Educative, enjoyable and fascinating for oenophiles, wine tourism is a burgeoning business. Here, KSN Raju sheds some light on the growing trend in India.
Wine tourism is all about tasting, consumption or purchase of wine either from the source or from near the source. This form of tourism may comprise visits to vineyards, wineries and restaurants that offer distinct vintages.
It may also include a visit to wine festivals or any such related events. There are several wine regions across the globe, which have found it profitable to promote wine tourism and several countries across the world are now promoting wine tourism.
Indian wine tourism is in its infancy on the tourism circuit. Presently, it is highly popular in the Nasik region. There is much interest among the young population who want to know how the wine is produced. But infrastructure is still not ready in other parts of India.
Mainly we have to make visits to the winery, explain the different wine processes and also conduct wine tastings. Wine tourism is one of the best ways to increase wine sales, which in turn helps farmers and promotes the winery simultaneously.
The government is initiating and encouraging wine purchase in the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Places like Pune, Nasik, Bangalore, Belgaum and Bijapur are amongst the more well known wine destinations in India.
Nandi Valley Winery, which is owned by us, has promoted wine trips and wine classes at a very reasonable price to educate people about the benefits of wine consumption, storage and usage.
Wine tourism is poised to compete with other tourism themes. India specifically has a huge potential for which individual companies and wine boards need to be prepared. People who have travelled abroad and experienced wine tourism in countries like France, Spain and Australia are keen to experience the same back home in India.
Wine tourism is one of the best ways to take the traveller off the regular track for a vineyard trip to taste, buy and learn about wines and in that process get an insight of the lives of farmers, their food habits and culture.
Nandi Valley Winery, one of few wineries, proactively transformed wineries with inns/hotels for wine lovers to spend time in the scenic vineyards while learning to swirl, sniff and sip.
The successful blend of wine and travel has opened wine regions to global tourists and in turn improved the overall lifestyle, support services and economic growth of the residents.
Bangalore, known as an IT hub, has also established itself for rich wine produce. Karnataka Wine Board has planned out a three day wine festival here, to boost wine tourism in the state. During this festival, wine connoisseurs from all over the world can taste Indian wines and attend seminars and conferences on wine production.
