Rains sour Maharashtra's grape harvest, hit wineries

Wine prices in India are set to rise by 25-30% from levels in January after Maharashtra's grape crop suffered its worst damage in recent years, sharply increasing input costs and reducing production.

- Dhirendra Kumar & Vijay C. Roy

Unseasonal and persistent rainfall from May through October devastated vineyards across Nashik, Sangli, and Solapurregions that account for almost 90% of Maharashtra's grape area of 119,358 hectares and about 80% of the country's grape output of 3 million tonnes, said five people, including an expert and a Maharashtra government official who requested anonymity.

Winemakers said the extensive damage to the crop will leave them with significantly less fruit for crushing this season, spiking the retail prices of popular wines. Prices are likely to "shoot up" due to the crop loss, Advait Pai, managing director of Vallonné Vineyards, said in response to a query from Mint.