DH : Govt to uncork B’lore red

Govt to uncork B’lore red
Deccan Herald

Bangalore may well feature in the international wine market in the next couple of years. .......


Bangalore may well feature in the international wine market in the next couple of years. The government has heard the buzz — and taken cognisance of the growing demand for wine in the international and domestic market.

The Centre has responded to this proactively and the Indian Institute for Horticulture Research (IIHR), under the aegis of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR), has evaluated around 14 prominent varieties of French vines and imported them for cultivation in Bangalore. The crop is now in its second year.

“Some of the vines have yielded good results and the first crop is already in bearing. In 2007 we will come out with the first test bottles of wine prepared with these French vines. There are many other processes such vinification, bottling, labelling and marketing that will have to be put in place before we go commercial with the drink,” says IIHR Director S D Shikhamany. The French vines include varieties like Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel.

“Though some private vineyards have been growing them in Bangalore and Nasik, this is the first time government agencies have their hands in it. Bangalore’s mild tropical climate is ideally suited for growing vines. They need a temperature of 35° Celsius and a wider diurnal temperature (difference between the day and night temperature) during the ripening period. Bangalore’s light sandy soil without sodium chloride ions is suited to grow these vines,” he says. The government’s role in cultivating the vine and marketing of the wine will only be that of a facilitator and promoter.

“The objective of growing French vines is also to provide an alternative to the grape farmers in the country, especially Karnataka. Grape cultivation is not a remunerative practice and farmers find it hard to market ‘Bangalore Blue’ as table grapes because consumer preference is for white ‘Thomson’ seedless grape and the wine made of ‘Bangalore Blue’ is not of international standard. We want the farmers to switch over to the cultivation of wine grapes,” he adds.

GIMME RED

14 prominent varieties of French vines imported for cultivation in Bangalore

2007 first test bottles of wine prepared with the French vines

35°Celsius temperature needed for vines, and Bangalore is fine