• Source:JND
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In a bid to make Uttar Pradesh a leading state in wine production, the Excise Department, in collaboration with Invest UP, has launched efforts to attract top wine manufacturers from Maharashtra and Karnataka. Companies like Sula Vineyards and Good Drop Wine Cellars Pvt Ltd have already begun exploring opportunities in the state.

Good Drop Wine Cellars, a prominent Maharashtra-based wine manufacturer, is setting up a production plant in Rania, Kanpur Dehat. This marks a significant step as Uttar Pradesh has traditionally lagged behind states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Goa in wine production, mainly due to the absence of grape cultivation.

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However, recent innovations in fruit-based winemaking using mangoes, guavas, jamun, mulberries, bananas, and honey have opened new avenues. These successful experiments have sparked fresh interest among wine producers to invest in UP.

Currently, wine is being produced by companies like Surbhi Wine in Noida, KD Green in Muzaffarnagar, Varni in Saharanpur, and Ambrosia Nature Living near Lucknow in Malihabad. The revival of wine production in Malihabad is particularly noteworthy. MD Singh, whose father had set up a wine plant in 1975 but had to shut it down due to a lack of government support, has now restarted the initiative. His company is producing wine from mangoes, mulberries, cloves, cinnamon, and honey and plans to launch the product next month.

Ashwin Rodrigues, Director of Good Drop Wine and Secretary of the Wine Growers Association of India, stated that their new plant aims to begin production within six months using alternative fruits and honey.

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Excise Commissioner Dr Adarsh Singh said the government is actively supporting the industry by offering a five-year exemption on excise duty and permitting wine companies to set up retail outlets.

With these efforts, Uttar Pradesh is set to establish itself as a promising hub for fruit-based wine production in India.