Sula Vineyards to now export to Australia

Alcoholic beverage maker Hill Zill Wines Pvt Ltd (HZWPL), has unveiled a new premium range of handcrafted fruit-flavored wines called ‘Pomona’s.’

Unveiled in the states of Maharashtra and Goa, Pomona’s wines will awaken the senses of touch, sight, smell, taste, and feel for wine lovers. 

“Pomona” was a goddess of fruitful abundance in ancient Roman religion and mythology, whom it is believed watches over and protects fruit trees and cares for their cultivation.

The Hill Zill Wines management is pleased to introduce the unique combination of classic wine with the richness of natural flavors of fruits like strawberry and mango and the decadence of chocolate.

The uniquely chosen flavors represent the three main seasons of the year. The subtle taste of ripe mangoes in the mango wine will rekindle the summer feel with every sip. The rosé-colored strawberry wine will take one on a walk through the luscious strawberry gardens in the monsoons.

They have also introduced the very first chocolate-flavored wine that will surely add a Christmassy vibe to wine lovers during the winter.

Packaged in see-through bottles, these wines first enthrall the consumer with a stunning visual of the liquid inside.

Ronin Wines, the makers of India’s first meads, Moonshine, has raised ~ 2 Million USD as part of their Pre Series A, to further boost its growth trajectory in the country and beyond.

This financing round was led by Anthill Capital and saw participation from Auxano Capital, Supermorpheus and Merisis, as well as existing and new angel investors. Value Bridge Capital was the sole advisor for this transaction.

Mead is the oldest alcohol in the World and made by fermenting honey with various fruits and spices.

With the influx of new capital, Ronin Wines aims to deepen Moonshine’s presence in its present markets (Maharashtra, Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam and Silvassa) and enter new markets like Haryana and West Bengal.

The idea is to establish Moonshine firmly as a national brand over the next three years. The said investment will also aid the company in commencing work on export markets.

“With Moonshine, we are trying to plug the flavour gap for consumers as they transition from juices and colas to beers and spirits. A consumer’s journey into alcohol doesn’t have to start with an ‘acquired taste’. This fits well with the expectations of the younger India who are looking for more flavourful beverages. Further, after winning at IWSC (International Wine and Spirits Competition, UK), we have been steadily garnering interest from importers in various geographies. And now, this fund raise will enable us to unlock opportunities not only at the national but also at the international level,” shared Rohan Rehani, Co-founder, Ronin Wines.

Since most meads in India are low ABV and carbonated, they are often found competing with the premium beer and RTD segments, a market which was USD ~5 billion in 2020 and expected to double over the next 5 years. Further, as the country continues to shift towards more flavourful options, Ronin Wines hopes that its focus on using 100% natural ingredients to craft flavourful drinks will help it differentiate and dominate this new emerging category of alcoholic beverages in the Indian market.

“We are very excited to have our first set of institutional investors. Anthill Capital in particular already has a strong alco-bev portfolio and a very keen understanding of the alco-bev space in India and we are eager to gain from their learnings with other alco-bev startups,” added Nitin Vishwas, Co-founder - Ronin Wines.

“Meads are an exciting, fast-growing Alco-Bev category. Ronin has created an eclectic mead brand that's already seeing excellent market traction from discerning consumers looking for new tastes and flavours. Anthill Ventures is delighted to be an anchor partner in Ronin's journey,” pointed Prasad Vanga, Partner Anthill Ventures.

Established in 2016 in Pune, Maharashtra, Ronin Wines launched India’s first mead, Moonshine, bringing back the ancient alcoholic beverage in a refreshing modern avatar.

“Alco-bev is a large & growing sector with white spaces. Mead as a beverage is new to the India markets and Nitin & Rohan are passionately driving the product -market fit. The flavour assortment and brand positioning is fueling the growth of the company and as we foresee, it shall continue to be the pillars for accelerating adoption. We are looking forward to Moonshine becoming a global brand, differentiated from its competitors by its unique natural flavors - the USP - created using indigenous fruits & spices,” said Karan Gupta, Associate - Auxano Capital.

Fruzzanté, one-of-its-kind sparkling 100% fruit wine that has introduced the Indian consumers to a unique farm-to-bottle experience, is now available in the National Capital as well as in the land of the rising sun – Arunachal Pradesh.

The brand from Hill Zill Wines Pvt Ltd (HZWPL) has been creating ripples in the domestic market already since inception.

Launched in 2017, Fruzzanté has grown from strength to strength and rapidly expanded its footprint in different states across India. A ‘Make in India’ product, it is made from 100% premium quality fresh fruits grown in the state of Maharashtra. It is a gluten-free, vegan drink that has no added colour or flavour.

“Fruzzanté is a brand that truly represents the ‘spirit of India’. We have pioneered the farm-to-table concept wherein we have made alcoholic beverages out of a fruit like Chikoo which was almost unthinkable in the past,” shared Priyanka Save, Founder and MD, Hill Zill Wines Pvt Ltd.

HZWPL has also produced India's first-ever premium dessert mead brand called Arkä. Arkä is made from honey extracted from beehives that is then fermented and presented as mead, a drink that has been mentioned in ancient scriptures dating back to 100 BC. After its success in Maharashtra, Karnataka & Goa, the brand will now be available in Arunachal Pradesh.

