Maharashtra grape wine exports up 25 per cent

In addition to production of grape wine, Maharashtra has taken big strides in exporting it as well. The state has doubled its exports of grape wine in the last four years. It has posted 25 per cent increase in exports of grape wine from last year, earning foreign currency amounting to Rs 3.90 crore.

Currently, total production of grape wine in India is 62.14 lakh litres. Of which, Maharashtra accounts for as much as 54.64 lakh litres, with 32 per cent coming from Nashik district alone.

Growth in grape wine exports from Maharashtra is about 25 per cent. Of the country's total 38 wineries, Maharashtra's share is 36, including 18 in Nashik, eight in Sangli, seven in Pune and three in Solapur.

"In the fiscal 2001-02, Maharashtra had exported 75,000 litres of grape wine. In the next fiscal - 2002-03 - grape wine exports of the state rose to 1 lakh litres and to 1.25 lakh litres in 2003-04. It grew to 1.50 lakh litres in 2004-05, up 25 per cent rise from the earlier year," Jaideep Kale, technical coordinator, Grape Wine Park, MIDC, said.

"Currently, India is importing 72,000 wine cases (nine litres=one case) per year. About 32,000 of these are 'bottled in origin' and other 40,000 cases are imported in bulk flexi bags, which are subsequently bottled by Indian wineries. Besides this, about 12,000-15,000 wine cases are sold through grey markets," he said.

The Indian wine market is way behind heavy wine-drinking countries like France with consumption at 42 litres per person per year, Italy 50 litres, and China 375 ml. In India, consumption of wine per person per year is literally just a sip, that's of 4.5 ml.

However, the Indian market has been growing at about 20 per cent annually and is expected to grow at this rate for the next five-six years. This is in keeping with the world trends, according to a recent survey by Rabo India Finance.

Today, Maharashtra is exporting about 1.50 lakh litres of wine (worth Rs 3.90 crore) to France, Italy, Germany, US, UK and Singapore. Nearly 80 per cent of sales of premium wine come from four cities - Delhi, Mumbai, Panaji and Bangalore.