Wine festival evokes good response

KARWAR: The three-day International Wine festival, Karwar-2018 being held here has evoked a good response from the public. The festival is being jointly organised by the Uttara Kannada district administration, Karnataka Wine Board, department of horticulture and Kali River Garden from December 21 to 23. The grapes were symbolically crushed by barefooted children.
Officials of the wine board said that more than 12 wineries from Karnataka and Maharashtra state are participating in the wine festival by showcasing more than 150 brands. Beside wineries, food courts to facilitate food pairing with the wine, music, entertainment, cultural programmes are added attractions. This festival is being held to create awareness about wine grape cultivation, wine education sessions to train and encourage moderate wine consumption and as well offer wineries an opportunity to directly interact with consumers, the organisers said.

Said M. C. Managuli, minister for Horticulture in Karnataka who inaugurated the wine festival said that it is being organised to protect the interest of the growers of grape in Karnataka and it would help to globally showcase the wine brands of Karnataka.

The turnover of the wine board was just Rs 60 lakh when it was founded while today the turnover has touched Rs 201 crore.