SOUTHERN WINE TO PUSH INDIA’S TIGER HILL

Indian-produced wine anyone? It might seem a little crazy but another Indian import is coming soon to the U.S., and the strangest part is that it’s not produced by UB Group’s Vijay Mallay who famously has his eye out for global expansion. Champagne Indage Ltd (CIL), the largest wine maker in the country, is all set to launch its new brand, Tiger Hill, in the US, according to local newspapers. Southern Wine & Spirits will distribute Tiger Hill through its Shaw-Ross division, first in California and later in other states. Three of CIL’s other brands – Soma, Omar Khayam and Mist of Sahyadri – are currently being distributed by Shirazi Wines.

Ranjit S Chougule, managing director, Champagne Indage, told DNA Money, “We are planning to sell 25,000 cases of Tiger Hill in the first year in the US. The products will be shipped within two months and the marketing will be started by the year-end.”

Tiger Hill, mainly aimed at the Indian community in the US, will be sold at $12 per bottle. But who knows, maybe Indian wine will be the next big thing – you never know with the way consumers are today.

Wine is growing domestically in India as the middle to upper classes continuously shows more interest. Vijay exhibited just how strong consumer interest actually is by purchasing French winemaker Bouvet Ladubay – based in France’s Loire Valley – for a reported sum of $17.7 million. As you may recall, Bouvet is the wine division of France’s Taittinger champagne group, which UB failed to acquire due to a general feeling that champagne should remain in French hands.