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K. Giriprakash

Bangalore, Oct.7 United Spirits’ Four Seasons Wines plans to offer shares of its company to grape growers and enter into such contracts for over 2,000 acres.

The Four Seasons’ Wines Director and Business Head (Wines), Mr Abhay Kewadkar, told Business Line that grape growers who own vineyards will be offered 500 shares for each acre under a long-term contract arrangement with them. “We plan to get into such arrangement for over 2,000 acres initially,” Mr Kewadkar said. Such an incentive will help the farmers get dividends every year from the company as well as the commitment to buy their entire produce every season, he said.

Four Seasons rolled out a plan last year to invest about Rs 100 crore into buying machinery, buildings as well as vineyards. It has already acquired about 50 acres and plans to acquire another 50 acres soon, Mr Kewadkar said. He said the company will launch a range of Four Seasons wines nationwide from November with prices ranging from Rs 400 to Rs 540 for a 750 ml bottle. The company launched its Zinzi range of wines six months ago at Rs 275 per 750 ml bottle.

The wine trading house of United Spirits, United Vintners, has launched a range of wine brands from Bouchard Aine & Fils from the Burgandy area of France. The company plans to launch another 35 international brands over the next couple of years.

Mr Kewadkar said United Vintners has so far launched about 35 international labels and plans to launch wine labels from the Napa Valley and Sonoma in the US and from Italy and Chile shortly. Imported wine constitutes about 300,000 cases (consisting of 12 bottles of 750 ml each) or 20 per cent of the total 1.5 million case market in India.

Mr Jacques Dioque, General Manager of Bouchard Aine & Fils, said even though taxation is very high in India for imported wines, it is one of the key markets for the company. .

More Stories on : Breweries | Contract Farming | Horticulture/Fruits & Vegetables | Stocks

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