Note: The following are the information provided by the Karnataka Wine Board.
Karnataka is one of the important states growing different wine varieties of Grapes. In Karnataka, the important Grape growing districts are considered as Nandi Valley and Krishna Valley. Grape cultivation requires heavy investment of capital. In addition, to produce grapes of high quality, the farmers have to put in hard efforts and additional investment. Nevertheless, the grape growers are always found to suffer from the variations in the prices of grape in the market and often fall into severe economic crisis. To over come this problem, there is need for value addition of the grapes and promoting grape products in both the local and the international markets. One such important product of grape is Wine. In Karnataka, there are plenty of opportunities for production of wine. The climatic conditions in the state are best suited for the production of grapes suited for wine making. There is a very good demand for wines both in local and international markets.
Compared to the other countries of the world, the rate of wine consumption is minimum in India. In our country, the rate of consumption of wine is growing at 25-30% per year. By providing congenial atmosphere to the wine industry, giving up the thinking that wine is an alcoholic beverage, and simplifying the taxation system, it is possible to boost the production and consumption of wines. By providing proper impetus to the wine production and marketing, it is possible for the farmers to get good remuneration to their produce. Farmers are going to come out of the market uncertainties, by linking grape production with wine processing. Since the export prospects for wine are huge, always there is an opportunity to get additional profit. With this background, there is a need for an integrated policy as related to production and marketing of wines in the state. Understanding the need for supporting wine production and marketing, the Government has declared a “Wine Policy” in the state.
Karnataka is one of the largest producers of table grapes in India, has two well established wineries one in Bangalore and another in Bijapur. In Karnataka the total wine sales in 2003-04 comprised 4.9 lakh litres which grew by 13 lakh litres in 2006-07 and 16.6 lakh litres in 2007-08. Karnataka Grape Wine Board is formed generally to promote the wine industry and to motivate the wine grape growers of Karnataka. Two potential regions have been identified for the development of wine industry, the regions are named into Krishna Valley which comprises Bijapur, Bagalkot and Bagalkot districts and Nandi Valley which comprises Bangalore Urban, Bangalore, Rural, Chikkballapur and Kolar Districts. Karnataka government has declared the grape wine production units as “Horticultural and Food Processing Industries”, and accordingly is liable to receive all the incentives and facilities that are meant for such industries.
Wine Board Establishment
• Setting up of Wine Board during November 2007.
• The constitution of the board will be as follows:
1. Dr.B.krishna, M.Sc(Horticulture), Ph.D
Managing Director (On picture)
2. Mr.B.Manjunath B.Sc(Horticulture), M.Sc. (Botany)
Manager
Office address
Karnataka Grape Wine Board
#78, KSBCL Office,
Seethalakshmi Towers,
Mission Road, Bangalore 27
The Objectives of the Board are as follows:
a) Inspection and control of Quality of grape crop.
b) Formulation of standards for quality of grape varieties suited for wine making, approval of the same and putting them into practice.
c) Rendering approval to labels to grape wines.
d) Devising and putting into action / implementation of various programmes and practices for the promotion of cultivation of wine grapes, wine industry, research, exhibitions, trade fairs, tour programmes and visits both within India and Abroad, sales of wines and market promotion.
• At present the total area under Grape Wine cultivation in Karnataka is around 600 acres and the total Grape Wine production is around 8 lakh litres.
• Karnataka state has two wineries.
a) Grover Vineyard in Dodballapur
b) Hampi Heritage in Bijapur
· Total Wine sales in Karnataka (including fortified Wine)
|
|
in lakh litres |
|
Source of Supply |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
|
Foreign |
0.8 |
1.2 |
|
Imported (Within the Country) |
3.4 |
3.9 |
|
Local (Within the state) |
8.9 |
11.5 |
|
Total |
13.1 |
16.6 |
• Total area increase in Grape Wine crop is going to reach around 1600 acres in the short time.
• Another 5 new wineries will be added to the Karnataka state in the year 2008-09.
Future plans of Wine Board:
1. To increase the area and production of Grape wine crop in Karnataka state by encouraging the large numbers of farmers.
2. Making Contract farming agreement compulsory to all the Grape Wine growers and should register in the Wine Board.
3. Creation of institutional support for farmers and industry to easily access technology support for cultivation of Grape Wine through IIHR, Bangalore and UAS, Dharwad.
4. Development of short term skill based training courses (Diploma and certificate courses) in Grape Wine cultivation and Industry.
5. To create database on Wine by developing the Wine Board website with all the advanced information on Wine cultivation and Wine industry.
6. Conducting promotional activities for creating awareness about Wine Grape Cultivation, Wine Production and Consumption. (Wine festival, Wine Tour, Seminars on Wine and Wine Etiquettes)
Proposed Wine Policy Part 1
Proposed Wine Policy Part 2
Sample Winery Project
Progress report Powerpoint Presentation (Download)