United Spirits Limited (USL), India’s biggest liquor maker and a unit of Diageo plc, said it has sold its wine unit Four Seasons Wines and associated brands for Rs 32 cr.
Four Seasons Wines was established in 2006 in Bangalore. It produces red, white, and rose wines from grapes grown around Sahyadri valley in Maharashtra under brands Zinzi and Four Seasons.
The unit has been sold to Grover Zampa Vineyards Limited and Quintela Assets Limited.
The company, which is primarily engaged in the manufacture of Indian-made Foreign Liquor or IMFL, said the sale of the wine unit was in keeping with its overall strategy to focus on its core business.
“This deal brings us a step closer to the structural rationalisation and simplification of our India business,” said Sanjeev Churiwala, Executive Director & Chief Financial Officer, Diageo India.
“The FSWL wine business is a niche but a small part of the overall Diageo India portfolio and the sale will enable us to focus on our premiumisation strategy and grow our core Spirits business in India.”
United Spirits, formerly part of Vijay Mallya’s liquor empire, is India’s top beverage alcohol company. It manufactures, sells and distributes brands such as Johnnie Walker, Black Dog, Black & White, VAT 69, Antiquity, Signature, Royal Challenge and McDowell’s No.1.
Headquartered in Bengaluru, United Spirits has over 5,000 employees and 60 manufacturing facilities.