Big Banyan Winery Operational with Tourism in Bangalore

In 2007, I was invited to the Kumarakom Lake Resorts near Kochi owned by Paul John, owner John Distilleries (known in Delhi more for his excellent single malts labelled as Paul John) which has a wine division making Big Banyan wines since 2006 beside the distillery in Goa. A few wine aficionados had been invited to taste the maiden vintage of Big Banyan 2006. Also present at the tasting was their Italian consultant winemaker Lucio Matricardi, a winemaker at Mezzacorona, in Trentino. Since that tasting of rather well-made wines, I have occasionally tasted the wines in Bangalore or Goa since these are not registered in Northern India.

Explaining the rationale behind the label Big Banyan, Paul had explained that he had some land just outside Bangalore city near the famous Big Banyan tree and hence the label. One day he might even establish the winery there, he said. In one of the Tastings at Hotel Paul, the all-suite luxury business Hotel near Indiranagar, he even came to meet me for a few minute, when he told me in private conversation that Big Banyan was well established label but there was no profitability in wine business and that he would support it only to sustain but would invest more only when the timing was right and he saw a profitable future.

Time for the new Winery

Therefore, to me it was a positive sign even for the Indian wine industry when the construction of the winery started in 2016. In fact, I was privileged to have been escorted to the winery under construction by Aeisha Sahni, Business Head of Big Banyan in November 2017, but with a request not to write about it till it was completely ready and the trials began. I had then also met Mahesh Awate, the winemaker who has worked diligently with the consulting winemaker Lucio Matricardi who visits India at least twice a year. I also visited the vineyards on the land around the winery coming up and cottages that would visit and have a look at the Big Banyan Tree which I had thought was almost in the backyard of Paul John’s farm land. Known as Dodda Aalada Mara, situated at 28 kms from Bengaluru city, on the Bangalore-Mysore highway, 8 kms off the main highway, the 400-year tree is spread out in a 3 acre area and is a big tourist attraction. The interesting tree has been enclosed in a complex that would be a must-visit destination for the tourists visiting the winery 4.5 kms away.

Big Banyan Winery

The 400,000-Liter capacity (45,000 cases) winery has been working for the last couple of years and was formally launched on June 29. All wines supplied to Bengaluru and rest of Karnataka are already being shipped from this winery, thus saving also on the ‘import tax’ paid earlier on wines imported from Goa.

The capacity is enough to take care of the 28,500 cases sold last year. This winery will supply presently to Karnataka whereas the Goan winery with a capacity of 300,000 liters will continue to supply the rest of the market of Goa, Kerala, Telangana and Pondicherry.  

Grapes for the Bangalore winery continue to be imported from Maharashtra where contract farming has been part of the plan, says Sahni. For the last couple of years more and more grapes are being bought in Karnataka. Not only are they acknowledged to be better but the chance of getting better wine is higher if they spend less time in transit.

The wine range

The collection includes Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon in the red segment and Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc and Sauvignon Blanc in the white and Limited Spring Reserve Shiraz which is a reasonably priced premium red wine which has a good market. The Rosé wine Rosa Rossa has always been popular and well made wine. The dessert wine Bellissima is another star wine in their portfolio, all being already produced in this winery. Although a majority of grapes are bought from Maharashtra, some are also purchased.

Ampersand is a simple blend of grapes from select Indian vineyards, making fresh, fruity and zesty red and white easy drinking wines. Ampersand labels are currently available in Goa and Karnataka.

Wine Tourism at Big Banyan

Appreciating the tourism potential, the company has built a modern Tasting Room, conducive to wine tasting. At Rs. 500 one can book a visit to the vineyard and taste 4 wines along with cheese for which Big Banyan has collaborating with 10 Cuts of Cheese’- a local cheese shop that specialised in Indian artisanal cheeses and imported cheeses. With Rs. 600 package one can visit vineyard (and incidentally there is also a short A/V presentation in a small auditorium for all the visitors), and taste 6 wines, including the signature ‘Limited Shiraz.

Goana’s Fortified wine

It is interesting to mention that John Distilleries produces and sells on the average 20,000 cases a month of what has come to be known as ‘Goan Port' and uses the traditional method used in Goa. This was the first and the only company that decided not to name it as a ‘Port’ wine on the advice, recommendation of delWine which is against using the name for cheap fortified wines that originated in Goa since Port is a GI (Geographic Indication) term, registered in India and sooner or later, all the producers would be taken to court for the illegal use. The wine is produced in another winery in Karnataka, says Sahni.

One can well surmise that Big Banyan is a brand here to stay and grow more and hopefully they will expand into Delhi and in Mumbai where wine lovers might have wider choice.

For more details, visit https://bigbanyanwines.com/

Subhash Arora

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