Indage to set up Indian wine institute

Indage Group of companies has signed a memorandum of understanding with the University of Adelaide, Australia to set up the Indian Institute of Vine and Wine (IIVW) that will offer formal education about the wine industry.

Indage Group Chairman Sham Chaugule and Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Adelaide John Taplin signed the MoU.

South Australian MP Michael Rannand Maharashtra Minister for Co-operartion Patangrao Kadam were present as guests of honor.

An area of about 60 acres has been earmarked for the institute within close proximity of Indage winery near Narayangaon, 80 km from Pune. Taplin said the University of Adelaide would initially train the academic staff of the institute in the different teaching programs developed in Australia.

"The formal programmes of the institute will commence in une 2009," he said. The courses would be in disciplines like wine making, viticulture, wine marketing and winery financing, he said.

Chaugule informed mediapersons that the primary purpose behind setting up the institute was to create specially qualified manpower for the wine business.

"The country's wine industry is growing at a high pace and we can no longer afford to hire wine masters, wine makers and other specialised staff from abroad if we have to be competitive," he stressed.

An institute like this will go a long way in providing much needed technical, marketing and financial skills for wine industry and the grape growing community, he added.

Chaugule said the institute would rely on the educational resources of Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri and Bharati Vidyapeeth, Pune. In fact the two universities will offer courses in wine science and part of the academics for these courses will be under the IIVW, he said.

Chaugule said the institute would offer a basic four-year course for the 12th standard science students and there will be a diploma course too. Additionally, the institute will offer certificate courses for specific aspects of wine making, he said.

Chaugule said the fee structure for the courses was being finalised but clarified that the institute would be registered as a non-profit organisation and fees would be kept at affordable levels.