The Grapes Mela organised by the Horticultural Producers Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) has promised much more than just grapes. If things go right for the growers, Bangalore will become one day in the near future a destination for winery and vineyards.

The time appears to be just right to that eventuality that the wine policy is right in place with adequate policy support and the wine Board has also been constituted to help the growers to have their own wineries in their backyards. This scenario according to the chairman of the Wine Board Dr. Krishna would make Bangalore one of the largest producers of wine in the world in less than 10 years of time.

Karnataka grows 10 Indian varieties of grapes in a total area of 95,000 hectares and the annual output is to the tune of 1,80,000 Metric Tonnes. In addition, the growers in the city have been told by the French Grape varieties that the place is best suited for Wine making. Several French varieties of grape vines have been imported into the city for planting.

The Board had laid out elaborate plans to help the grape growers that incorporate contract farming. To help the farmers get the right price for their produce, the Board has announced a support price at Rs.45 per kilo and has advised the farmers to grow only those varieties which are suitable for wine making. The Board has also imported several French varieties including 'French Marlo' 'Chenin Blanc' Favinine Blanc' (Blanc in French language means White) 'Cabernet Sauvignon','Pinot noir', 'Merlot', 'Pimotage', 'Shiraz', 'Zinfandel', 'Chardonnay', 'Chenin Blanc', 'Uric Blanc', 'Sauvignon', 'Muscat' and 'White Riesling'.

The new varieties will yield 4.5 tonnes per acre which is more or less equivalent to the yield in France. He said over 200 acres have been brought under these varieties of grapes in Devanahalli, Doddaballapur and Gauribidanur taluks. Experts were also testing soil conditions in Kolar district.

A fine vineyard could be erected at Rs. 3.5 lakhs on an acre while it costs double that cost in other parts of the world. The soil testing units have been flooded with samples of soil and many of the samples have been found to be suitable for planting vine. There are already two companies and over 200 acres of vineyards were working under contract farming and soon Bangalore will have its own brand of wine in the market. The Board was also planning to hold 'Wine Fest' every year to lure international wine companies and consumers. According to figures available with the Wine Board the per-capita consumption of wine in Europe and USA was 60 litres per annum while in India it was an appalling 5 ml per person per year.

The Board is also planning to have a series of 'Taverns' only for marketing wine. These establishments can only sell wine and no other liquour. The Deputy Commissioners of all districts will be empowered to give licenses to the Taverns. As a pilot project the Wine Board will also set up a model Winery unit at Institute of Agricultural and Horticultural Research at Hesaraghatta that will impart training to the farmers to set up their own Wineries.

Chairman of the HOPCOMS, Munay Gowda, is confident of Bangalore's own exclusive variety, the 'Bangalore Blue' being suitable for Wine making. The HOPCOMs, will try to enthuse the growers to increase the acreage under Bangalore Blue variety but also set up their own Wineries. He said the Bangalore Blue variety was only suitable for making wine and it was the only chance for the grape growers to add value to their produce.


Source: Mangalorean.com