The new face of wine

It might seem strange to mention ‘India’ and ‘wine’ in the same breath, but times are changing and India’s rapidly growing middle class, like China, are taking a bit of a shine to wine.

Which partly explains why you find Mukund Barsage transplanted from the city of Miraj, 500 kilometres south-inland of Mumbai to the grape-growing fields of Central Otago.

“I certainly didn’t arrive here by accident. My agent recommended Dunedin so my father and I did a lot of research and found out about the very distinctive micro climate of Cromwell; very hot and dry in summer, cold in winter and one of the driest places in whole of New Zealand. This makes it perfect for learning about pinot noir, the variety for which the region is known all around the world.”

“But what finally decided us on Otago Polytechnic,” says Mukund, “was the opportunity to study both in Cromwell (where the grapes grow right next to the classroom) and in Dunedin one of New Zealand’s biggest student cities.”

With the ink not even dry on his Diploma in Viticulture (Level 5) and his previously earned National Certificate in Horticulture (Level 4) from the Dunedin campus, Mukund took up a fantastic opportunity. Grant Rolston from Vinewise Viticulture Limited hired him as a assistant supervisor.

“The right mixture of theory and work experience in the industry gives any student a strong foundation. At Vinewise I’m putting all those things I learnt during the programme into practice and becoming more confident” says Mukund.

From there who knows? The name Barsage Wines’ has a rather nice ring to it! Perhaps in the future a very capable viticulturist with Mukund’s hands-on skills and knowledge could make a name for himself satisfying the palettes of middle-class India.