Bringing sparkle to the wine industry

Employees apply labels on wine bottles.

OCT 29 -

When his uncle told him about the prospects of manufacturingwine from wild fruits like yellow raspberry, barberry and saffron found in plenty in jungles, Sujan Shrestha found it hard to believe. He was compelled to think about it after being repeatedly told about its immense potential. Eventually, in 1995, with the help of his brother-in-law, Shrestha established Hinwa Wine Industry in Tamaphok, Sankhuwasabha. And now, after almost two decades, Hinwa has become the most sought-after brand in Nepal. “The idea given to me by my uncle proved to be a godsend gift to me,” says Shrestha.

In the course of the development of wine culture in Nepal, the market share of Hinwa has witnessed a steady increase in demand in recent years, challenging the market pre-dominantly held by foreign wine s. The industry that started with a capital of

Rs 1 million by manufacturing 10,000 bottles per year, now produces 1,66,000 litres per year with a production cost of an estimated Rs 20 million. It pays Rs 18.8 million in revenue to the government and has been providing direct employment to 70 people. The industry has helped uplift the lives of many living under the poverty line, says Kishor Chandra Dulal, former chairperson of the District Development Committee. As the industry has provided direct and indirect employment to youths of the district, it has stopped the youths from migrating abroad, says Kamal Gurung, from Tute, Basantapur-3.

The industry had its share of bad days when its stock of wine worth a million, ready to be sent to the market, was destroyed during the insurgency period. It remained closed for several years after the incident. But later on, the wine emerged stronger with quality product.

The industry has recently introduced the latest technologies from Japan and Germany to process the wine . In 2000, it brought in Rainer Guvner, a wine specialist from Germany, for quality check to produce an export quality wine that meet the global standards. Shrestha himself went to Germany and stayed there for three months learning about the process of making quality wine .

The wine , which has attracted European markets, is produced without the use of fire, making it better in terms of quality.

In the meantime, the industry, which is struggling to meet the demands of the local market is in the process of expanding its infrastructure after increasing demand of the product from foreign markets, says Shrestha.