The National Wine Board will promote co-operative efforts among growers of grapes, apples, plums, apricots, manufacturers of raisins, juice and wine and encourage contract farming and promote grape, apple, plum, apricot processing and wine industry in general.

The mandate for the Wine Board is as follows:
(a) Promote co-operative efforts among growers of grapes, apples, plums, apricots etc., manufacturers of raisins, juice and wine and encourage contract farming.

(b) Promote Grape, Apples, Plum, Apricot etc. processing and wine industry in general.

(c) Undertake research and development in new technologies, products and processes for continuous modernization of the grape & other fruits processing and wine industry.

(d) Conducting courses and programmes to develop highly skilled manpower for the grape & other fruits processing and wine industry.

(e) Monitor cultivation and production of desired variety of grapes & other fruits and disseminate best viticulture practices.

(f) Identify and develop appropriate rootstock of grapes & other fruits for different geo-climatic regions of the country through research, training and extension.

(g) Coordination with Agriculture Universities and research institutions.

(h) Promote marketing and export of wine through various measures including workshops and trade shows.

(i) Fix grade/standards of juice, raisins and wine.

(j) Provide quality testing facilities for wine to meet global standards.

(k) Collect statistics from growers, manufacturers, traders and other persons concerned with grapes & other fruits/wine and bringing out publication of statistics so collected.

(l) Advise Central and State Governments on various policy issues, viz, excise policy, taxation, etc. relating to grapes & other fruits/wine.

(m) Advise farmers, industry and Government on commercial and technical issues relating to grapes & other fruits/wine.

(n) Such other matters relating to wine industry as may be prescribed by the Central Government from time to time.

More information is available at the Ministry of Food Processing Industries.

- Shiv Singh