Shivamogga: Wine lovers will have a choice from 280 varieties of wines, which will be in display in Shivamogga as part of a three- day mela beginning today.
Besides wines from Maharashtra, Goa and other states, the mela will have on display international brands from European countries, Chile, Australia, New Zealand and the United States of America, according to Wine Board managing director T Somu.
He explains that the mela is intended to be a link between grape growers and wine makers.
“Wine making has started to pick up in the state. We have over a 100 wine making units currently and the number of consumers is estimated to be around 85 lakh, considering its numerous health benefits,” he adds.
The board’s general manager, Sarvesh Kumar, says the event is intended to benefit grape growers.
“Grapes are a perishable commodity and if they are not consumed, they are used to make juices or wine. So wine making helps the farmers indirectly,” he maintains.
The Wine Board, which came into existence in 2008 after the state came out with a wine policy in 2007, has held wine melas in Hubballi, Mangaluru, Belagavi, Mysuru, Udupi and other parts of Karnataka.
