Domestic wine brands are seen as inferior to imported wines in India. Imported wines are preferred for gifting too, as it is considered a status symbol. Consequently, good quality home-grown brands do not get mass appeal, according to a study -- "India Wine Insider 2017”, a survey of the urban Indian wine consumer released on Tuesday by Sonal Holland, Master of Wine and Founder of the Sonal Holland Wine Academy.Domestic wines don’t score high for personal consumption as well. They are considered ‘value for money’ or in other words cheap. Hence, they are not preferred for gifting or for a party. This is contrary to some good wines produced by a few wine producers in the country, says Holland.According to the report, it is largely a domestic wine-driven market with low frequency of wine purchases and relatively lower spending on wine that drives the Indian market because consumers are price sensitive. Price remains the most important choice cue for consumers. Other important choice cues when choosing wine are familiarity of brand name, country of origin and the colour of wine.

Consumers’ understanding of wine is limited; however, awareness and consumption are positively related. Other than colour, there is very little involvement with other wine styles; names of regions and grape varieties remain under-developed cues. This points to the nascence of the wine market in India, and the scope for educating and involving the consumer, the survey said.Another interesting trend highlighted in the survey was that a large number of consumers, around 50 percent, prefer ordering wine by the glass in restaurants. Consumers are price conscious. Wines are largely sold in the range of Rs 600 and Rs 2,000 for a bottle. However, restaurants sell wines not less than Rs 300 and Rs 350 a glass. At fine dining and five star restaurants, the prices are very steep. Consumers prefer to guzzle it by the glass than buy a bottle though the latter works out economical.Women are now willing to buy wine in a big way and also as frequently as men, reveals the report. Women form an important segment increasingly and hence should not be ignored by wine producers in the country.  

They are willing to buy wines 10 to 15 percent  in the Rs 600 to Rs 1,500 price bracket unlike men, finds the survey.A reason for women preferring to drink wine is the perception that it is a healthy option. “Women feel less inhibited to drink wine in cultures that look down upon consumption of hard liquor,” says Holland. There is this perception among women, said Holland, that wine is a healthy drink with some claiming it improves skin, hair, et al.Wine production in India, though still at a nascent stage, is likely to reach 37 million litres by 2018 from 17 million litres estimated in 2015, according to a study.The year-on-year growth rate has clocked five percent, according to the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham). "Clocking a CAGR of about 20 percent, wine consumption in India is likely to reach about 37 million litres by 2018 from the level of 18 million litres as of 2014," the study said.Mumbai leads in wine consumptionWhile Mumbai remains India’s largest wine consumption market, Delhi shows an evolved culture with higher share consumption of international wines over domestic wines, coupled with a higher propensity for wine spends than Mumbai.

Bangalore and Pune are vibrant wine markets. Consumers in these two cities show equal preference for both domestic and international wines across a range of styles, regions and varieties; willingness to pay higher price points, pointing to a rapidly emerging wine culture.Goa, on the other hand, displays a preference for consuming wines largely at home with high prevalence of inexpensive Indian wines in their drinking portfolio, the survey reveals.Younger consumers represent a promising market segment for the wine industry. good tasting wine coolersContrary to popular trade belief that the younger segment does not know how to appreciate wine, the study reveals that 25-34 year olds are purchasing wine as often as the older consumers. best wine classes nyc 2015They show a strong preference for international wines over domestic wines and drink wines to appear classy, sophisticated and intelligent. best red wine italian food

Their positive attitude towards wine and aspiration to drink better quality wines positions them as tomorrow’s frequent, loyal wine drinkers."There is more awareness needed of wine producers in the country. Also, wine lists in restaurants have to go beyond a few wines to more varieties and better selections, said Holland, adding that the Indian wine industry is relatively new and will take some years to mature.The survey was conducted across 879 consumers (half of it in women) in five centres -- Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and Goa, aged over 25 years and permanent residents of India in the 'A' category social economic status who consumed wine at least once in six months.best wine to go with seafoodRelaxing in an open meadow with a glass of your favourite wine sounds alluring. best wine hotels ukIndia has an age-old history with wines. wine on tap system

