July 02: With the change of guard at Grover Zampa (GZV) after Ravi Viswanathan taking charge as Chairman and assisted by his CEO Vivek Chandramohan, innovation, creativity, modern equipment, sharp focus on quality and making it the first multi-brand wine company in India are the buzz words at GZV where a wine revolution is fermenting , writes Subhash Arora who visited the Bangalore winery in Nandi Hills earlier this month and shared his vision and strategy
GZV had launched two wines last month and inaugurated their La Reserve Lounge in Bangalore (Bengaluru) for formal tastings and making it the focal point for wine tourism. Since I was not in India on that day, I went there on June 6 after Ravi confirmed he would be there. He visits India at least once a month-sometimes even twice and since a lot of activity is currently taking place in Bangalore, he visits it more frequently than Nashik. The Lounge is named after their workhorse wine La Reserve and has 3 sections- including a restaurant. The excise rules being as strange in Bangalore as in Delhi (and indeed elsewhere in India), these sections are not inter connected and one has to enter each section individually. I was anxious not to accidentally break the glass wall separating each section, mistaking it as a door. But excise officials are not concerned with such practical problems.
Technology and Innovations
Technological advancement and innovations are the new Mantra at GroverZ. Optical Sorting Machines are one such innovation. ‘Optical Sorting Machines separate grapes in three different categories and ensuring that we get perfect grape from the harvest for our top wines. This avoids crappy substances getting into wine. This is the latest technology and very few companies are using this machine in the world-Grover is definitely the only one in India,’ explains Ravi Viswanathan.
It would be interesting to taste and compare wines from the 2019 vintage with earlier vintage since the machine has been already deployed this year for separating. Better still, the management could consider comparing two lots of the same vintage-one with the earlier process and the other after sorting on this machine to observe any discernible difference; theoretically there ought to be marked improvement in the quality of top wines.
Drone technology, water management to reduce water consumption and weather stations will be also some of the other technological improvements introduced- some requiring government permission.
Sea Change in Viticulture
There is going to be a sea-change with viticulturist Manjunath VG, one of the longest serving employees of GroverZ vineyards, working towards the higher plant density and with adequate guidance. He has already made the newly planted plots high density crop-taking it to 2200 plants/acre. Thanks to the high density plantation of up to 9000 plants/acre in Burgundy, Ravi insists on taking it to as high a level as possible, adding new sensors to anticipate any plant diseases and new irrigation system to save water.
GZV plans to become self sufficient in electricity-by installing Panasonic solar panels and selling more to the electricity grid than buying. Panels are being installed at several places including vineyards at a height that makes it possible for the machines to operate underneath the panels which will form a sun-protective cover. The plants would be thus protected under the shade and the scorching heat and the solar panels would generate electricity.
New Grape varieties
GroverZ is planning to introduce several new vines and wines in the near future. Saperavi, the signature grape from Georgia has been planted in Bangalore and the first vintage is expected in 3 years. The company has already ordered a container load of Qvevries (ancient earthen vessels still being used Georgia) from Georgia for fermentation. It will perhaps be first time that Georgian signature wine, which incidentally has done extremely well in Australia, would be made in India using their local Qvevries. Sangiovese has also been planted to experiment blending with Cabernet Sauvignon.
New Labels
Two New Labels were already launched at the event on May 4 in Bangalore this year with a La Reserve Royale Brute with Chenin Blanc on the lees for 12 months at Rs. 2100 and a Vendanges Tardives, a Late Harvest Chenin Blanc (375 mL) which is expensive at around Rs.1700 but is an example of finesse and elegance and due to the small quantities would not be hard to sell out.
A Fume Blanc, fermented in barrels of different ages, Chene white with Chardonnay, dry Riesling priced at a competitive price of Rs. 900 a bottle to be released in July and ready for the coming season are already in the pipeline. Next calendar year will see launch of limited edition of barrel wines, special barrels, amphora wines and wine made in cement tanks. Egg shaped vessels are already in use as experiments and one will see more of them in the bottle.
New Areas of operation
Although the focus on production will be at the existing wineries in Nashik, Charosa, Baramati and Bengaluru and the nearby new winery to be erected soon, talks are already on for a project with Bhutan and Utterakhand government for operations there. Also on the anvil may be a project soon with Bhutan as the
Ravi emphasizes that the company is fast being transformed into a lifestyle company where innovation is a key factor. For the last few years he has been unhappy that Grover never had big parcels of land of its own and affirms again ‘we want to grow the grapes on our own land or contracted land.’ Land banks available with the recent acquisitions will of course, help him achieve the objective. The company has already been in talks with the King.
Grover group to celebrate 300 years of winemaking
Wine is but a weave of interesting stories around the liquid and believe it or not, Grover Group completers 300 years this year, when you look at their property in Burgundy as well. Viswanathan is very excited about celebrating the group turning 300 years this year (the details will be shared at the time of announcing for the event. Kick off might be in September/October when the Nashik winery is refurbished and ready to be showcased as a boutique winery. The infrastructure being developed with 60-70 super premium glass Chalets , wine spa, gym an outdoor restaurant, 2 new water bodies, camping site, amphitheatre and many sports facilities to make it a complete resort for wine tourism. Not all the facilities may be ready at the same time though but the future is here. Cosmetics using wine ingredients, like being done by the the famous French cosmetics company Cauderlie, will soon be developed with basic ingredients from GroverZ. Grape seed oil production is also in the offing, say the visionary Ravi Viswanathan.
He insists that they would continue to focus on the premium end (currently 40%) of the business. Wine tourism will be a substantial part of the business. In short, Grover is charging ahead to maintain a respectable position behind Sula and ahead of Fratelli and taking up the pole position in premier wines.
For Part 1 of the Report, please visit Grover Zampa: Wine Revolution Fermenting at Pioneer Wine Maker- Part 1
For other related Articles about Georgian Saperavi, visit
Australian Judged World’s Best Foreign Saperavi
K.I.S.S. Georgia-the Oldest Wine Producing Nation
We Recommend: Tbilvino Saperavi Red from Georgia
Subhash Arora
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