Indian Wine: State Laws Choking Progress?

In a column for Business Standard, Sommelier India contributor Alok Chandra discusses what it takes to enter the wine business in India. He emphasizes that liquor is a state subject in India so when distributing and marketing wine, it is akin to operating in 34 different countries. He encourages the state governments to relax their restrictive wine laws.
Alok explains that the Indian wine industry has come a full circle with Vijay Mallya’s purchase of the French wine company Bouvet-Ladubay. Apparently, Vittal Mallya was one of India’s first wine makers when he teamed up with Dr. Rossi and Sharad Pawar to set up a winery in Baramati in the 1970s.