Riona Wines to launch Italian wines for India

PUNE: Riona Wines, a joint venture between the Sangli-based grape grower KT Mane and Cantine Enzo Mecella and Terese Cortesi Moncaro, expects to crush its first harvest in February 2010. However, the Indo-Italian joint venture is not waiting to launch Indian wines. Instead, it is launching its Italian range of wines from the Marche region.

The joint venture wine company has begun with the marketing of imported Italian wines although Enzo Mecella, owner of the Cantine Enzo Mecella, a winery from the Marche region of Italy, said they will also import wine in bulk from their Italian locations.

This wine will be bottled at the Riona winery in Sangli, western Maharashtra. “We will make local Indian wine, preferably reds. We will also import wine in bulk from our Italian wineries and bottle it here. At the top-end, we will bring in our own bottled wines,” Mr Mecella explained.

Riona Wines, in which Mr Mane holds 64% while the balance 36% is divided equally between Enzo Mecella, owner of the Cantine Enzo Mecella, and the Terese Moncaro cooperative, will require an investment of Rs. 18 crore.

Mr Mane said he has tied up investment for this venture with Italian banks since they offered better rates of interest. The 15 lakh litre capacity winery is waiting for the installation of its imported machinery, Mr Mecella said.