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In
an attempt to put India on the world wine map and position
it as a new world wine destination, Chateau Indage and MTDC
are to promote the Sahyadri valley region as a wine tourism
hub, using Napa valley and the likes as models.
Explains Amar Jog, junior vice-president, Chateau Indage,
“As a destination, Maharashtra has always been viewed
as a commercial state as it comprises of the commercial capital
Mumbai, semi-urban areas of importance and historical monuments.
But to truly market it internationally as a tourism haven,
one needs to diversify tourism products and offer products
of international standards. Wine tourism, with its gaining
popularity globally, would completely fit the bill especially
with regards to meeting international fancy. MTDC at this
point is on a very high drive to achieve that and even the
government of Maharashtra is very encouraging towards this
endeavour. While we are experimenting and rediscovering wine
making, one must bear in mind that it has been an age-old
process in India. In fact, wines in India date back to the
pre-Moghul era and places such as Surat, Hyderabad, Andhra
Pradesh was at one time very high on wine production.”
Places such as Naraingaon, a major wine growing area and the
address of Chateau Indage’s wine estate already feature
on MTDC’s new tourism brochures. Plans are also on to
position the Sahyadri valley on the lines of Napa valley wherein
people could actually tour wine growing regions and experience
the process, right from maturing the grapes to making and
storing of wines and eventually tasting wines. Efforts are
also being made to make arrangements for people to reside
on the wine estate and enjoy a holistic gourmet experience.
“This would entail at a later date the establishment
of a spa, gourmet restaurants that would serve food to complement
their wines and such like facilities to make it a veritable
wine tourism destination for corporates and tourists alike,”
concluded Jog.
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