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In a first, Maharashtra government organizes wine festival at Nashik
The festival, to be held between February 9 and March 11, aims to promote wines made in the 40-odd vineyards and wineries in Nashik district in north Maharashtra
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Want to enjoy wine while taking a round of vineyards? Head to Nashik between February 9 and March 11.
In a bid to promote wines made in the 40-odd vineyards and wineries in Nashik district in north Maharashtra, the state government has organised its first wine festival — ‘India Grape Harvest, Wine Festival 2018’.
Aimed at promoting agro-and wine tourism, this festival is an initiative of the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), a government subsidiary that works for tourism development in the state. The festival will be organised in and around Nashik with the help of various vineyards. It consists of an exhibition of the best wines at various vineyards, social and cultural events and a carnival, said Jaykumar Rawal, state tourism minister.
Aashutosh Rathod, joint managing director, MTDC, said the wine festival has been planned to promote tourism in Maharashtra. “We have chosen Nashik as it has become the wine capital of the country. Tourists will be able to taste best variety of wines at the exhibition. In all, 72 types of wines will be made available,” Rathod said.
“We will hold interactive sessions between well-known Indian and foreign wine manufacturing firms… The firms are coming from Stuttgart (Germany), Wakayama (Japan) and some France,” he said.
The MTDC has chosen two campsites at Vallonne vineyard and Vinchur wine park where tourists can experience local food with the best variety of wines. Apart from this, various events will be organised at 14 vineyards that includes masterclass cooking by using wine.
The festival will be inaugurated at Sahyadri farm, grape processing centre — a co-operative firm run by 6,000 farmers — by Rawal and Girish Mahajan, guardian minister of Nashik. The closing ceremony will be held in Nashik city, which will be a 4-km long carnival walk.
The route of the carnival is yet to be finalised, said Jagdish Holkar, chariman, wine tourism committee, which comes under the state tourism department.
