Taj Group launches cellar collection

India’s leading luxury hotel group, the Taj, has launched a new fine wine collection at its establishments to meet growing demand in the country.

The move was announced following a “notable increase in the number of wine drinkers in India,” said the group which led the company to identify “the need for an exclusive range of good quality wines.”

Dubbed, a little confusingly, the “Private Label Wines” the collection is composed of six wines, four reds and two whites and will serve as the house pouring wines in the group’s palace and resort hotels.

The reds include Penfolds 2010 Koonunga Cabernet Shiraz, 2008 Pagodes de Cos a Tuscan and an Indian wine made in partnership with Fratelli, while the whites are Saint Clair’s Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and an Italian Pinot Gris.

In a statement to the drinks business, Penfolds’ owner, Treasury Wine Estates, said: “Treasury Wine Estates has been working closely with the Taj Hotel Group for over two years, helping to introduce Penfolds to their customers and client base right across India. Taj source a selection of wines from the top producers in each continent and look to procure the best example of wine from that country to pour in all their premium ‘Palace and Resort Hotels’.

“In this instance, Penfolds Koonunga HIll ’76 Shiraz Cabinet was successful in securing the Australian premium pouring rights with Taj, and TWE has offered the Group exclusivity on this wine, within India, for the foreseeable future.

“TWE is proud to have Penfolds Koonunga Hill ’76 Shiraz Cabinet poured in such a luxury hotel group and welcomes the visibility this agreement has not only for Penfolds but all Australian wine in an emerging market which has so much future potential”.

Wine Australia recently noted the potential for Australian wine in India which is seeing growth of 27% by volume and 24% by value year on year.