Tasmac to sell whisky, wine from other states

  • | Thursday | 14th February, 2019

Whisky and wine account for two per cent and one per cent, respectively, of the total sales by TASMAC. Allowing domestic wines into the city will be good for pubs especially,” he said. Currently, wine is supplied by a lone winery in the state and another in Puducherry to TASMAC shops. TASMAC sources said supply of brandy, beer and rum will not be opened to distilleries from other states.“So far, it's been easier to sell my Indian wines in France than in Chennai because of the policies here regarding domestic wines. But we will be allowing sales of domestic wines at the TASMAC outlets within a month or so,” Tamil Nadu state marketing corporation managing director R Kirlosh Kumar told TOI.TASMAC has floated tenders calling for supplies from wineries and distilleries manufacturing Indian-made 'Scotch' whisky, Indian-made whisky and domestic wines.

CHENNAI: Tipplers in Tamil Nadu can look forward to premium whisky and wine made in other states such as single malts by Paul John and Amrut, and wines by Golconda, Sula and Grover, which are likely to hit the shelves TASMAC shops in malls soon.“Until now, the policy was that domestic wines from other states would be available only at hotels and clubs. Only foreign wines were otherwise available in the city. But we will be allowing sales of domestic wines at the TASMAC outlets within a month or so,” Tamil Nadu state marketing corporation managing director R Kirlosh Kumar told TOI.TASMAC has floated tenders calling for supplies from wineries and distilleries manufacturing Indian-made 'Scotch' whisky, Indian-made whisky and domestic wines. “Sula wines from Nasik and Grover Zampa from Karnataka have approached us so far. Distilleries manufacturing Paul John single malt Whisky and Amrut single malt whisky have evinced interested,” Kirlosh Kumar added.Brandy accounts for 85 per cent of the alcohol market in the state with rum, beer and vodka making up the rest. Whisky and wine account for two per cent and one per cent, respectively, of the total sales by TASMAC. Currently, wine is supplied by a lone winery in the state and another in Puducherry to TASMAC shops. TASMAC sources said supply of brandy, beer and rum will not be opened to distilleries from other states.“So far, it's been easier to sell my Indian wines in France than in Chennai because of the policies here regarding domestic wines. The State would allow wines from outside the country but not from neighbouring states,” says Chengalpet-born Ravi Viswanathan, who heads Grover Zampa, number two in India's wine industry.When Tamil Nadu finally opens up, Viswanathan says his company is also looking at setting up vineyards in the hill stations in the state as the conditions suited to growing tea are more or less what is needed for grapes. “One acre of vineyard can provide employment to one person at least, and produce around 4000 bottles of wine,” says Viswanathan, who was in Chennai for a wine-tasting event on Thursday. “We recently acquired an old favourite, Golconda wines, and will be marketing it as well,” he says.According Arasu Dennis, a consultant for bars and restaurants in the city, the move from TASMAC will open up the wine market in the city. “At bars and pubs in the city, patrons have no option at the moment other than imported wines, which can cost upwards of Rs600 a glass. Allowing domestic wines into the city will be good for pubs especially,” he said.

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