Goa is getting ready to host the three-day Grape Escape wine festival from May 12 in Panaji. Now in its second year, the festival aims at projecting the state as an upmarket lifestyle destination, have much more to offer than the beaches, churches and flea markets the old Portuguese colony on India's south-western has been known for.

The Goa Tourism Development Corp. (GTDC) event will be held at the INOX complex, the venue of the annual International Film Festival of India along the Mandovi river.

"Wine is synonymous with friendship, happiness and celebrations. We are giving tourists another reason to visit Goa," said Fatima D'Sa, Managing Director, GTDC.