Myne Wine continues to innovate with new varietals. Upcoming releases include Reserve Cabernet Franc and Chenin Muscat. Despite these advancements, their focus stays rooted in celebrating India’s unique terroir.

Sustainability and exceptional quality drive their philosophy. They also prioritize a consumer-centric approach. With this foundation, Myne Wine is set to redefine how Indian wines are perceived globally.

Myne Wine has carved a niche in India’s growing wine industry. They began by identifying unique regional grape flavors. Today, they craft award-winning wines that stand out. Myne Wine is committed to the Indian palate and embraces innovative techniques. They also respect the local terroir deeply. Their journey blends tradition with modernity at every step. Winning a silver medal at Syrah Du Monde 2024 is a proud achievement. It highlights their dedication to creating wines that resonate both in India and internationally. Let’s see what the founder of Myne Wine, Mr. Prashanth shares with us.

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From founding Vishanth Industries in 2017 to producing an award-winning wine in the first vintage, what has been the most challenging yet rewarding part of your journey? 

The most significant challenge was identifying and understanding the unique regional flavours of grapes grown across India. We established our company in 2017 with a clear vision. Since then, we have conducted extensive trials across Maharashtra. Our goal was to identify which grape varietals thrive in different regions. Through these trials, we gained a deep understanding of each region’s unique flavor profile and terroir.

The most rewarding moment came in 2024. We won the silver medal at Syrah Du Monde. This achievement validated our initial vision and the purpose behind starting this venture.

You’ve mentioned that Myne wines aim to cater to the Indian palate with fruit-forward and easy-to-drink profiles. How do you see this approach shaping the global perception of Indian wines? 

India’s climate naturally lends itself to producing wines with riper, more fruit-forward profiles, though this comes with the trade-off of lower acidity. This actually aligns perfectly with the Indian palate. We’re seeing a significant shift in wine consumption patterns – today’s consumers aren’t buying wines for cellaring but rather for immediate enjoyment. Consumers drink about 90% of wine bottles within weeks of purchase. Most urban lifestyles lack space for wine cellars. We create wines that are perfectly balanced and ready to enjoy immediately. This approach resonates with global trends, particularly among younger consumers who prefer approachable, enjoyable wines over heavily tannic varieties. 

Winning the Silver Medal at Syrah du Monde 2024 was a significant achievement. What do you think set the Myne Reserve Shiraz apart from other entries? 

The significance of our Syrah du Monde achievement is particularly notable when you consider that India has historically received only three silver medals – two awarded to Sula in 2010 and 2014, and now ours after a decade-long gap. Our 2023 vintage achieved something remarkable. It was the only wine from that year to win an award at Syrah du Monde 2024. Most other winning entries had been aged for three years or more. We’re witnessing a phenomenon similar to Indian whiskeys, where our climate accelerates maturation. Our Myne Reserve Shiraz stands out for its abundant tropical fruity and spicy characteristics, which often go unexplored in Indian wines that traditionally focus on European winemaking styles. Much like how Australia developed its own distinctive style, we’re crafting wines that celebrate our unique terroir. 

How do you balance staying true to traditional winemaking techniques while innovating to reflect the Indian terroir? 

We believe that the vineyard determines 90% of a wine’s quality. Winemaking plays a role in shaping the final 10%. Understanding the fruit and identifying its optimal expression is crucial. We maintain a careful balance between traditional and modern methods, employing hand-processing techniques to preserve delicate characteristics while utilizing machinery only where it enhances quality without compromising the wine’s integrity. 

Myne wines emphasize the distinctiveness of the Indian terroir. How do the geographical and climatic conditions in Nashik and Bhima/Krishna river valleys influence your wines? 

India’s abundant sunlight plays a crucial role in grape maturity, developing full flavours and refined tannins. The unique temperature variations between the cold nights of the Godavari valley in Nashik and the warmer Bhima/Krishna valley in southern Maharashtra create perfect conditions for our wines – bringing freshness to our whites and developing subtle tannins with bold flavours in our reds. 

Regarding consumption trends in India, especially among millennials, how does Myne plan to position itself to attract this audience? 

The wine industry needs to evolve beyond traditional marketing approaches that position wine as an ultra-premium commodity and overwhelm consumers with unnecessary technical information. Our approach is to simplify wine appreciation by treating it as we do food – letting consumers trust their own palates and preferences. Every individual is capable of determining what they enjoy, and we believe in empowering them to make those choices naturally. 

You recently bagged the Grand Gold award at the Spiritz Achievers’ Award 2024. What was the toughest code to crack in the Indian market? 

Our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon won the Grand Gold award. It earned an exceptional score of 99.8 out of 100, a recognition that thrills and honors us. Cabernet Sauvignon, while globally renowned, presents unique challenges in winemaking. The presence of pyrazines can introduce unexpected herbal characteristics, making it one of the most complex varietals to work with. The key lies in understanding how terroir influences the grape’s maturation process, as sunlight gradually breaks down these compounds during ripening. Identifying the perfect conditions and location that brings out the best expression of this varietal was crucial. Creating a wine without any technical flaws is an achievement in itself, and this award validates our longstanding belief that our Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon stands among India’s finest offerings. 

You’ve mentioned challenges like high label registration costs for markets like Delhi. How do you plan to overcome these barriers to expand Myne’s reach? 

The current system poses significant challenges for smaller wineries, with entry costs approaching 50 lakhs for certain markets. We believe it’s time for the government to implement a unified national policy for wines. Reducing bureaucratic hurdles, streamlining taxes, and minimizing legal barriers would significantly help businesses become more competitive both nationally and internationally. A single-point taxation system would be transformative for the industry. 

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As sustainability becomes a critical aspect of winemaking, how does Myne Wines integrate eco-friendly practices into its operations? 

We’ve implemented a zero-waste water philosophy, focusing on minimizing water usage and recycling filtered water for our gardens. Our fruit waste is composted and provided to farmers as fertilizer. We’re also planning to transition to solar power for our winery operations, which will make us completely self-sufficient in terms of energy consumption. 

What role has winemaker Ajoy Shaw played in shaping Myne’s identity, and how do collaborations influence your wine philosophy? 

Ajoy has been instrumental as both a mentor and guide throughout our journey. He left Sula to establish his own consultancy, transforming opportunities for smaller wineries. His decision made his vast knowledge accessible to newcomers like us. His comprehensive understanding of winemaking, and winery operations, and particularly his insight into viticulture and climate has fundamentally shaped Myne’s identity and approach. 

With the success of your 2023 vintage, what new varietals, blends, or innovations can wine enthusiasts look forward to from Myne in the coming years? 

Currently, we’re focusing on perfecting our core portfolio of Reserve Shiraz, Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz Cabernet blend, and Chenin Blanc. We’re excited to announce upcoming launches of Reserve Cabernet Franc and Chenin Muscat. Our primary focus remains on identifying and working with grape varietals that perform exceptionally well in our unique terroir.

Myne Wine continues to innovate with new varietals. Upcoming releases include Reserve Cabernet Franc and Chenin Muscat. Despite these advancements, their focus stays rooted in celebrating India’s unique terroir. Sustainability and exceptional quality drive their philosophy. They also prioritize a consumer-centric approach. With this foundation, Myne Wine is set to redefine how Indian wines are perceived globally. The journey of crafting wines that are both distinctive and approachable has only just begun.