|  This would sound unbelievable to most, including me, but it was creditable to find out that company has already crossed the 100,000 case mark this year. What is also more impressive is that about 70% of the total sales would be in the premium wine segment and not in the low end ‘Port’ and other cheaper wines, as I cross-checked with senior executives all of whom appeared to sing the same tune.
Historically speaking, after reaching the sales figure of 90,000 cases at its previous high, the fortunes of the company saw it nose-dive to almost 50,000 cases; last year it barely touched 60,000, if that at all. Four Seasons over-took the company last year to gain the second spot behind Sula which clocked over 570,000 cases and Four-Seasons scraping past the 100,000 mark, aided by the ‘Port’ wine added to the ‘port-folio’ in early 2013.
How has the company managed such an impressive sales growth this year? ‘By adding 7 domestic states and 7 export markets,’ claims Sumedh Mandla, with distribution channels established in 23 States now and by adding new export markets like China, Singapore and re-entering UK. The company is reportedly in the final talks for distribution for the US market as well.
 ‘But one still does not sniff this kind of growth in Delhi,’ I told Sumedh who conceded that they were still struggling in the Delhi market. The company took a severe beating after being the most popular quality brand about 10 years ago when Sula conquered with their varietals and went past even the then brand leader Chateau Indage. But during the last 4 years the Grover brand saw a slow and study erosion though the highly popular La Reserve helped keep its name alive.
The recently introduced top-ended ‘Chene’- the Tempranillo Shiraz blend, has already established itself as one of the top 3 labels in the market - Grover Zampa would have you believe they have already clinched the top spot for Indian wine labels. But in a short time of less than 3 months, about 40% of the 3000 bottle-production has already been sold, according to Sumedh. With the MRP ruling around Rs.1700 a bottle in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore, this is quite an achievement; the super-premium wine was launched in Delhi on 28th October last at a wine dinner of the Delhi Wine Club before its official launch in Mumbai a couple of days later.
Talking to delWine at the Great Grover Stomp (one wonders why the name Zampa has not been added now that the two have merged and the Stomp is at the Nashik winery of the erstwhile Zampa Vineyards-perhaps the company is planning a Zingy Zampa Zomp in Bangalore where Grover Vineyards is based!) which is now an annual feature of festivities around the harvest time, Sumedh also hinted at the finalization stage of talks with the Alila hospitality group (of South Goa fame) which will build and run a Spa resort at the property. Considering the location advantage and the spectacular view from the vineyard, it might make commercial sense to build a wine resort of this kind. The presence of another boutique winery Vallonné close-by would be an added attraction for the wine tourists. With the travel time reduced to less than 3 hours from the Mumbai airport on a normal traffic day, the project would have lots of possibilities for attracting wine lovers from other parts of Indian and even overseas .
 The annual Great Grover Stomp 2014 was organised better than last year and had several new attractions for the visitors, the most noteworthy being the lunch preceded by an array of appetizers on arrival and the seamless supply of wine helping to set the right mood. There seemed to be more people this year compared to last year’s 600+. In fact, this event could now be open to the public and perhaps extended for 2 days (last year it was held on a Sunday) over a week-end preceding Sulafest which is held every first weekend of February and has become a must-visit event for wine lovers making their number swell to over 10,000 last year. It’s a great way to promote wine tourism and with a slightly different flavour than Sula (the wine auction, art exhibition and sale at special prices, guided vineyards visits, sniff and win competition and guided tasting by the winemaker Karishma Grover, one of the Top Ten Women of Wine 2013 chosen by the Indian Wine Academy) it would make many a wine connoisseur rush to the event if priced at a nominal price-not only from Mumbai but other parts of India. That would be a great branding opportunity for Grover Zampa too.
However, like last year it continues to be "By Invitation Only" and as Sumedh stresses, ‘unlike some other wine events it has been conceived to express our appreciation for friends and trade partners. Throughout the year we keep doing many small and big events to spread education on wine with a bit of fun. The Great Grover Stomp 2014 was dedicated to friends who love wine and all the fun around it.’
 Finally, Grover is getting back into the groove and one hopes that the results of the past few years would be forgotten by them like a bad dream and team Grover Zampa would be singing at the end of the financial year 2013-14, ‘happy days are here again, let’s sing a song of cheer again, Happy Days are Here Ag-g-a-i-i-n!’
For an article on the last year’s event reported by our Mumbai Correspondent Rishi Vohra CSW, visit The Great Grover Stomp in Nashik. It is a compliment to the organisers that most of the complaints and suggestions pointed out by Rishi were taken into consideration and the issues of last year were sorted out quite well. The Great Grover Stomp ’15 ought to be even smoother, more well-rounded with a longer and even more pleasant after-taste.
Subhash Arora
Voluntary Disclosure- Hospitality for the event was extended by Grover Zampa Vineyards
Tags: Grover Vineyards, Grover Zampa, Sumedh Singh Mandla, Kapil Grover, Great Grover Stomp, Nashik, Chene, Sulafest |