“Our plans were to reach whole of India by end of 2022, but pandemic slowed down the process. Since the end of 2021 we have managed to expedite the process, we launched Goa at the end of 2021 followed by Karnataka in 2022 and now we are ecstatic to enter the National Capital market as well as Arunachal Pradesh,” added Deepak Bhatnagar, CEO & Chairman, Hill Zill Wines Pvt Ltd.

The brand will also be unveiling Fruzzanté in Meghalaya, Sikkim, Assam, and West Bengal.

In the wake of the pandemic, there has been a rapid surge in the demand for home consumption of high-quality alcoholic beverages (alcobev). Companies are moving in to encash this ready-to-drink (RTD) segment with a diversity of products. As one of the fastest growing alcoholic beverages markets, expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8% between 2020 to 2023, India presents a great opportunity for alcobev producers.

One of the leading Australian wine brand, Jacob’s Creek announced the launch of Unvined, a non-alcoholic wine with less than 0.5% alcohol, available in two varietals - Riesling and Shiraz. 

The winemakers at Jacob’s Creek use sophisticated technology which removes alcohol whilst capturing most of the original aromas and flavours of the wine.

The Unvined range has 50% less calories than regular wine of the same varietal, catering to the evolved consumer base looking for varied options to suit their preferences and mood.

“Non-alcoholic wine may sound counterintuitive and something out of the ordinary, however sometimes it’s exactly what the evening calls for. The idea behind creation of Unvined was to ensure that everyone is able to celebrate important life moments with their friends and family in a way that fits with their lifestyle. Given Jacob’s Creek’s vast expertise in winemaking, we have created a product that has a perfect balance of taste while preserving the natural grape profile. We are proud to release Unvined in India. It is an exceptional product with less than 0.5% alcohol and a faithful expression of premium wines from Australia,” shared Kartik Mohindra, Chief Marketing Officer, Pernod Ricard India.

Unvined Riesling and Shiraz are available in select retail outlets in Delhi and Mumbai and pan-India through Amazon India at INR 900.

Grover Zampa Vineyards launches the Late Harvest Chenin Blanc to its Art Collection range.

Grover Zampa’s Art Collection range reflects the philosophy of winemaking as art and showcases paintings from celebrated Indian artists.

There are 7 varietals within this range allowing people to explore distinct styles within one vibrant brand.

Also Read: Grover Zampa Vineyards launches premium French wines

“Our brand is contemporary, and we believe in offering distinct choices in our wine range that reflect the winemaker’s signature style and true varietal characteristics along with the Indian terroir. It reflects our philosophy of winemaking as an art and the symbiotic relationship between art and wine.This dessert wine will surely be the delectable end to your meal,” said Vivek Chandramohan, Chief Executive Officer.

The Art Collection Late Harvest Chenin Blanc is a pale straw yellow wine with sticky tears/legs. The intense fruity and floral aromas of apricots, lychees, dates, and white blossoms adds a nice balanced acidity and is velvety smooth on the palate with a lingering sweet aftertaste.

May Interest: Grover Zampa unveils Lounge de La Réserve at Bengaluru winery

Serve this dessert wine chilled at 5 - 7°C at the end of your scrumptious meal. It can be enjoyed by itself, or can be paired with fruit & nut platters, crème brûlée, cheesecakes, vanilla custards, apple pies & lemon meringue pies.

The world leader in luxury wines and spirits Moët Hennessy has announced its partnership to exclusively bring WhistlePig, the #1 distiller in the ultra-premium and luxury rye whiskey category in North America, to consumers in selected markets in Europe and Asia. 

In addition, as part of this partnership, Moët Hennessy acquired a minority stake in WhistlePig.

“The arrangement with Moët Hennessy marks a significant moment for WhistlePig. We could not be more pleased to align our brand with the leader in luxury wines and spirits. We are excited about the future collaboration with Moët Hennessy’s team in the international market,” shared Jeff Kozak, CEO, of WhistlePig.

“We have long admired LVMH as a builder of amazing brands and products, and we have learned a lot from Moët Hennessy over the years” says Wilco Faessen, co-founder of WhistlePig. “There is a great portfolio fit, and, critically, our cultures are very much aligned in terms of patiently building our brands and business over time, with a focus on quality and a differentiated experience for our consumers and our customers.”

Commenting on the same, Philippe Schaus, President & CEO of Moët Hennessy shared, "We are convinced that WhistlePig fits very well with the rest of Moët Hennessy's portfolio. This high quality and top-rated whiskey brand has done a remarkable job distinguishing itself among the emblematic and iconic craft distilleries in the United States with an ultra-premium standing in terms of identity, quality and price positioning.

The group is looking at launching WhistlePig in various markets in Europe and Asia early next year. 

Dewar’s has introduced a uniquely crafted amalgamation of home gatherings through its signature experiential platform, The Doers Club.

As get-togethers at home are the norm now more than ever, consumers are looking for unique ways to make their home experiences exclusive and enjoyable.

