India's Growing Love For Wines

The flow of wines in Indias food service and food retail industry is expected to gain momentum, in the near future. According to India Wine Market Outlook,2023, the consumption of wine inIndiais found to be increasing with rise of awareness of wine as a good drink for health.

- Swarnendu Biswas

The wine market of India observed growth with a CAGR of more than 25 percent during 2011-12 to 2016-18.

Growth and Reasons

“The period observed increasing awareness of wine and wine brands in India. The vineries have started becoming picnic spots and provide educational tours as well as consist of tasting rooms in it. The increasing craze of Bollywood also helped Indian wine market as many of the heroines are seen consuming wine in the movies,” pointed out the report.

Our changing lifestyles due to the widespread impact of globlisation, increase in disposable incomes during the last one-and-a-half decade in select but sizeable pockets of urban Indian society, the predominantly young demographics, weakening of archaic social taboos and also the growing health consciousness in the urban Indian society have together contributed towards the popularity of wines in India.

According to Rajesh Radhakrishnan, F&B Director, Radisson Blu Resort Goa Cavelossim Beach, India’s wine consumption has grown substantially over a five year period. “Few factors that has helped this growth are good climate for grape growing in certain parts of India, increasing urban population, craving among youth for an alternative to hard liquors, growing acceptance of wines among Indian women and youth,” affirmed Rajesh.

The attitudinal shift among upwardly mobile Indian women, and the gradual but perceptible societal acceptance towards women drinking alcoholic beverages are also the reasons for the increasing wine consumption in India. The wine drinking among upper middle class women has shown an increase in India, during the recent years. The fact that swanky retail outlets in big cities of the country are now having wines is also increasing this ancient, modern and delightful beverage’s consumption in the country.