Wine making in India started around 5,000 years ago. The tradition of making wine started during the Mughal rule.  At present, India is home to some of the finest vineyards in the world. Every year, thousands of wine lovers visit these vineyards to taste their favourite blend of wine and experience the art of wine manufacturing. These wine tours are gaining popularity with wine connoisseurs all over the world. We cannot talk about wine tours in India without mentioning some of our excellent home grown vineyards.best buy wine storage Among all the vineyards in Nashik, Sula Vineyards are the pioneers. top wine names in indiaStarted in 1997, the name and fame of Sula Vineyards has become prominent among wine lovers in India as well as abroad.best wine tasting in the south

Every year, Sula Vineyards offers wine connoisseurs an opportunity to cherish the taste of an eclectic variety of wines. Since the last few years, Sulafest has become one of the most popular wine tours in India and its admirers call it ‘The Mecca of Wines’. [Wondering what to pair with your wine? Take up Rajasthan cuisine cooking classes!] When wine is mixed with groovy music among a crowd of several thousand party-people, the fun and enjoyment will know no bounds! Sulafest is the perfect event that can and will surely fulfil this desire of wine lovers. In fact, Sulafest can be considered as the wine carnival of India. This world-class winery is the perfect destination for wine tourism in India. Apart from exquisite parties and other varieties of wine, Sula Vineyards offer much more to visitors. A luxury three-bedroom bungalow, ‘Beyond’ and an Italian restaurant with some of the best chefs in the country make the Sula vineyards one of the best destinations for a luxury wine tour in India.

The event is organised in the early part of February and is visited by wine lovers from most of the corners of the world. Music plays an important role in this fest. DJs, musicians, rock bands, and music enthusiasts throng this place every year and create a history of wine touring in India. Apart from the Sulafests, wine tasting takes place all through the year in the Sula vineyards. The vineyard has well experienced tour guides who give a detailed description of winemaking to visitors. However, the harvest and crushing sessions can be enjoyed only between January and March. The wine tasting session runs from 11.30 am to 5.30 pm. The session takes place every hour between the tour timings. Photo credit: Ipshita Bhattacharya - flickr Narayangaon, is synonymous to wine making in India. It has mastered the art of winemaking in India and is a perfect destination for wine tours. The Chateau Indage vineyards in Narayangaon are among the pioneers of the wine industry in India.

Located on the outskirts of Narayangaon; 85 km from Pune, Chateau Indage Vineyards is the perfect name for the lovers of red, white and sparkling wines. These vineyards produce the best variety of Chantilly wines in the world. On a whole, the Chateau Vineyards produces 32 different varieties of wines. Some of the varieties of wines that can be found in these vineyards are Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Malbec, Viognier, Grenache, Akravati, Arkeshyam, Ugni Blanc, Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Zinfandel, Muscadet, Semillon and Chenin Blanc. [Learn more about spices on a tour in Kerala's spice plantation] On every weekend, the Chateau Indage vineyards organises a 30-minute tour of the vineyards. This tour includes tasting of some of the best varieties of Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon. These vineyards are also the first and only producers of the bottle-fermented wines in Asia; they are the ninth in the entire world. The vineyard has a wine shop within the premises that offers the tasting of different wines at affordable prices.

The presence of guesthouses with luxury living rooms, restaurants serving exotic and tropical menus and excellent bars and lounges makes Chateau Indage an ideal destination for wine touring in India. The other name in the list of luxury wine tours in India is the Chateau d’Ori. Embedded with some of the finest methods of winemaking in the world, this 200-acre vineyard has three artificial lakes for boating and watersports, luxury farmhouses with jacuzzi, swimming pools and excellent wine tasting lounges. The Chateau d’Ori has the largest Merlot plantation in India. The other varieties that are produced in these vineyards are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, and Chardonnay.  The ambience of wine touring in the vineyards of Chateau d’Ori is an experience of lifetime. Already a winner of several national and international awards, the Chateau d’Ori vineyards are becoming one of the popular names among the wine lovers. [Good wine goes with good food.

