LVMH Group to Launch Sparkling Wine

Moet-Hennessy, French wine and spirits maker and an arm of French luxury group LVMH, will launch its first 'Made in India' sparkling wine soon. The company has entered into a short-term contract with Nashik-based York Winery and is setting up its own winery at Dindori in Nashik district. 

A Spokesperson at the company said, “We are under embargo from Paris to talk about the launch.”

Sparkling wine, used in India mostly during celebrations, constitutes less than ten per cent of the wine consumption in the country. But a growth in the affluent class is pushing up its demand, creating room for more labels besides Sula and Zampa. Overall wine consumption in India is growing at 15-20 per cent per annum.

Mr. Ravi Gurnani, Director, York Winery, said “Moet is using its facility on contract for making sparkling wine. Our contract with Moet is for a short term.”

The company is expected to begin crushing from its Indian winery from the 2014 grape crushing season, joining the list of foreign winemakers who are tapping the growing demand for international brands in India.