Leading importers - II

THE WINE CLUB

Interestingly, Sula (the Indian wine producer) would probably rank quite high among wine importers with a likely volume of about 10,000 cases this year.

Rajiv Samant has handpicked one winery each from the principal wine-producing countries internationally "" what they term as "Sula Selections", and targets both retail shops as well as hotels and fine-dining restaurants.

Sula's portfolio of imported wines includes Two Oceans from South Africa; Hardy's from Australia; a lovely range from the house of Ruffino, Italy; Trimbach, JC Le Roux and Fortant from France; and sake from Sho Chiku Bai, Japan.

Also among the largest wine importers, with a volume of about 10,000 cases would be Moet Hennessy India, whose portfolio largely consists of wines from wineries actually owned by the parent company LVMH.

Moet Hennessy is, of course, best-known as the largest champagne company in the world "" their line-up in India includes Dom Perignon, Krug, Veuve Cliquot and Moet Chandon Brut. Their still wines include Terrazas from Argentina, Casa Lapostolle from Chile, Green Point and Cape Mentelle from Australia, and the amazing Cloudy Bay wines from New Zealand.

Also making waves of late is Sovereign Impex of Delhi, which was set up only three years ago by NRI Naresh Uttamchandani, and which should have done about 5,000 cases. Naresh specialises in Chilean and Italian wines, and his portfolio includes Valdivieso and Santa Ema (Chile), Lungarotti, Pio Cesare, Folonari and Mastroberardino (Italy), and the Wildekrans Wine Estate of South Africa.

There are a few "old stalwarts": importers who have a history of supplying imported beverages and condiments to the embassies, airport shops, airlines and ship chandlers, and who since 2003 have expanded their clientele to the duty-free business from hotels. These include the Mohan Brothers, Delhi. Rohit Mehra "" brother of Mukul Mehra of GTF "" comes from an old Delhi family and has been involved in this business for years.

RR International has bonds in both Delhi and Mumbai "" Vinod Garg deals in a variety of imports, including wines. Ghaio Mull & Sons also operate out of Delhi, and have been in this business since 1910. Sumit Munjral operates Munjral Brothers, and apart from their own wines (Castel of France) provide logistics support for Pernod Ricard.

Last (but not least), it would be useful to mention a clutch of young turks: new start-ups who are slogging it out with the big guys for market share in niche areas: Sumedh Mandla of Brand Wagon (Mumbai), who has a big list of good wines, including Brokenwood and Yering Station (Australia); Bava, Montresor and Fettoria del Cerro (Italy); Georges Duboeuf (France) and Marques de Murrita (Spain).

Jackie Matai floated Aspri Spirits in Mumbai a few years ago, and apart from Absolut Vodka has landed the De Bortoli, Sacred Hill and Windy Peak wineries of Australia as well as Campari and Cinzano from Italy.

The Francis Wacziarg Group in Delhi is an offshoot of the Neemrana Group of hotels "" when I last checked they had a goodly list of wines, including Fontanilles, Louis Chantel, Lanson and Listel (France) and Inglenook & Paul Masson from California.

Of course, there are many other wine importers in India "" after all, although the present consumption of imported wines is only about 1,50,000 cases, "it's early days as yet" and one can confidently forecast a growth of 25 per cent-plus for the foreseeable future. The growth rate will accelerate with reduction in customs duties "" it's a question of when, not if.

Here's toasting the future of imported wines in India "" Salut!

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alok@gryphonbrands.com