BANGALORE - It was the perfect setting - the salubrious locales of Lalbagh Botanical Garden, accompanied by pleasant weather - the city could not have asked for more to kick-start its first wine festival Friday.
Connoisseurs got a chance to sample white, red and rose wines brewed in the state at the inaugural day of the three-day colourful fiesta, conceptualised by the Karnataka Wine Board on the lines of popular wine festivals in vogue in developed countries.
The festival was inaugurated by Horticulture Minister Umesh V. Katti and legislator D. Hemachandra Sagar.
“Wine is a healthy drink, if enjoyed in a moderate manner. Wine has very little alcohol percentage. It leaves drinkers with no hangover,” said L. Shantakumari Sunder, development commissioner and chairperson of the wine board.
Along with free tasting of wine, a seminar was part of the first day of the festival to educate farmers, industrialists and public about wine cultivation, production and contract farming.
Opportunities available in the state were also highlighted at the fiesta.
Wine lovers thronged the stalls of various wineries.
“We’re getting good response from the crowds. Visitors are very adventurous and want to taste different kinds of wines,” said Sunil Doshi, manning the stall of Kinvah, a winery based in Nandi Valley.
Added Jayakumar, senior marketing executive at Naka winery in Bangalore: “The festival is an eye-opener for wine makers, fruit cultivators and wine lovers.”
The visitors were clearly an excited lot.
“I accidentally bumped into the festival. But it’s a pleasant surprise and I am enjoying every glass of wine,” said Sussane D’Souza, a tourist from California.
IT professional Bittu Nair found it “simply fabulous”.
“It’s beyond my imagination to see large number of people getting an opportunity to enjoy wine under the sky,” Nair said.
Karnataka has 600 acres under grape cultivation, with Nandi Valley in Chikkaballapur and Krishna Valley in Bijapur with the highest cultivation.
The state also produces approximately 18 lakh litres of wine annually, second only to Maharashtra’s one crore litres. In 2008-09, Karnataka exported around three lakh litres to the rest of the country and abroad.
The government recently amended the Karnataka Excise (Lease of Rights to Retail Vend of Wine) Rules, 2008, to facilitate setting up of wine boutiques.
Shopping malls, super markets and multiplexes with not less than 15,000 square feet floor area will be allowed to have wine boutiques.
Related News
By hook or book: A fest for Bangalore's bibliophilesOctober 8th, 2009 BANGALORE - Come November and thousands of people will be seen browsing, reading and enjoying their favourite titles at the Bangalore Book Festival (BBF)-2009. And to catch even those who are not book lovers will be celebrities and a fashion show!
Now into its seventh edition, the 10-day book carnival will begin in the city's Palace Grounds, about six kilometres from the city centre, from Nov 6.
Toys donated for orphans in KarnatakaSeptember 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - People donated toys for orphan children in Bangalore during 'Bombe Habba' festival which is celebrated by arranging toys and dolls in a rack consisting of nine steps indicating "Navratri". Some private companies organized the event during "Bombe Habba".
Alabama liquor agency says no to nude nymph on widely distributed California wineJuly 24th, 2009 Alabama liquor agency says no to nude nymphMONTGOMERY, Ala. — A wine label showing a nude nymph is too racy for Alabama's liquor control agency, which has told restaurants and stores not to sell the product.
Strike averted 1 day before opening of Germany's Bayreuth Festival celebrating WagnerJuly 24th, 2009 Strike averted at Germany's Bayreuth FestivalBAYREUTH, Germany — Union leaders say they have signed an agreement with organizers of the Bayreuth Festival, avoiding a strike one day before the world-famous Wagner celebration was to begin. Ver.di union spokesman Hans Kraft says workers "are relieved" because they achieved what they wanted.
Shimla summer festival begins June 2May 30th, 2009 SHIMLA - The five-day annual Shimla summer festival will begin in this Himachal Pradesh capital Tuesday, an official said Saturday. "Shimla summer festival will start June 2.
Bangalore's youth want 'winners' to performMay 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - With the Karnataka results out, the young voters of India's IT hub are impatient to see the winning candidates work for the overall development of the city. Of the 28 Lok Sabha seats in Karnataka, three are in the capital - Bangalore Central, Bangalore South and Bangalore North.
BJP ahead in 12 constituencies in KarnatakaMay 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was leading in 12 of the 28 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka, while the Congress was ahead in four and the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) in three. One-and-a-half hours into counting at 9.30 a.m., the BJP was way ahead of the Congress and the JD-S in Belgaum, Bagalkot, Bijapur (SC), Gulbarga (SC), Raichur (ST), Haveri, Dharwad, Uttar Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, Shimoga, Chitradurga (SC), Mysore, Bellary (ST) and Bangalore Central, election officials said.
Jaffer Sharief defeated in Bangalore NorthMay 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - Congress veteran and former railways minister C.K. Jaffer Sharief lost to Congressman-turned Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nominee D.B.
BJP's Ananth Kumar retains Bangalore SouthMay 16th, 2009 BANGALORE - Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary H.N. Ananth Kumar retained the Bangalore South seat for the fifth time in a row.
St. Louis Brewers Festival, June 5-6May 4th, 2009 St. Louis Brewers Festival, June 5-6ST. LOUIS, Mo. — St. Louis is the destination for beer lovers next month as the St.
Polling process begins in KarnatakaApril 23rd, 2009 BANGALORE - Over 28,000 polling booths opened at 7 a.m. across 17 Lok Sabha constituencies in Karnataka Thursday in the first of the two-phase elections for the 28 seats in the state.
Grape farmers in Maharashtra losing businessApril 4th, 2009 PUNE - Grape growers in Maharashtra are loosing their business due to wineries canceling their contracts as a consequence of declining demand for Indian wines. In 58 wineries of Maharashtra, the wine produced last year is still lying unsold.
Americans in Bangalore raise a toast for new presidentJanuary 20th, 2009 BANGALORE - In small groups at upscale restaurants and pubs and in homes, around 6,000 US citizens living here raised a toast Tuesday night as Barack Hussein Obama took oath as 44th president of their country. While it was a chilly morning ceremony at Washington DC, it was a pleasant late evening in India's tech hub, making it a perfect setting for the Americans to clink their wine glasses to celebrate the historic moment of their country getting the first African American president.
The spirit of northeast to come alive in DelhiJanuary 8th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Listen to some soulful melodies from the hills of Meghalaya, enjoy the graceful 'Bihu' dance of Assam, stuff your shopping bags with wares from the northeast, and titillate your taste buds with delicacies of the region. In short, get set to feel the northeastern spirit right here from Saturday on.
Shopping festival starts in KolkataDecember 24th, 2008 KOLKATA - With the aim of emulating shopping festivals in Dubai and Singapore, the Great Kolkata Shopping Festival has got off to a glittering start. Inaugurating the festival here Wednesday evening, West Bengal Tourism Minister Manabendra Mukherjee said: 'This is the first time any such festival is happening in India.
Loading ...