Shillong, Nov 29: Meghalaya’s emerging wine industry has called for targeted policy support, better access to raw materials, and streamlined regulations to expand beyond the state, as over 20 licensed winemakers and 50 farmers convened in Shillong for a sector-focused summit on Saturday.
At the event, organisers highlighted the regulatory hurdles preventing local producers from entering national markets. “Excise is a state subject. Different states have different laws, fees, labour registration norms, and security deposits. Without adequate production volume, it’s nearly impossible to enter new markets because the fees are high and the paperwork is difficult,” an organiser said.
With rising tourist footfall and strong local demand, winemakers said they are currently unable to produce enough to meet Shillong’s consumption alone. “Every day tourists pick up bottles from the shelves. We cannot meet the demand here itself,” the organiser added.
The summit spotlighted a key bottleneck: lack of sufficient raw materials. While Meghalaya has vast underutilised agricultural land, farmers often prefer charcoal production or non-horticulture activities. “We want more wine production, but we don’t have enough fruits. These summits aim to bridge the gap between farmers and the department. Without raw materials, we cannot produce the volume the market needs,” the organiser said.
Government officials, agricultural stakeholders, and industry experts attended the summit, including Rajesh Svanakar, WCET Sommelier, Rohan R. Hani, Co-founder, Moonshine, Nagesh Pai, Co-founder, Hillzill Winery & Body and Maya, India’s first certified sake brewer, Maya Brewery, Maharashtra.
Organisers said the experts were invited to help shape a long-term roadmap and inspire professionalisation within the sector.
Despite current constraints, Meghalaya’s winemakers remain ambitious. Over the next decade, they aim to scale production, expand cultivation of fruits such as grapes, kiwi, peach, and plum, and enter multiple state markets.
“In the next 10 years, we want to enter every state in India. Let India taste Meghalaya through a bottle of wine,” the organiser said, stressing the need for coordinated government–farmer–industry collaboration.
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