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2016 Wine Grape Harvest Begins at Sula Vineyards
January, 2016: The wine grape harvest got underway on December 16th at Sula Vineyards, the country’s
largest wine producer.
“This year we will crush close to 13,000 MT of grapes, up 20% from 2015. Total farmer payments will
cross Rs. 50 crores” said Sula CEO Rajeev Samant. “The grapes will come from across Maharashtra at our
three wineries here, and from across Karnataka for our Karnataka winery. This year the effects of
climate change and global warming are highly apparent with our harvest starting fully two weeks earlier
than ever before.”
Samant added that the industry as well as wine growers are bearing the brunt of climate change and
having to rapidly adapt their practices to cope with the often adverse effects.
“In the 16 years since we began operations we have built very strong relations with our growers whose
ranks are growing every day. We haven’t had a single contract dispute since we began, surely an
amazing fact to celebrate today, our first day of harvest,” said Samant. Sula works with over 400 grape
growers in Maharashtra and Karnataka with 10-year assured buyback contracts.
The last three harvests were of excellent quality and quantity but 2016 looks to be much more
challenging with lower yields due to unseasonal rains post monsoon.
This year’s wine grape prices have again increased with red grape prices going as high as Rs. 50/kg for
reserve quality.
The wine industry has been responsible for astonishing growth in rural employment and rural incomes
ever since Maharashtra unveiled the first progressive wine policy in 2001 and Karnataka followed with
an even more liberal policy three years later. In 2016 the industry will crush over 27,000 MT of grapes.
The industry has set itself a target of 100,000 MT within 5 years. Only 2% of India’s over 1 lac hectares of
vineyards are currently planted with wine grapes, while in the rest of the world the figure is over 90%.
The industry experienced a second straight year with almost 20% growth showing that more and more
Indians are drinking more and more wine, in many cases switching away from hard liquor.
About Sula Vineyards:
Sula Vineyards is by far India’s first choice in wine. Their award-winning wines are available nationwide at
the finest hotels and restaurants, and are also exported throughout the world. Sula is on track to sell a
million cases of wine in 2016.
Sula is also a pioneer in India’s wine tourism opening the country’s first winery Tasting Room in 2005 and
first vineyard resort, Beyond, in 2007. With over 200,000 visitors last year, Sula is one of the most visited
wineries in the world and the #1 spot where Indians first taste wine.
Firmly committed to remaining at the forefront of Indian wines, Sula continues to experiment with new
varietals, engage in sustainable agriculture and support the local rural economy. Sula is well on its way to
becoming one of the world’s most sustainable wine producers.
In addition, the company is also a leading wine and spirits importer, with Sula Selections, a portfolio of
prestigious brands like Remy Cointreau, Hardys, Ruffino and Asahi.
For information on the entire Sula brand portfolio, visit www.sulavineyards.com
For further details, please contact:
El Sol Strategic Consultants
Amrita Hom Ray +91 96196 32320| [email protected]