The Doers Club Home Edition offers this and more bringing together music, food and double aged Dewar’s scotch.

Also Read: The Doers Club by Dewar’s take the digital route

Raising the bar on the experience, Dewar’s is also hosting virtual mixology sessions with their in-house mixologists to help consumers prepare cocktails for their home gatherings.

Embodying their motto of Double Is Better, Dewar’s launched The Doers Club in 2019, a signature experiential platform initiative in India. It is an intersection of Double Aged Dewar’s Scotch, gastronomy experiences, and a lot of playfulness. Last year, the brand successfully hosted three gourmet food and highball experiences with different celebrity and chef duos in Mumbai and Delhi. And for the fourth edition, Dewar took a digital approach to create a virtual culinary experience for its consumers with three celebrity chefs.

The Doers Club Home Edition brings together all the must-haves for the ideal get together or dinner party with friends.

Known as one of the greatest Indian wine-maker Kapil Sekhri dies of cardiac arrest. He was the director and co-founder of the first Indo-Italian wine Fratelli. It is the first Indo-Italian wine and is the product of partnership between three sets of brothers.

Industry experts and restaurateurs like Ashish Dev Kapur, Gauri Devidayal and Manu Chandra to name a few shared a heartfelt condolence on their Instagram page remembering Sekhri who was known for his soft and generous nature.

Sekhri, 45, has launched his vineyard in Akluj, rural Maharashtra, in 2006.

Wine lovers, there is a good news for you all. Now you can enjoy wine in cans, just like beers. Keeping in mind the most convenient recent trend of millenials, Nashik-based, Sula Vineyards launched Dia, a canned wine that will be available in both as red and white wine.

Until now, wines in India were sold in glass bottles with most of the imported brands thereby featuring the alcoholic beverage firmly in the fine and premium category.

The drink frees you from any need of no mixers, corkscrews or swirling to enjoy. It is easy to carry and crack open straight from the fridge. Pour it into a tall glass full of ice with a dash of lime or sip it chilled straight from the can.

It is low in alcohol and perfectly in line with strong beer, both variants, red and white  and are perfect for any hour of the day. Dia is as appealing to both men and women, and suits every occasion, be it a house party, pool party or a day at the beach. It is available in 330 ml can, priced at an MRP of Rs 180. The newly introduced concept of a canned wine matches the on the go needs of every individual’s fast paced life globally. Nielsen Research has reported that off-premise canned wine sales for the 52-week period, ending June 15, 2019, has risen 69 per cent from the previous year, totalling $79.3 million in sales so far in the US.  
 

About Sula Vineyards

Over the years, Sula Vineyards with its taste and perfection has topped the list of every wine lover. Launched in 2000, Sula Vineyards has established itself as one of the best wineries across the globe. Last month the winery also became the first national wine brand to be listed with Tasmac or The Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation.

Cecilia Oldne, one of the best known sommeliers of the wine industry in India, has partnered with London-based fine wine investment firm Amphora Portfolio Management.

Amphora Portfolio Management was set up in London in 2009, and has been operating in India since 2014. The investment firm not only builds and manages but stores bespoke fine wine portfolios for collectors, investors and wine enthusiasts. 

David Jackson, Chief Executive Officer, Amphora Portfolio Management, said, "For me, India is far more than simply commercial success. These last four years have been a total joy and an incredible adventure. My clients in India have all, without exception; become personal friends, and I have had the privilege of exploring the far corners of this fascinating country." 

India is about to overtake China as Amphora's biggest market outside the UK. 

Cecilia Oldne, Amphora's India partner and Ambassador, shares her views on this collaboration, "India is learning fast when it comes to wines, but not many people know what a great investment commodity this liquid luxury can be too." 

Storage is crucial when it comes to fine wines. Even the best investment-grade wines lose their value if not stored in the right manner. This helps investors make smart decisions by applying quantitative analysis techniques taken from the financial markets. 

Once an investor puts their money on a portfolio of wine, it is bought on their behalf and then registered in their name. Later it is stored in an insured and climate-controlled London warehouse, regulated by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC0. The company's team also arranges the sales of the wines for a profit on behalf of its clients.

Prestige Vineyards announces the launch of four Brands- Pine Forest, Prestige, Grape Valley & Port 777. The brand nurtures high eminence wine through its plant installed in Nashik. The plant is equipped with of international wine processing system that process rich quality wine.

Pine Forest has labels such as Chardonnay, Soft Merlot, Rich Cabernet Shiraz and fruity Sauvignon Blanc, Prestige has Shiraz & the breezy Chenin Blanc; the smooth Grape Valley has Premium Red Wine & Premium White Wine and there's the eternal favourite Port under Port 777. The wines are made from grapes that are grown with immense care on brand's own farms.

Speaking on the launch Girish Gurnani, Director - Prestige Alcobev Pvt. Ltd. said, “Prestige has the advantage of flavour, quality and affordability. We've invested our time, resources and passion in making Prestige the best Indian wine you've tasted. After launching in Maharashtra, we will soon spread our wings to the rest of the country. We are confident that our wines will be loved for their flavour and price point. Once you have it, there's no going back to anything else.”