July E-Magazine

India’s alcohol industry is experiencing a significant transformation, one defined by global recognition, regulatory shifts, and changes in consumer culture. In the past few months, Indian spirits have earned international accolades. On the home front, state-level policy decisions reflect the act of balancing revenue generation and industry sustainability.

In contrast, the wine sector continues to grapple with structural challenges. Latest figures suggest a slight decline in 2024, particularly in Indian-made wines which dipped marginally from 11.57 lakh to 11.56 lakh cases. Imported wines have also plateaued, reflecting underlying systemic challenges.

Yet international players like Penfolds Wines see long-term potential. As Yodissen Mootoosamy, GM of Penfolds Global Sales, explains, their strategy for India is rooted in education and storytelling, cultivating appreciation.

A similar sentiment echoes in diplomatic corridors as well. The Ambassador of Argentina shares his country’s ambitious roadmap for deepening wine and trade ties with India.

This edition also presents the journey of brothers Simon and Phil Thompson from hotel custodians to craft distillery pioneers who are quietly brewing a whisky revolution in Scotland’s Highland town of Dornoch.