Find out more about the cooking classes we offer!] The use of fertilizers and pesticides are strictly prohibited in the vineyards of Chateau d’Ori. The environment inside the vineyard has been developed in an eco-friendly way. Windmills, generating power from the natural wind, cleanliness, and the picturesque beauty of the vineyards make them an ideal destination for wine tourism in India. Chateau d’Ori vineyards are located in Nheira-Ori hills at Dindori and are around 22 km from the wine capital, Nashik. Photo credit: Sandip Bhattacharya - flickr When it comes to wine tours in India, the Victorian Bangalore emerges as one of the best names for wine touring destinations. The pleasant weather and favourable conditions for grape cultivation allow Bangalore to produce some of the best quality grapes in the country. These vineyards are located at the foothills of Nandi Hills; around 40 km from the IT hub. The slanting lands in this region of Bangalore are perfect for cultivating fine quality grapes.

The natural conditions prevailing in this region are ideal for the cultivation of Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc grapes. These vineyards are among the best producers of red, white, and rose wines in India. [Enjoy scenic views of the vineyards and paddy hills as you cycle to Nandhi Hills] One of the most visited holiday destinations in Karnataka, Nandi Hills is fast becoming one of the top-notch avenues for the wine lovers. Filled with natural beauty and the reflections of history, this part of Bangalore has been a favourite wine touring destination for the last three decades. The pleasant atmosphere and the highly rich natural beauty around the Grover vineyards are encouraging the luxury wine tours in India. Grover Vineyard also arranges personalised wine tours. These tours can be arranged by contacting the officials of the vineyards. [Know about the history and tradition of Bangalore with Traditional Bengaluru Walk] Normally, the tours start at 10.30 am.

Visitors are allowed to take their own vehicles into the winery. After a brief instruction on the manufacturing process of wines, the wine tour will start. Visitors are also allowed to spend some time by themselves and take photographs. Detailed knowledge about fermentation, crushing, filtering, bottling, and packaging are given to the visitors. The wine tasting session takes place for nearly 60-90 minutes. The journey from Mumbai to the wine capital, Nashik, is extremely pleasant. For wine lovers, this journey will not be complete without visiting the Vallee de Vin vineyards. Located on the Mumbai-Nashik highway, between Igatpuri and Nasik, the Valle de Vin vineyards are one of the new names in the list of wine tours in India. [Explore lush green plantations on an eco tour in Kerala] The wineries of Valle de Vin vineyards started producing wines in 2006. The main attraction of these vineyards is the Zampa wine. The other varieties produced in these vineyards include chenin blanc, sauvignon blanc, cabernet sauvignon, shiraz, and sparkling rose and brut.

The atmospheric balance of the climate, the pleasant beauty of the vineyards, the never-ending rows of lush green plantations are encouraging wine touring in this vineyard and the number of visitors are increasing every year. The guided tours to the vineyard start between 11 am-5 pm. The tour is available on both weekdays and weekends; the tour lasts for nearly 40-50 minutes. However, if not in the mood of tasting the wines, the visitors do not have pay for the tour.around 175 km away from Pune, Fratelli Wines is also one of the hotspots for wine admirers. The quality and blend of Fratelli Wines has successfully earned the title of being one of the best destinations for wine tourism. The vineyards of Fratelli Wines thrive on their mystical location. The serene beauty of these vineyards is often compared with the European vineyards and is an ideal destination for wine tourism, making it one of the best locations amongst wine tours in India. These vineyards produce some of the finest quality red, white, rose, and port wines in the country.