UB Group brews 80 wine brand launches this year

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UB Group, the spirits conglomerate, is betting big on the wine industry by expanding its product basket and launching about 80 wine brands including imported brands this year. The company is learnt to be launching about 10-12 own labels under its subsidiary, Four Seasons Wines Ltd, while another subsidiary, United Vintners Ltd, will import about 70 labels from France, US, South Africa, Italy and Chile, by the end of this year.

Zinzi, the newly launched domestic brand, has been sold out about 1000 cases in the first five weeks of launch in Mumbai. Buoyed by the successful launch of Zinzi in Mumbai, UB is to launch the domestic brand in all metros by the end of March. Abhay Kewadkar, chief wine maker& business head, United Spirits, said, “We are in process of importing wine brands from across the globe. Our focus is mainly on the French brands, especially from the regions such as Bordeaux, Burgundy and Languedoc. About 15-20 various labels will be imported from France while 2-3 labels each will be from other countries.”

The Indian wine market is valued at $62 million and the market is expected to grow by 25-30% to 1.7 million cases by 2010 from an estimated current market of 785,000 cases.

The company has plans to export Zinzi to various countries including Japan and the US. “We get enquiries regarding export of Zinzi brands.

We might start with exporting to the US and Japan first,” Kewadkar added. Also, super-premium sparkling wines will be launched under Four Seasons, at a price range between Rs 500-650.

Three major players, Champagne Indage, Sula Wines and Grover Vineyards, together account for more than 90% share in the wine market. Recently, liquor players like Diageo entered the domestic market with its own brand, named, Nilaya, while Seagram India had launched Nine Hills wines.