First wine institute to be set up near Pune

Viticulture is facing severe skilled-labour crunch. To improve matters, the country's first ever wine institute will be set up in Narayangaon, around 80 kilometres north of Pune — a region considered as the hub of wine production in India.

Australia-based University of Adelaide and India's largest wine maker Champagne Indage have signed a memorandum of understanding to set up this institute — Indian Institute of Vine and Wine (IIVW) — on a 65-acre piece of land with an investment of Rs 100 crore.

Champagne Indage founder chairman Shamrao Chougule has promoted this concept. The institute will offer diploma, degree and post-graduate master's degree programme to its students.

Projections suggest that the Indian wine industry will require some 10,000 viticulturists, 5,000 winery operators, 1,000 wine makers, 2,500 wine marketing executives along with 500 wine experts over next five years.

"The growth potential for wine industry is extremely huge in India," says Chougule. "The University of Adelaide is considered to be the best institute in the field of viticulture education.

The university academicians will develop the syllabus for this institute and our aim is to provide wine-education of international standards. As the student will receive a degree or diploma from University of Adelaide, they can pick jobs across the world," adds Chougule.

The first batch will be enroled from June 2009 onwards. "The course will allow students to study for a couple of years in Australia-based campus of the Adelaide university, if they want to. Since IIVW is coming up near our own vineyard, students will get industrial exposure along with work experience at a fully equipped laboratory," he added.

Students will be enroled for a three-year diploma after Class10, for a four-year degree programme after Class 12 and for a two-year master's course after graduation. Specialisation in wine making, finance and wine marketing would be available according to the students' choice.

A wine maker can start his career with a salary between Rs 30,000 and 50,000 per month. One can draw over Rs 1.5 lakh per month based on experience.

Kalpana Pathak & Kaustubh Kulkarni