Americans will drink wine made from Indian blackberries
‘Non-grape wine’ (wine made from fruits other than grapes) made from Indian fruits has started making its own place in foreign markets. On one hand, while the pace of wine sales within the country is a bit slow, on the other hand, Indian wine manufacturers are tasting victory abroad. According to the latest data from trade think tank GTRI, wine exports from the country have reached a record $6.7 million in the first seven months of the current financial year. This is more than double compared to the same period last year.
800 boxes of wine sent to America
Recently, a special consignment has left for America from Mumbai, which has attracted the attention of the whole world. On Friday, 800 boxes of wine of ‘Curry Favour’ brand were sent to America. The special thing is that this wine is not made from grapes, but from blackberries. This wine prepared at Seven Peaks Winery in Nashik will soon be served in select restaurants in New York and New Jersey.
Ajay Shaw, a consultant associated with this project, says that despite the heavy taxes and duties in America, he had to keep his price competitive. Despite this, this deal is proving to be a win-win deal for both the importer and the manufacturer. This is the first time that Indian wine made from blackberries has been exported, which proves that Indian tastes are now going global.
Kashmiri apple and alphonso are also making their mark
The success story of Indian wine is not limited to berries only. Wine made from Kashmiri apple and Alphonso mango of Ratnagiri is also going across the borders. Pune-based Rhythm Winery is exporting its Alphonso Mango wine to Britain. At the same time, ‘L74 Craft Cider’ prepared from Kashmiri apples has also made its place in some specific areas of the British market.
Viticulturalist (expert in grape cultivation) Neeraj Aggarwal believes that there is immense potential for expansion in this category. He says that foreign tourists are always eager to try new tastes. This is the reason why the demand for ‘Made-in-India’ labels is increasing rapidly in countries like United Arab Emirates (UAE), Netherlands, China and France. The sales between April and October have even surpassed the estimated figures for the entire financial year 2024-25.
Getting success in foreign countries
However, this journey has not been entirely easy. Neeraj Aggarwal says that the domestic brand named ‘Reserva Jamun’ became quite popular during the Corona period, but it could not get long-term success in India. The wine market in India is growing, but Euromonitor International’s report shows that this growth is mainly due to foreign brands (imported labels).
The path is not easy for the entrepreneurs of North-East India also. Kiwi wine ‘Nara Aaba’, produced in the Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh, was showcased in China and Greece, but continued export proved difficult. Assam entrepreneur Akash Gogoi, who makes traditional rice wine ‘Xaj’, says that even after sending samples to Singapore in 2022, things did not work out. He clearly believes that unless the government provides subsidy or financial assistance, it is very difficult to survive in the international market. Despite this, this new trend is showing that if given the right support, Indian fruits can make their way into glasses around the world.
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