Nilaya wine from the Diageo stable. Picture by Rashbehari Das

The wines being born outside the French vineyards — known as New World Wines — have fast caught on with producers and consumers alike. Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, Chile and the US are some of the countries to have gained prominence in the world of wine. India, too, is offering a growing number of alternatives to the traditional Old World produce.

The Nasik region is fast becoming the Napa Valley in this part of the world, with a range of wines being domestically produced and bottled under the guidance of experts from France and Italy. The flavours are designed to suit the Indian palate and complement Indian cuisine. They are also friendlier on the pocket than imported alternatives.

The latest wine label to hit the Calcutta shelves is Nilaya, with its sleek bottle and distinctive silver and blue colour scheme and an ‘N’ in Devanagri script. The brand, from the stable of global liquor giant Diageo, was launched on Friday at the ITC Sonar.

Light and fruity or rich and full-bodied — the Nilaya range of wines aims to capture the consumer’s attention and a slice of the burgeoning wine market in the country. The first two varieties launched included Shiraz Cabernet and Chenin Blanc. Two other varieties, Sauvignon Blanc and Shiraz Rose, will be introduced in Bengal within the next month or so.

“The Nilaya wine is an Indian wine with a contemporary twist which hopes to put India on the world wine map,” said Asif Adil, MD, Diageo India.

Nilaya is priced at Rs 460 a bottle.