Nestled amidst paddy fields by the Cauvery, Alpine Wineries is Karnataka's latest vineyard with state-of-the-art winery, and its effort has also helped the region get Cauvery Valley, the appellation (a protected name under which a wine can be sold) by the Karnataka government.

Third valley

While the winery’s founder Raghavendra Gowda started the spadework for the the 247-acre vineyard at Holesalu village in T. Narasipura taluk, Mysore in 2005-2006, the work on getting the appellation also started simultaneously. Months before the first bottles hit the market, the government acknowledged Cauvery valley as an appellation region, the third in the State after Nandi Valley and Krishna Valley.

The winery currently has the capacity to process 8 lakh litres, which can be expanded to 15 lakh litres. The Bordeaux-based Stephane Derenoncourt, one of the famous winemakers, was roped in to make the best wine from Cauvery valley. Currently, Alpine Wineries offers shiraz, cabernet shiraz, sauvignon blanc and chenin blanc, while it is set to introduce seven more varieties in 2013-2014. “The new introduction will be very different,” says Mr. Gowda. He is already working on projects like wine tourism, restaurant, shop, sommelier school and so on.

More: The Hindu