India gets its first wine in a can

India’s alcoholic beverage sector has witnessed substantial transformation over the past two decades, and at the forefront of this change is Sonal C Holland, the country’s first and only Master of Wine. Her presence has helped shape India’s wine and spirits landscape into a recognised industry with growing international relevance.

Unlike most in the global wine fraternity, Holland did not enter the sector with inherited expertise or cultural familiarity with wine. Her professional beginnings were in the corporate sector, where she worked as the National Head of Sales for a NASDAQ-listed Fortune 500 company. Despite career success and financial stability, she chose to exit the corporate world in search of a more meaningful pursuit. That decision led her to an emerging market segment—India’s underdeveloped wine industry.

At age 33, Holland began navigating the complexities of this new field. With minimal industry infrastructure and mentorship within the country, she pursued formal qualifications abroad. She relocated to London to study at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), completing the Diploma in Wines and Spirits. Her pursuit of the globally recognised Master of Wine title spanned six years, during which she balanced professional ambitions with personal responsibilities, including extended time away from her young daughter.

In 2016, Holland earned the title of Master of Wine, becoming the first Indian to achieve the distinction. Fewer than 500 individuals globally hold this qualification. Her success marked a significant moment for India’s alcobev industry and created a new benchmark for aspiring professionals.

Holland’s influence spans across wine, beer, sake, and spirits. She holds advanced certifications in each of these categories and remains active as a consultant, educator, and industry spokesperson. Her contributions have been formally recognised with accolades such as the Outstanding Alumni Award by WSET in partnership with JancisRobinson.com (2024) and the Gérard Basset Prize – Ambassador of the Year (2024).

Beyond her personal milestones, Holland has worked to institutionalise wine and spirits education in India. She established the Sonal Holland Academy, which offers training and certification in alcoholic beverage education. Through Sohowines Consulting, she supports global wine brands in entering and scaling operations within India. She is also the founder of the India Wines and Spirits Awards, a professional blind-tasting competition aimed at setting standards and benchmarks within the sector.

In addition to her offline work, Holland is a significant voice in the alcobev space on digital platforms. With over a million followers on Instagram, she ranks among the most followed alcohol experts in India. She frequently represents the country in global wine forums, advocating for Indian professionals, products, and consumers to be included in the international conversation.

Her commitment to education and moderation continues to shape Indian consumer behaviour. Holland remains a key figure in India’s hospitality and alcobev industries, focusing on elevating local standards to meet global expectations.

In a world where history influences experience and flavors tell tales, Silk & Spice is a celebration of the daring spirit of travel and learning. This remarkable wine, which was inspired by the fabled Silk & Spice Route, which was established by Portuguese explorers such as Vasco Da Gama in 1498, represents the bravery, curiosity, and aspiration that United Nations and cultures. A voyage through time, it is more than just a wine; it offers a sensory experience that embodies the depth of Portuguese native grapes, where warm, spicy scents blend with silky textures. 

Silk & Spice Red Blend 2022 and Silk & Spice Spice Road Red 2021, two outstanding new additions inspired by the storied Silk & Spice Route have been unveiled. Each of them is designed to embody the rich legacy, robust flavors, and spirit of adventure.

Silk & Spice – Red Blend 
With its silky-smooth, well-balanced, and hospitable profile, the Silk & Spice Red Blend is a superbly made wine that perfectly captures Portugal's rich terroir. Soft, round, and full-bodied, this collection's first wine captures the coziness of Portuguese winemaking.

Silk & Spice – Spice Road 
With its silky-smooth, well-balanced, and hospitable profile, the Silk & Spice Red Blend is a superbly made wine that perfectly captures Portugal's rich terroir. Soft, round, and full-bodied, this collection's first wine captures the coziness of Portuguese winemaking.

 “At Aspri Spirits, we have always believed in curating exceptional experiences for the Indian consumer by introducing world-class beverages with rich heritage and craftsmanship. Silk & Spice wines beautifully showcase Portugal’s remarkable winemaking tradition, inviting consumers to embark on a sensory adventure inspired by the legendary Silk & Spice Route. Sogrape’s approach to crafting consumer-friendly wines has already seen great success with Indian palates, and we hope Silk & Spice, with its unique profiles of the Red Blend and Spice Road, will win Indian hearts in the same way, offering a perfect balance of tradition, flavor, and discovery,” shares João Gomes da Silva – Chief Commercial Officer at Sogrape Group.

Silk & Spice was first introduced in 2016 and rapidly became a tremendous success and #1 Portuguese Red Blend in the US market. Over the past decade, Silk & Spice has gained a cult following, consistently growing ahead of category trends. With a global presence in key markets like the USA, Canada, Africa, Benelux, and Brazil, the brand recently secured a listing at Waitrose in the UK, marking a significant milestone in its expansion. Now, with its highly anticipated launch in India, Aspri Spirits is set to introduce this richly historic and flavorful wine to the country’s discerning consumers. 

