While the Indian wine market has been stuck to around 3.5 million bottles the last three years, the exports from the country are constantly on a rise at an annual rate of over 9 per cent. At present, India exports about 10 lakh bottles a year. Vineyards like Grover Vineyards expect this rate to grow to 15% this year.

What really motivates people in India to consume alcohol... is it a tool for socialisation or is it a sure-fire way of getting high? An overwhelming majority, as per consumer studies conducted by Champagne Indage Ltd, the largest producer of wine in India, suggested it was the latter.

To lift the spirits of tourists to Goa, the Pratapsinh Rane government has lowered tax on liquor, notes a recent report in The Indian Express.

Wine for Asia, an international exhibition reaching out to the Asian wine and spirits markets, organised by Singex, is taking place from November 10 - 12, 2005, in Singapore.

This summer a high-ranking delegation of 19 top Indian government and industry leaders toured Napa Valley to see what our fledgling wine industry might gain from the California example. Napa County has 44,000 acres of grapes and is a $9.5 billion industry.

According to Alok Chandra in Business Standard, India is a minnow in the world of wine with production of only 5million litres. In contrast, France produces 4.75 bl, Italy 4.4 bl, Spain 4.0 b) and the US 2.5 bl, with Argentina 1.3 bl, Australia 1.25 bl, South Africa 1.0 bl and Chile 0.6 bl catching up fast.

Lucknow has formed a wine club with the assistance of the Delhi Wine Club. Mr. Neeraj Gupta, a senior IAS officer is the founder and the club has eleven members to date.

Wine connoisseurs in India can now enjoy Dom Pérignon Vintage 1996, recently introduced by Moet Hennessy India. “Dazzling, absolutely dazzling!” was what Dom Pérignon’s Chef de Cave (Head of the Cellar) said when he first tasted the 1996 vintage.

Enotica wine cellar adjoining Travertino, the new Italian restaurant at The Oberoi in New Delhi, offers an extensive wine selection to pair with the restaurant’s fine cuisine including classical wines such as Amarone, Chianti, Brunello, Super Tuscan and Barbera, according to a press release.

Sankalp Winery of Vinchur Wine Park, Nashik has started marketing their Vinsura vineyard wines in Delhi. These wines are being distributed by Hema Connoisseur Collections. Sankalp wines are cheaper than Sula, Grover or Chateau Indage wines

Delhi has changed its liquor laws to allow consumers to buy imported wines from wine shops. Previously only bars and restaurants with a wine permit were able to sell wines.