BENGALURU: Just like the Karnataka Milk Federation (KMF) selling its branded milk and curd, state-owned wine booths will soon come up across Karnataka.
The Karnataka Wine Board is now contemplating to produce different varieties and sell its branded wine. Speaking to Express, KWB Managing Director T Somu said the board can produce over 25 varieties of wine. “These will be available at the KWB booths. The cost will be cheaper and it will be branded. Karnataka stands second in terms of production of wine after Maharashtra. We are targeting to become first,’’ he added.
The board has started preparing for a wine park, where they can grow varieties of grapes which will be crushed to make wines and the same will be available in booths.
Somu explained that the board has 141 acres at Vijayapura. “We wanted to have a wine park at Vijayapura and the proposal was put before the state government last year. Though they did not give funds, the government agreed to starting our own park under public-private partnership. Now a private consultancy has been entrusted the task,’’ he said.
Somu added the wine park will have all facilities under one umbrella. “Hi-tech nursery, production of wines, research institute, boutique winery and many more will come up there. Since there are many heritage places in and around Vijayapura, we are planning for wine tourism too,’’ he added.
Karnataka produces around one crore litres of wine every year. It has 18 wineries and 15,000 grape growers. As many as 10,000 tonnes of blue grapes are used to make wine. Karnataka gets one lakh litres of wine from New Zealand and other countries. “We will grow those varieties of grapes in our backyard,’’ Somu said.