South African wine launched in India

South Africa's celebrated KWV wines will be available in India by the month-end, as Kristal Spirits India (KSIPL) Thursday announced a marketing and distribution tie-up with the South African wine major.

"As part of this association, Kristal Spirits would launch KWV Classic and KWV Sparkling in Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Kolkata by the end of December 2013," KSIPL said here in a release.

KWV, one of South Africa's leading alcohol beverage producers since 1918 has, within this year, been awarded with the Wine and Spirit Wholesalers of America Convention 2013, Decanter World Wide Awards 2013, Concurs Mondial De Bruxelle 2013 and the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show 2013.

KSIPL aims to sell 30,000 cases of KVW wine within the first 3 years of the brand's launch, it said.

The launch of the South African wine comes at an opportune time when, with changing tastes, the wine market in India is growing at 13 percent annually, faster than that of any other alcoholic beverage.

Besides, India has also further facilitated market access with the decision to liberalise retail trade.

South Africa's previous high commissioner to India, Rev. Harris Majeke, had told IANS earlier of how South African wine could not be sold profitably in India because of high entry tariffs.