Wine consumption to cross 9 mn litres by 2010

NEW DELHI: The Indian wine market, which is growing at a rate of 22 per cent per annum, is likely to touch nine million litres by 2010, on increased consumption due to rising income level, industry body Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) said.

"Various factor such as large teeming population under 30-year fold, rising disposable income and the influence of western world are responsible for increasing consumption of wines in the country," Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot said in a release.

Major cities in the country such as New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Bangalore together accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the demand for wine in the country, the chamber said.

Western India is the biggest consumer of wine accounting for more than 41 per cent of the total domestic wine market in the country followed by north India at 29 per cent.

Five star hotels, pubs and bar-cum-restaurants are the primary wine selling outlets in the country as 63 per cent of the sales volume passes through channels, the chamber said.