India's wine market growing by 30%

India’s domestic wine market is growing at 30 per cent a year, faster than any other alcoholic beverage, and is likely to reach around 28 million litres by 2015, from the current estimated level of 21 million litres, according to a recent report titled ‘Wine: Bearing Fruit in India’, by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM).

The largest number of wine consumers are from Mumbai (32 per cent of total consumption), with New Delhi and Goa both accounting for about 20 per cent of the total.

Factors behind the growth include greater exposure to Western culture, global travel and experience of other countries where drinking wine is part of the lifestyle. Also there is a change in attitudes towards alcohol amongst the younger population and their disposable income is rising. It is also becoming more acceptable for women to drink wine.