UB Wines Goa

At innumerable toasts on feast days of various saints, birthdays and anniversaries, wine has kept Goans company through the centuries. Most Christian homes have their own recipes for homemade wines and quite a few take delight in experimenting in making wines from a variety of fruits – mangoes, bananas, cashew and kokum.

Port wine, doctored with sugar, extremely sweet and inexpensive, was for long the grape wine associated with Goa. Giving a boost to the celebratory drink, the Government and vintners across the country organise a popular annual wine festival called the Grape Escapade. With free samplings of various types of wines, the fun-filled party has made Goans thirsty for sophisticated varieties.

The state now boasts of some of the best wines from around the world, thanks to the UB Group, which has, through its wine companies United Vintners and Four Seasons, introduced a delightful variety of wines. There are three rosés – Bouvet Brut Rosé (Sparkling), Pink Elephant (Still Rosé) and Four Seasons Blush (Still Rosé). The refreshing white wines include Gossips Chardonnay from Australia, 10 Chapters Sauvignon Blanc from South Africa, Bouchard Ainé Chardonnay from Burgundy; and the home grown Four Seasons Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc. The vibrantly packaged and zesty Zinzi wines are targeted at the value seeker.

This dramatic change in the wine scene has happened in the last few years, with the maturing of the Indian wine industry and the importing of wines from across the globe. Liquor stores, night clubs and restaurants have swiftly caught up with the changing taste of discerning tourists, stocking a wide range of imported and Indian wines.

Port wine still sells well, while the average sales of Indian wines are estimated to be around 3500-4000 cases per month, port wine sales are estimated to be double this number. Sales of imported wines seems minute in comparison, less than 5% of Indian wines, but this is a number that is growing progressively.

“Goa is the place to be for any wine brand; not only is wine drinking an enjoyable tradition here, it is the holiday destination of choice for people from all over India,” says Abhay Kewadkar, Business Head Wines & Chief Wine Maker, UB Group.

The delightful combination of balmy weather and spicy sea food most ideally complements the portfolio of wines brought to Goa by the UB Group. At lunch or dinner, one can pick from the select reds, whites and rosés from Australia, South Africa, Portugal and India, all of which are best relished with seafood; and of course there is the Bouvet Bubbly to add that special spark to celebrations.