With a strategic focus on distribution expansion, brand awareness, and consumer engagement, Aspri Spirits aims to position Silk & Spice as a household name in India. The wines will be available at premium wine retailers, fine-dining establishments, and luxury hotels across major cities, offering consumers a taste of history, craftsmanship, and adventure in every sip. 

Sula Vineyards is the largest wine producer in India has announced an over 9% increase in third-quarter attributing the growth to heightened interest in its premium labels and wine tourism ventures.

The Mumbai-based firm stated that its combined net income climbed to 429.8 million rupees ($5.2 million) from 392.8 million rupees recorded in the previous year.

The wine division, which encompasses high-end labels like Dindori and Rasa, witnessed a nearly 4% increase in revenue for the quarter.

This segment constitutes Sula's largest sector, contributing to 89% of the total revenue.

The wine tourism branch, though smaller in comparison, experienced a notable 16% uptick in revenue, attributed to increased visits to the company's vineyards situated in Nashik and Bengaluru.

This surge was particularly notable during the extended Christmas weekend.

The company stated that total revenue increased by 4% to reach 2.18 billion rupees.

Its EBITDA margins expanded to 33.7% from 31% in the previous year.

Furthermore, Sula announced an interim dividend of 4 rupees per share for the fiscal year 2024.

The shares of Sula, which experienced a growth of more than 7% in the December quarter, concluded the day up by nearly 5% before the release of the results.

Yauatcha unveils its exclusive wine label, Ivelle, in Bangalore. Developed in partnership with Fratelli Wines, the distinctive blend will be served by the glass exclusively at the Yauatcha outlet.

Wine is crafted by blending indigenous Müller and Gewürztraminer grapes, this white wine features delightful notes of lychee, apricot, and pineapple, making it an ideal complement to Yauatcha's Chinese cuisine.

"During the flavor profiling of Ivelle, we recognized the commonalities in Indian and Chinese palates. Our goal was not only to enhance Yauatcha's offerings but also to cater to the preferences of Indian tastes. The Müller Thurgau grape, a cross between Riesling and Madeleine Royale originally bred in Germany by Hermann Müller, pairs with the more aromatic Gewürztraminer, creating a harmonious balance." said Kevin Rodrigues, the Head Sommelier at KA Hospitality.

Ivelle will grace the tables at Yauatcha Bengaluru, with a cost of INR 950 per glass and INR 4500 per bottle.

Grover Zampa Vineyards, India’s indigenous wine producer, has launched visitor centre ‘Lounge de La Réserve’ at its Bengaluru vineyard. With this launch, the company has forayed into the hospitality industry.

Grover Zampa has also unveiled exclusive wines from the brand’s stable, including Vendanges Tardives, La Réserve Royale Brut and a new vintage of Insignia.

In January 2019, the company has acquired Bengaluru-based Four Seasons Wines for Rs 31.86 crore. This acquisition was in line with the brand’s growth strategy.

Vivek Chandramohan, CEO of Grover Zampa Vineyards, said, ''The plan at the moment is to invest in the vineyards and viticulture. Good quality grapes are now our focus, and we need to have excellent control over the vineyards to get good quality grapes.''

''We are also looking at investment in different technologies. We have recently invested in the clay pot wine making process which is called Georgian Clay Pot Wine. We are also planning to introduce primitive wine making technology. Much of the money, which is coming from the investors, is being invested in technologies. And the second leg of the investment will be spending in fortifying our hospitality part,'' he further stated.

Ravi Viswanathan, Chairman, Grover Zampa Vineyards, added, ''We have been striving to make strong amendments to shape and grow the wine industry, and raising the standards of Indian vino while making a mark internationally. Directed by this very commitment, we are extremely excited to launch Lounge de La Réserve and the newer wines, which we believe are truly reflective of the capabilities of the Indian terroir and address to an evolved wine consumer.''

Sula Vineyards, India's largest wine producer, has launched Sula Wines in China, the world's second-biggest market for wine consumption after the US.

Sula Vineyards is planning to consider Oman as the next country for expansion in the Middle East.

A release from the company said, "Sula Vineyards has over 65% market share in India and exports to 30 countries across Asia, Europe, USA and Canada. China is globally the second most recognized country for its wine market."

The wine producer has partnered with Nanjing Glory International, one of the leading importers and distributors of wine and liquor in China. 

