For the last few years Andhra Pradesh is deprived of wines, where the adjoining states – Karnataka, Maharastra are aggressively promoting their wine policy to make their states Centers of Wine Industries inline with changing trends allover the world.  As far as Andhra Pradesh is concerned, the total liquor sales are to the tune of 14 – 16 lakh cases consisting of Whiskey and Rum with a very small insignificant portion of wines with only 1300 cases.  M/s Chateau Indage  is the only the major Wine maker, which started selling their wines in our state, but going through the experience of low selling volumes, slowly wound up their operations here.  Practically no wine is available in Andhra Pradesh, except for Star hotels which are having their own separate channels for procurement of imported wines.  That is the average man is deprived of wines, which is proved to be the best health drink.

The exorbitant label registration charges to the tune of Rs. 2 lakhs in comparison to Rs. 10,000  in other states, high excise duty, high sales tax made the wine makers to shun away from our state. 

It is in this context, Mr. P. Kishan, (mobile:9885181999) presently working as Senior Marketing Executive with M/s Chateau Indage,  one of members of Hyderabad Wine Club, started taking active interest in lobbying with authorities concerned to impress upon them that Wine is an entirely a separate segment of alcohol beverages with low alcohol,  that it is fermented drink, a food product, agro-friendly industrial product and good for health. 

It is heartening to know that Mr. P. Kishan’s efforts bore a fruit and Andhra Pradesh Government came out with a policy to reduce label charges for Wine from Rs. 2 lakhs to Rs. 10,000  with the GO No. Ms.No. 1074/ 1075 dt. 18.12.2004.  This will result in, Andhra Pradesh opening its flood gates to all Wine Makers. 

Major players like M/s Chateau Indage, M/s Sula,   M/s Grover will come soon with at least 20-15 brands each, where as the smaller players like M/s Dajeeba Wines,  M/s ND Wines,  M/s Sankalp Wineries,  M/s Rajbeer wines to name a few are waiting in the wings to take the opportunity. 

After all this, the wines may still costly compared to Karnataka and Maharastra, where both excise duty and sales tax are on par with food products.  Maharastra even nullified its excise duty on wines bringing it under food portfolio. 

In future,  Mr. Kishan has taken an additional task on him, to impress upon the authorities for reduction of excise duties, sales taxes on wines for treating them as food products there by making wines available to common public – for healthy living.

Hyderabad Wine Lovers express their sincere thanks to Excise Commissioner,   APBCL and Government of Andhra Pradesh for coming up with Wine Friendly Policy

 Balaji Rao BK

President, Hyderabad Wine Club