Hi Puneet,

I have a plan to open an Wine Lounge or Wine Bar, which will extensively serve different kinds of wines available in India. I have done a lot research on this regard and would like to seek your help for turning this dream into a reality. Looking forward for immdiate reply from your side.  

Thanks and Regards,

Vinay 

Dear Vinay,

Many thaks for your kind question. I am sure this is a good idea. As wine production increases within India - The channels to market also need to increase in line to sustain the continued growth of production. Currently Volume and Variety selection in India are being pushed by wineries and production. The slow transition where consumer requirement drives production is the next transition the country is likely to see - inc line with New Zealand 15 years ago, Australia, 20 years ago and the US 25 years ago.

Where abouts are you based Vinay - location is one of the first key considerations - which I am sure that you have assessed. I have researched carefully the demographic demands for alcohol from state to state within India, from White spirits through to Beer and Wine. Understanding your target market will be key in how you set up your business, price your products, and select the look and feel of the Bar.

You will need to walk a fine line of being pioneering and setting up novel and innovative aspects to how alcoholic beverages are served, whilst adhereing to current cultural ideologies.

About 8 Years ago, I was instrumental in setting up a Wine Bar / Restaurant in London and have experienced the growing pains of this industry.

I think to begin this dialogue, let me know more about yourself and your dreams on the forum - this will also assist other people with similar thoughts. Regarding actual business objectives and goals, lets take that conversation off line

Kind Regards

Puneet

Thank Vinay,

Now for the warning shots.

Restaurants and Wine Bars have the highest Rate of Failures within the first year than any other type of business. You are working in an arena where social context is very important, and people very much follow trends. To avoid being todays favourite and tomorrows 'has been' you will require excellent ideas, marketing, renewal, patience and courage.

Now the positive - There is most definetely space for what you are doing - Obviously Grover Vineyards will be one of your biggest supporters and contributors, and you should ensure that your relationship with them is strong.

There are many people entering onto the market regarding importing wines - Brindco is an excellent Agent and Importer and a strong relationship here is recommended.

If you also wish to source other wines from accross the world, then of course my company Dhall and Nash Fine Wines is always at your disposal. I have relationships with hundreds of producers accross Europe and Globally, and also an exclusive portfolio of products, and will be happy to guide you here.

The first steps are for you to establish a detailed Business plan - exploring market, Goals and Objectives, Look and Feel, Products, and of course the all important Financials. You can discuss general points with me here and more personal thoughts can be e-mailed to puneet@dnfinewine.com

Look forward to more of your ideas

Puneet

Hello Puneet & Vinay,

I returned to Kolkata from Seattle recently. Over there, I had taken to wine passionately and used to regularly attend tastings of local as well as foreign wines and took a 2 month course on wine. I met winemakers in CA and WA to talk about setting up a venture in India. 

Then I realized I could not clearly see really fine wine being grown in the Indian climate (and then global warming, etc). I am not sure the quality and price points could justify the low yields economically. What do you have to say about that?

Instead I want to start with something closer to the customer. I am really interested in setting up a wine lounge and activity bar. In addition, I want to add a wine store to it which would provide a nice shopping experience with trained personnel. None of the stores I have visited in Kolkata are elegant and I never see anyone shopping for wine as wine, but as a source of alcohol. Is Kolkata a place where I could find wine geeks or wannabe-wine geeks based on your data? I have a lot of connections among the affluent community here and if there is a potential market, I would not have a problem tapping it. I have a few other ideas on how to market it and how to make it a really desirable place. I'm not sure that removing other alcohol from your shelves is good economically, but that seems to be a necessity in order to position alcohol as a beverage for enjoying the taste/experience, to ward off people looking for a quick buzz. Not sure if economically feasible. 

What I also find is that stuff I used to drink as house wine on my backpacking trip to Spain/Italy is passed off inside a 2000/bottle. The same was revealed by a friend who also runs an Italian restaurant here. Is the tax structure in W Bengal worse than other states?

I used to have really nice wine in the USA for $20-$30 - even Sancerre (my favorite) and Burgundy. Are any of those wines imported to India? like Henri Bourgeois Sancerre. How much would they be retailed for here?

Vineet,

 I noticed you mentioned that you are itnerested in a wine lounge which exclusively serves wine and no other alcoholic beverages. Do you think that is sustainable? I wanted to do the same, but on second thoughts, that will severely limit clientele of even wine drinkers and the likelihood of all their friends being wine drinkers is not high. In Kolkata, for e.g., I am yet to even find people who care about the grape or kind of wine they drink. 

- Harsh Modi 

 You would need a market into wine and only wine. I think personally you would need to sell beer, sprits and soft drinks, and Indian culture needs food with its drink, so you would need that aswell - but then again you know the market you are dealing with....what do you think??

Puneet 

Very good observations.

Firstly tax does vary from State to State. But in the end The tax laws are heavily biased against imports of any kind. Any Sancerre that you had in the states for $30 will be in the region of a $100 in India - even Mahrashtra - this is the lid that is holding back the rapid growth everyone is crying out for - especially the local producers.

I would be happy to supply your shop with foreign imported wines if you feel that you had the market for this. Another good option is Brindco who have a truly excellent portfolio, and of course you now have hundreds of wineries to chosse from around Maharashtra and Karnataka - be aware taste the wines first before stocking...

Where do you think you may set up you lounge???

Puneet