After getting selected for "The Erasmus Mundus scholarship" I started my course of studying the French language in the first week of July in '08. While studying  French language, French culture & the wine industry, I started understanding role and sytem of  European appellation Systems.

During my process of learning, I received an invitation to participate for first International "Wine Summit 2008 INDIA-FRANCE", which was the first of its kind in the history of the Indian wine industry. I would like to share with you about this event; so i decided to make an article on this event. I very thankfull to Mr. Y. Gupta , Mr. Raj Shende and Mrs Apte to help me to participate.

Globalisation has helped businesspersons to cross the national boundaries to market their products and get better technologies, but that has remained limited to upper section of the business pyramid. Only upper few are able to derive this benefit, & the small and medium farmers are not even touched by this wave of globalisation. They had an opportunity in the First Franco-India wine summit organised by FINSB Paris, that too on the roof of the famous square arch (Called La Grande Arche) built to celebrate bicentenary of the French Revolution. At the venue, which is 110 meter high, the first ever, Franco-Indian Wine summit took place on 1st October 2008 between wine makers in France and present and future wine makers of India.

This B2B wine summit was organised by The Franco Indian Network of Sustainable Development -FINSB-an association in France set up to promote the messages that growth is not development. This was the opportunity for the Indian Grape growers to learn and collaborate with French counterparts for the value addition with quality for their wines. FINSB through its network of Oenologists is making this possible. FINSB has set up Franco Indian Network of oenologists -FINE- for this purpose. The summit in Paris was the one time event, it would be held regularly in India and France.

The summit was addressed by the French organization that promotes international trade for the products and technology for agro-processing industry -ADEPTA-as well as French Ministry of Agriculture. Chief Minister of Maharashtra sent a special message for the summit. Ambassador of India in France invited the participants at his residence for the reception.

Other participating organizations were : Nashik Valley Wine Producers Association, Media India, - the leading European media company which publishes INDIA & You, INDES, Spencer Europe, Sula wines, Flamingo wines, Sankalpa wines, Red Wings wines, equipment suppliers, import and export distributors, and even students studying wine making.

The event was organized for three days. The first day on 1 October included presentations and panel discussion about the future for Wine Industries in India. Mr. Jagdish Holkar CEO Flamingo Wines, Mr. Khandagale CEO Vinsura Wines, Mr. Depuye Vice President ADEPTA, gave power point presentation about there activities and Wineries. Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Wines gave presentation on future of Indian wine industry. Dr Jayaddep Kale presented the needs of the wine industry and also what is Indian wine industries need from India. Mrs. MIREILLE-JOSEPHINE GUEZENNEC from French Ministry of the Agriculture stressed on the need to establish the educational exchange programme. The panel discussions were followed by B2B seminar. The focus of the summit was on Maharashtra state, which has the largest producer of wine with its extensive vineyards in Nashik and Pune.

The Ambassador of India to France Mr. Ranjan Mathai organized a grand reception at his residence on 1st October evening where Hon Minister of Industry and Commerce Mr. Kamal Nath who was also present at the Ambassador's residence received the participants and had informal discussion with the delegates of the wine summit .

On 2nd and 3rd October 2008, the Indian delegation headed for a visit of the vineyards and the meetings with the entrepreneurs in the French city of Bordeaux. The programme on 2nd October included a visit to distilleries, laboratories, processing areas as well as wine tasting sessions and more B2B meetings. The first visit was organized in the vine yards of Smith Haut Lafitte. The visit to Château de La Rivière was one of the Most overwhelming experiences for the delegation where they enjoyed the real beauty of a typical french ambiance and met the Bordeaux wine makers and experts as well as equipment suppliers.

The third day started with a unique opportunity to visit the Barrel making company followed by organic wineries, Bio farming and co operative wineries. The closing ceremony was held at Bordeaux basically to announce next venue for wine summit. The next wine summit will be organized in March 2009 in Maharashatra in association with Nasik Wine Association or in Sangli. Going by the enthusiasm displayed by the participants from both the sides to promote bilateral relations in this vital domain, it was a successful event.
This was a first, a unique meet between the wine industries of France and India. Over 20 companies met each other not only to exchange their wine cultures but also to learn and open up to new partnerships.

I look forward to creating such opportunities and platforms for exchange of knowledge between the Indian & the European wine industrialists & everyone related.

By Kunal Chug

I really wonder at times, why limits are set in any walk of life. One fact that I have learnt is that, there is no age for learning and growing; and people who think they are learned - are the people who have become too old to learn anymore. For me, my age had never been a barrier in achieving the impossible. I have always wanted to learn faster than the World. It was this enthusiasm and courage that helped me accumulate achievements all my life.

Family background and schooling:

    Coming from a well educated family background, I have always held education in the highest esteem. My family owns a Horticulture farm from the last 20 years. In addition to this my family owns a business of Grocery and whole sale supply of FMC products from the last 50 years.

    Although my parents look after Agriculture and Marketing Business, they have inculcated in me a deep respect for pursuits of knowledge and what I learnt from them is "Determination and Dedication towards work." I thus owe all my past achievements to this up bringing.

  International  wine industry as a career:

   My earliest impression in Horticulture Science began perhaps at a conscious level, in my teenage when I found, the combination of Art and Science involved in upbringing of grapes and its conversion into a bottle as an alcoholic drink. My career received true direction when one of my teachers explained to me the importance of quality production of fruits and vegetables and the role of Horticulturist in management of big farms. It enlightened me further and sparked my desire to make my future in Horticulture Science. With this revelation and good marks at high school level, I secured admission to Bachelors in Horticulture Science at the reputed and oldest institute-"College of Horticulture, Pune."

      With all this knowledge and belief that I posses I now pursue International Master of Science Vintage. I thank Erasmus Mundus committee for selecting me for this course and granting me with complete scholarship.

                  I am sure that this course will proved to be the most promising instrument to help me for implementation of advanced knowledge and techniques of mechanization farming in my home country.

  Future plans:

 This advanced course will enhance my skills in the wine industry as far as the global business scenario is concerned. Since the time I was young, I have had one ambition, which is to work in international industry. That would be one way I would make my father proud and repay him for all his love that he has showered on me.

         Now to conduct this level of expansion, I felt the need to upgrade my knowledge of mechanized farming and processing techniques and understand how marketing and promotional operations take place outside India as well as learn professional management techniques that are non-prevailing in our conventional business place.

             I aim to study abroad and return with the skill and competence to find my mark and be a vital part of this booming futuristic wine industry.

Kunal Chug