Introduced by Chairman of John Distilleries Ltd, Mr. Paul P. John, in the presence of Chief Winemaker Lucio Matricardi, Rosa Rossa (Zinfandel Rosé wine) and Bellissima (Late Harvest Muscat Dessert Wine) are the new offering from JDL

Mumbai, 8th July 2010: Big Banyan, premium wines from JDL, today announced the launch of two premium wines under the Big Banyan brand. Rosa Rossa (Meaning “Pink Rose” in Italian) (Zinfandel Rosé wine) and Bellissima (Meaning “Beautiful” in Italian) (Late Harvest Muscat Dessert Wine) were launched by the Chairman Mr. Paul. P. John in the presence of Chief Winemaker, Mr. Lucio Matricardi. These wines have been painstakingly crafted to suit the ever evolving taste of Indian wine consumers that seek an international style of wine and packaging.

According to Mr. Paul John, Chairman, John Distilleries Ltd, “John Distilleries Ltd. is proud to expand the Big Banyan brand through these new varieties. Today’s well travelled Indian consumer is forever willing to experiment different palates and we are passionate about providing our patrons an exhaustive range to select from. Our premium wines are created after a lot of in-depth research and we are confident of offering a variant suitable for any food pairing. It is our constant endeavour to introduce the most exquisite wines to the discerning Indian wine lover.”

Furthermore, Big Banyan Wines will soon be launching, Big Banyan Shiraz Reserve, Vintage 2008, the grapes for which have been selected by Master Winemaker, Lucio Matricardi, conferring to stringent standards & have undergone the transformation from grape to the nectar of a wine. This wine has been aged in oak barrels for a minimum of one year.

Said Chief Winemaker Lucio Matricardi, “I am delighted by the opportunity to make Big Banyan wines. Mr. Paul John and I have had detailed discussions and decided that we will develop wines giving immense respect to what best grape varietals can be grown in India with the help of world class viticulture practices that we can bring. We respect the evolution of the Indian wine consumer and aim to give her a world class wine – one which will remain Indian at heart. In my various interactions with consumers here I am extremely satisfied by the welcome and response we have received.” With the latest introduction of a Rose and Bellissima dessert wine (which is the first dessert wine in India to be made from the Muscat grape), the company will now have 7 single varietals wine; 2 whites (Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc), a rose (Rosa Rossa), 3 reds (Zinfandel, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon) and a dessert (Bellissima Late Harvest Muscat).

Since its launch in 2007, Big Banyan has been doing intensive research to produce the finest quality of wine and the company today boasts of an impressive array of the most premium wines available for its consumers. Big Banyan wines believe in the philosophy that a great wine can be made only with great grapes and to lay foundation for best viticulture practices, Big Banyan has, on the expert panel, Signor Luca Toninato, an acclaimed viticulturist, also associated with the University of Milan. The grapes are now primarily sourced from choicest, rigorously tested vineyards of the company in Ramnagaram.

Big Banyan Wines has a state of the art winery in Goa with an existing 2 lakh litre capacity (22,200 X 9 litre cases) with specialised Italian equipments (crushers, press, pumps, bottling lines) and multi purpose tanks. Manufacturing in Karnataka is expected to begin by 2011 whereas plans are also afoot to explore presence in various markets in North, North East and Maharashtra in line with other brands of JDL. The company understands that government policies and levies at various state levels are in a fluid state and is confident of the role that policy makers will play in the positive development for the wine industry and hence will strategize on expansion based on the same. The company is also exploring presence at various price points and premium value propositions to be able to offer a wider range to its consumers.

About Big Banyan Wines: Big Banyan wines get their name from The Big Banyan Tree, also known as Dodda Haladhamara in Kannada, ar ancient tree near Bangalore, where the corporate headquarters of the group is located. The brand name and the logo symbolize a proud Indian company committed to offering international standard wine for the discerning Indian palate. Big Banyan wines are made with Italian technical collaboration on two fronts; Mr. Lucio Matricardi for wine making and enology (Master Wine maker and chief winemaker of Mezzacorona, one of the largest wineries in Italy) and Mr.Luca Toninato (Master Viticulturist and research associate in the viticulture department of the University of Milan)

About John Distilleries Limited: John Distilleries Limited was established in 1992 by Paul P. John as a company manufacturing Indian Made Foreign Liquor, is now the 14th largest liquor brand in the world. John Distilleries Limited has since grown to be the 5th largest liquor company in India in terms of volume. Within a decade the company has rapidly grown and spread across the South, West and North of India and is today one of India’s strongest and focused leaders in the IMFL industry. Today JDL has over 2000 people joining hands under its banner to make it one of the fastest growing Alcoholic Beverages Company in India. The company’s flagship brand, Original Choice, is amongst the leading brands in Southern India, rapidly gaining market share in other states. It is the third largest brand of Indian Whisky with 10 million cases annually. Having an already established distribution and sales network, backed by considerable expertise in the IMFL ecosystem, John Distilleries Limited in now on an aggressive growth path and is poised to make an entry into several new liquor categories catering to a more discerning consumer base.