"With a huge territory to cater in China, Nanjing Glory would be initially focusing on select provinces in China where there is a good density of affluent and well-travelled Chinese. The selected areas namely include Jiangsu, Shandong, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Anhui and Hangzhou provinces, with Nanjing being the central location for all supplies. Sula Wines will be introducing the most popular wines from their extensive portfolio which includes Sula Brut Tropicale, Sula Sauvignon Blanc, Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz and Sula Shiraz. Initially, 200 retail outlets will be targeted which include supermarkets and restaurants in the provinces mentioned," the release stated. 

Rajeev Samant, CEO and Founder, Sula Vineyards, said, "It is very exciting for us to establish our presence in China, world’s No. 2 market for wine after the USA. It is a matter of great pride both to us and nationally because we have an opportunity to impact the import-export ratio of India-China. Now, the Chinese consumer will also have a bottle of Indian wine on their table."

A representative of Nanjing Glory International, added, "We are very happy and excited to partner with the biggest winery of India, Sula Vineyards. It is with great pleasure that we are introducing their wines in our market."

The Karnataka Wine Board (KWB) will bring out its own brand of wine in the state in another two years.

The Board will grow grapes on its 141-acre wine park being set up in Vijayapura, brew wine and supply the product to taverns, said KWB Managing Director T Somu.

Somu said the park would be set up under public private partnership model at a cost of Rs 20 crore.

Compared to last year, wine production and consumption has increased by 30% in Karnataka. Over 5,000 families cultivate grapes used in making wine.

Bengaluru will host the third edition of international wine festival from April 7 to 9. A total of 30 wineries including four international brands from France, the US, New Zealand and Australia will take part.

It will have wine tasting and grape stomping sessions. There will not be any dedicated wine tours. The event will be held at Manpho Convention Centre, Manyata Tech Park.

Reliance Capital, the financial services arm of Ambani-led business conglomerate is eyeing "huge capital gains" from sale of non-core investments, including two leading vineyards of the country.

Recently, Anil Ambani-led Reliance Capital made a killing with a 27-fold return from sale of Paytm stake.

Sula Vineyards and Grover Vineyards together command nearly 70 per cent of the India's wines market. They are witnessing huge interest from global investors as well.

RCap had acquired shares in the two vineyards for about Rs 171 crore and has held these investments for about three years now. As part of its strategy of selling a substantial portion of these non-core assets by March 2018, Reliance Capital recently offloaded a small stake in digital payments major Paytm for about Rs 275 crore, earning a huge 27-time return on an investment of just about Rs 10 crore.

According to Sources, RCap is now looking forward to sell several other non-core investments including Sula and Grover Vineyards. The industry estimates suggest the capital gains could be huge given the market share commanded by these firms and in view of the interest of global investors in the Indian wine market.

At an analyst meet hosted by Reliance Capital last week, its chairman Anil Ambani, said, “All non-core investments to be monetised by March next year would lead to large capital gains.”

According to the analysts present at the meet, a presentation made there listed all "valuable private equity investments" including Paytm (already monetised), Paytm e-commerce, Yatra Online, Sula Vineyard, Grover Vineyard and Mahindra First Choice.

Ambani said, “The two names, Sula and Grover Vineyards, stand out in the list. It is very very strange, I being a teetotaler, we are still invested in those businesses. They command 70 per cent market share in the wine market in India and there are tremendous growth opportunities.”

He added, "But that does not mean we should keep those businesses. We will consolidate those businesses and we will move forward. There is a lot of global investor interest in this business and those are great value creation opportunities in front of us.”

Reliance Capital said that it is solely focused on financial services businesses. It has a strong financial platform with a net worth of Rs 16,000 crore and enjoys a comfortable asset-liability position. The group is also betting big on its commodity exchange platform.

Bengaluru-based Myra Vineyards is targeting to double its revenue to Rs 17 crore during the financial year 2016-17.

"We have grown from Rs 5 crore turnover during FY15 to Rs 8 crore which is a figure we look at for FY16. The next year (2016-17) will have targeted revenue of Rs 17 crore and Rs 38 crore for FY18-19," shared Ajay Shetty, MD, Myra Vineyards.

The company, which has presence in Goa, Karnataka and Maharashtra as well as Hong Kong and London, plans to enter Puducherry and Delhi next year.

"The projected growth is owing to the international markets and also expansion in the domestic sector," he said.

The firm also plans to set up its own plant in Bengaluru with the capacity of one million litres per annum.

Shetty also said its 'unfiltered red wine' labelled Misfit is the first of its kind in India.

A Rs 275 crore stake is being acquired in Nashik Vintners, the parent company of Sula Wines by Belgian family office Verlinvest, Reliance Capital and VisVires India Wineries.

The transaction includes Rs 60 crore capital infusion into the company by the three acquiring shareholders. Reliance Capital and VisVires India Wineries, which is owned by a Singapore-based investor Ravi Viswanathan will now hold 29 percent stake in the company.