Optimism For Wine In India Despite Barriers

Wine consumption in India is expected to grow year on year and could reach 2.4m nine-litre cases by 2020, according to the recently published IWSR India Wine Market Report.

The wine market in India is currently small and consumption per capita is low compared to that of beer and spirits, but interest is growing. Wine is mainly enjoyed by the small population of travelled Indian businessmen, their foreign guests, tourists, and sometimes up-market women and cosmopolitan affluent youths. Despite the difficulties of matching wine with Indian food, a cult enthusiasm is developing for wine consumption and it has become a more regular offering at launch parties, business receptions and sometimes weddings.

The expansion of the wine market is hindered by the difficulties of trading on the Indian market, such as a limited number of skilled importers, an underdeveloped infrastructure and retail system, and the costs of taxes and licences.

The market is now recovering following a dip in 2009 and 2010, and long-term growth is anticipated provided good-quality grapes are sufficiently available.

The IWSR India Wine Market Report analyses the structure of consumption by country of origin, colour, format and price point; provides detailed information on the structure of the market, costs and taxes; and also assesses the opportunities. The report includes brand sales data for 2006-2011 for still light wine and sparkling wine.