation, the company that owns Grover Vineyards, currently produces 500,000 bottles a year and exports 30 per cent of its produce.

"We plan to grow by 20 per cent every year. We use exclusive varieties of wine grapes. And the wine trail will definitely create an awareness of our products," says Abhay Kewadkar, wine maker and vice president of Grover Vineyards.

Though the wine trail will focus on the vineyard and a tour around the fermenting and bottling facilities, a visitor will also get a short session on wine appreciation and learn to read a wine label. "Our effort is a response to the market needs. We have been getting enquiries during our bartending workshops lately," says Achanta.

Tulleeho Portals, in the past, has organised 30 bartending workshops, including wine appreciation courses. The company's website, tulleeho.com, was set up in 1990 with the support of Passionfund and offers marketing and promotional services to liquor companies.

The Tulleeho Wine Trail will start from Bangalore and the invitation fee is Rs 1,250 for the first trail per person and Rs 1,000 per person in a group of four and more. The fee takes care of airconditioned transport, complimentary wine and lunch at Angsana, a resort near the vineyards.