Rhythm Winery to produce kiwi wine

Pune-based Rhythm Winery a part of Hill Crest Foods and Beverages has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Arunachal Pradesh Horticulture Marketing and Processing Board (APHPMPB) for producing kiwi wine in India.

The production and marketing of the wine will be undertaken by Rhythm Winery and it will sell it under the brand of ‘Arun Kiwi’ in Pune and Mumbai market.  The kiwi wine is priced at Rs 470 for 750 ml bottle and Rs 270 for 375 ml bottle.

The company is sourcing over 2.5 tonnes of kiwi fruits from Arunachal Pradesh for making wine. Arunachal Pradesh Produces more than 4,500 tonnes of kiwi fruits every year. The revenues from this business will go to APHPMPB while Rhythm Winery is only a service provider working on project basis. The MoU was signed in December 2013 and the wine will be available in Pune, Mumbai and Arunachal Pradesh markets in July.

“Kiwi wine is mainly produced in New Zealand. The quality of fruit produced at Arunachal Pradesh is of excellent and hence we made a proposal to Arunachal Pradesh Horticulture Marketing and Processing Board (APHPMPB),” said Akalpit Prabhune, director Hill Crest Foods and Beverages.

The board’s main objective is to promote and add value to the kiwi production. Prabhune added that this would help kiwi fruit production in Arunachal Pradesh offering new avenues to growers.

“Moreover, it has a flavor and a right balance of sweetness and acidity. The board has funded the initial cost of Rs 25 lakh for this project. We will produce about 3500 liters of kiwi wine in the current year,” said Prabhune, director Hill Crest Foods and Beverages.

He added that around  70 per cent of kiwi fruit is not utilised properly and goes waste.

At present the annual capacity of Rhythm Winery is of  35,000 liters and in the next one year its planning to increase it to 50,000 liters.

According to Prabhune, the fruit wine market is still in a very preliminary stage and will pick up in the next five years.