Quality wines in India

Wine is one of the most popular forms of drink that has been around for thousands of years. Wines have found their place in the palaces of kings, queen and the nobleman. Quality wines were also available to the not-so-rich middle class society. Wine is synonymous with joy and celebration. Indian wines have always been associated with exclusive bars at luxurious hotels. But with the economic boom, it has slowly become the favorite of the younger generation Indians.
Local demand of Indian wines is still very low considering this is a nation of 1 billion people. The consumption is about 6 million cases of Indian wines here. This is a minuscule portion compared to the other wine consuming nations with very less population. Statistics reveal that there are about 20 to 30 million people who consume Indian wines.
Quality wine consumption in India can be increased only by creating a wine consumption culture taking Indians away from the popular soda and whisky. India Wine has been associated with alcohol and has had a negative aura around it as far India is concerned. A number of wine clubs have sprouted throughout the nation in the metropolitan centers that aim to educate the Indians in the art of tasting and identifying quality wines.
A lot of people argue that quality wines match awfully with the hot, spicy Indian food. But this is true only in case of full bodied wines. With the growing number of corporate in India, wine tasting and the etiquettes in drinking quality wines are in vogue.
Two years before there were 35 importers of wine in to India. But now, it is a little more than the double of what it had been. Lot of vineyards has sprouted in India which make a good profit. Each state controls the sales of individual wines and because of the constitutional powers they will continue to do so. But due to the increasing demand, the states are relaxing restrictions and wine is sold in stores and supermarkets also. The licenses to those that sell quality wines have been made cheaper.
With poverty rampant and the frequent shortages of power, storing and selling of quality wines in India have a long way to go. Yet, India remains a potential target for the global wine producers. With local vineyards jumping in to the fray, it will be an interesting scenario for the Indian wines in the coming years.

Satyam is associated with Thewinesocietyofindia.com and provides a information for those, willing to wine. He is spreading knowledge about quality wines and organizes wine tasting.