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The red reserve is made from Cabernet Sauvignon and has been in French oak barrels for 2 years, says Prahlad Khadangle., Chairman of the company. The Rose bubbly that is undergoing second fermentation in the bottles for two years is also made from Cabernet Sauvignon .The red will be priced at Rs.1200 and the rose sparkling at Rs. 1100. The wines will be officially launched on December 20, says Prahlad according to whom price is no constraint because of the unique quality due to ageing.
Based in Vinchur Wine Park, near Nashik, Vinsura was earlier known as Sankalp Winery (based on Prahlad and his other three partners’ sankalp to make good quality wines in the early 2000s when only Indage, Grover and the then newly formed Sula existed. Apparently the brand label being different caused a lot of confusion. It is a family run company in the sense that four people joined hands and till today, that structure is being maintained with no outside equity participation, unlike the Top Three. Mr. Sadashiv Nate is the CEO, looking after marketing while Kishore Holkar continues to be the MD, looking after the vineyards. Khadangle looks after the production.
Based on last year’s sales of 25,000 cases, Vinsura was probably no. 4 producer in India, marginally ahead of UB, the new kid on the block. Although Vinsura is targeting the sales of 30,000 cases this year, he concedes that UB will overtake them to take the number 4 spot this year.
‘Unfortunately, we are not able to make much headway in Delhi because of the presence of Sula and Grover. Indage spoilt the retailers with impossible-to-maintain schemes. They are out of the Delhi market but the retailers demand those schemes from us-which means we continue to be in red. Vinsura sold a mere 2000 cases last year despite Delhi being a growing and otherwise lucrative market,’ he says.
Vinsura plans to bring out a Merlot Reserve next year too. The 2008 vintage is undergoing barrel ageing. The price will be decided at the time of the launch, he says.
If the wines turn out as good and saleable as Prahlad claims, India may be getting closer towards fine wines. |