Global warming impacts on Sula's harvest in India

By Mathew Lyons

Published: 13 January, 2016

The harvest at India's largest wine-producer, Sula Vineyards, started two weeks early this year, thanks to the effects of global warming.

The harvest at Sula, which has some 65% of the 17 million litre Indian wine market, began on December 16.

Sula has three wineries in the northern Maharashtra province, and another further south in Karnataka.

Rajeev Samant, chief executive of Sula, said: "This year we will crush close to 13,000 MT of grapes, up 20% from 2015.

"The effects of climate change and global warming are highly apparent with our harvest starting fully two weeks earlier than ever before."

The industry is having to rapidly adapt its practices to keep pace with the often adverse effects of global warming, Samant said.

Despite the bumper crop, yields this year are lower following unseasonal rains post-monsoon.

The last three harvests have been excellent in both quantity and quality.

Sula works with over 400 grape growers in Maharashtra and Karnataka with 10-year assured buyback contracts.

"In the 16 years since we began operations we have built very strong relations with our growers whose ranks are growing every day," Samant said. "We haven't had a single contract dispute since we began."

The wine industry is growing rapidly in India following the liberalisation of regulations, which began in Maharashtra in 2001 followed by Karnataka in 2004.

It grew by close to 20% for the second year running as more Indians drink wine.

The industry aims to be processing 100,000 MT of grapes within five years, up from 27,000 MT this year.

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