Nashik, renowned for its expansive grape-growing region and home to over seven prominent wineries, experienced an exceptional festive season from December 22 to December 31, 2023. Approximately 35,000 tourists chose Nashik as their holiday destination, collectively consuming an impressive 2 lakh litres of grape wine—a remarkable increase of over 17% compared to the previous year.
In 2022, around 30,000 visitors had celebrated the festive season in Nashik, contributing to the consumption or purchase of 1.7 lakh litres of grape wine. The All India Wine Producers Association (AIWPA) reported this data, which includes both on-site consumption at wineries and the purchase of wine bottles.
Jagdish Holkar, President of AIWPA, highlighted Nashik’s emergence as the country’s wine capital, pointing out the growing popularity of its wineries. He emphasized the annual trend of tourists visiting wineries during the festive season, particularly in the last 10-12 days of December, showing consistent growth.
Holkar outlined ambitious goals for the wine sector, targeting a 20% year-on-year growth over the next five years. He anticipates the annual sales of Maharashtra wineries, currently around Rs 400 crore, to double to Rs 800 crore within the next five years.
Monit Dhavale, Senior Vice President of Sula Vineyards, credited the surge in wine awareness among visitors to the wineries. He observed an evolving trend where tourists seek specific grape wine brands and actively participate in wine-tasting sessions. Dhavale noted that this shift has been occurring over the past three to four years, indicating a growing preference for winery visits and engaging in wine-related experiences.
The state of Maharashtra allocates 3.5 lakh acres to grape plantations, with Nashik district contributing 1.75 lakh acres. Within this vast expanse, grape wine varieties cover 9,000 acres across Maharashtra, with 6,000 acres located in Nashik district. The remaining plantation focuses on table grapes in both the state and the district.
