A.S. Wadhwa, CEO, Nature’s Bounty, described the company’s plans for the coming year. “In order to become a leading player in the wine and liqueur industry, we intend to build a portfolio of innovative products so as to participate in a number of different market segments of the industry.” The company aims to provide a wide range of exclusive liqueurs, cocktails, and related products for the discerning Indian consumer.

Introducing the three wines being launched in the Indian market, Dr. Antonio Maurizio Miccichè, chairman, Calatrasi said, “The consumption of wines is very low in India as compared to the western and European countries. Once the Indian consumer develops a taste for wines, the potential that India offers for the wine industry is just astronomical. We are very excited about entering the Indian market.”

Dr. Miccichè, whose family has been in the wine business since 1780, conducted a wine-tasting session and educated the guests present about the importance of knowing one’s wine and the pairing of wine with Indian food.

The three wines that have been introduced in India are Maranfusa (priced at around Rs. 750 per bottle), D’istinto (priced at around Rs. 1,050 per bottle), and Terre di Ginestra 2002 (priced at around Rs. 1,500 per bottle). The Calatrasi Sicilian wines will be retailed through wine and spirit shops, restaurants, bars, and hotels in the Indian market.

Casa Vinicola Calatrasi was founded in 1980 by Giuseppe and Maurizio Miccichè.
It is one of the most important wineries in Sicily, distributing wines in more than 25 countries; its turnover in 2005 was €15 million. The winery, spread over 25,000 sq m, is located in San Cipirello, in the heart of the Jato valley, 30 km south of Palermo. It has a bottling plant with a capacity of 12,000 bottles per hour and a barrel room with 4,000 French and US barrels. The family estates in Sicily are located in Campofiorito, Ginestra, and Mazara. Different varieties are cultivated in these areas, ranging from native vines, such as Nero D’Avola, Cataratto, and Grillo, to international ones, such as Viognier, Chardonnay, Syrah, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Calatrasi is also present in Apulia and Tunisia.