United Spirits' winery to start in 2008

Mumbai, March 28, 2008: The United Spirits winery in Baramati is ready to take up its first ever harvest of the 2008 vintage. The company will be launching six varieties of wines this year with a target of 5 million bottles in five years.

Built over a plot of 300 acre, the crushing at the winery has begun and the bottling will begin by April. The winery will be fully ready by October 2008 and will then release wines made from grape varieties grown in Sahayadri valley of Maharashtra.

The company had recently launched its first Indian made wine - Zinzi, under the banner of Four Seasons Wines - a joint venture between USL (51%) and the Pawar family and the local farmers (49%) of Baramati, near Pune.  The oak-barrelled wines will be launched by Four Seasons Wines in November 2008 while the sparkling wines will be launched by 2009. The crushing was officially inaugurated by UB group chairman Vijay Mallya and Union Minister Sharad Pawar yesterday.

Besides 300 hundred acres of its own vineyards, Four Seasons Wines will enter into long term contractual agreements with local farmers for a further 1,000 acres of vineyards for its annual requirement. Besides, the company will also share its technical expertise with local farmers of Baramati and help in their viticulture.

- Source: Business Standard