The Hindu

BANGALORE, Sep 11: Minister for Horticulture Umesh Katti on Wednesday said the Government would establish wine parks at Chickaballapur and Bijapur with the aim of increasing the area under grape cultivation and producing good wine.

Addressing presspersons here on Wednesday, Mr. Katti said the parks would be established on public-private partnership. Seven licenses would be issued to set up wineries at the wine park in Bijapur.

The Government has liberalised the licensing system to attract investors to the wine parks, particularly from Maharashtra, which is a major wine-producing State. The licence fee has been fixed at Rs. 1,000. Those who want to set up wineries can obtain a licence by applying to the Deputy Commissioner’s office. Licences will be issued within 30 days of submission of the application, he said.

The grape-growing districts of Bangalore Rural and Bangalore Urban and Kolar have been named “Nandi Valley,” while Bijapur, Bagalkot and Belgaum districts have been named “Krishna Valley.”

The Government would also provide infrastructure such as roads, electricity, drinking water and drainage in the parks, Mr. Katti said.

Wine Board

The Government had constituted a Wine Board for the inspection and regulation of grape quality, framing rules, maintaining the quality of wine, approving labels, conducting research, exhibitions and fairs and taking grape growers and others connected with the industry to wineries in India and abroad to create marketing facilities. Mr. Katti said grape growers would be offered incentives to set up wine production and processing units.

About 9,700 hectares of land is under grape cultivation in the State, and the estimated annual production is 1.67 lakh tonnes. Besides the “valley” districts, farmers grow grapes in Koppal, Chikmagalur and Mysore districts. Bangalore is the third largest market for wine in India after Mumbai and Delhi.