MIDC in pact with Italian wine body

Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) and Centuria Enotica Regionale, CATEV & CRPV from Italy's Emillia Romagna region, have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up a research and training centre at the National Grape Research Institute in Pune.

The institute will help Indian grape growers and vineyard owners improve farming practices, adopt latest technologies in wine manufacturing and increase the quality of Indian wine to bring them up to international standards.

Centuria is an association of grape growers and wine makers from province of Emillia Romagana, which contributes substantially to the country's wine production.

Centuria carries out the research and training activities and represents the interests of grape growers and manufacturers at an international level.

Addressing the press conference after MoU was signing ceremony, MIDC CEO Rajiv Jalota said: "Nine and a half million litres of wine is produced annually in India. Of this, 95 per cent is produced in Maharashtra and there is tremendous potential to increase the state's wine production and other grape products like grape concentrates, raisins and other grape products."

"However, to increase the production of wine and improve the quality of wine to meet international standards, we need to collaborate with the best in the business. That's why we have linked up with Emillia Romagna," said Jalota.

Under the agreement, the centre will research issues like varieties of wine grapes suited to India, how to maximise production and reduction of pesticide residue on grapes.

The centre will also train farmers in modern grape cultivation techniques used by European farmers and winery owners will be trained in the latest techniques and technologies used in wine production in Italy, said Jalota.

Sauro Mezzetti of the Indo-Italian Chamber of commerce while speaking with Business Standard said, "Currently Indian wine manufacturers are experimenting with all kinds of wine varieties right from sparkling wines, spit wines to red wines etc. But they have to identify key varieties, whose production is suited to the Indian climate."