Wine testing drive in Coorg after tourist’s complaint

Bengaluru: Plan to enjoy this monsoon at Coorg?  Think twice before buying the locally made wine! Based on a complaint lodged by an anonymous tourist from Bengaluru city, Coorg district excise department officials have launched a massive wine-testing drive in the district. The complaint was routed through the district tourism department.

It all started with a city tourist distributing home-made wines brought from Coorg to his friends in the city. According to this anonymous petitioner, immediately after consuming the wine, his friends fell ill. Attributing the cause of illness to the wine, he lodged a complaint with the Coorg tourism department, who in turn forwarded the complaint to the excise department which started a massive inspection drive across the district. Sources say, the reason for the illness was a high alcoholic content.  

Confirming the developments, Coorg district Dy Commissioner of Excise Mr. Aziz Ahmed said that the department is trying to find the brand of wine which had the excess alcoholic content.  “We are collecting the samples. The petitioner did not give us the exact details of the brand which caused the illness. The state government has fixed a maximum for the alcoholic content in wines. If we find a wine brand which has exceeded the limit for alcohol content, action will be initiated,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources in the state excise department have said that following the incident, locally made wines which do not have primary information such as name of the manufacturer, percentage of alcoholic content, brand name, validity period and manufacturing date are banned from the market.

“Coorg is known for its locally made wines. But the department will not allow a few to take any undue advantage. Our officials have already, banned wine brands which do not provide complete information,” said an officer.

Lonely Planet Award

Ms.Revathi Iyer, owner of Madikeri Kadagadal Home stay won the national level Lonely Planet Award for the best home stay. Tourism minister  Mr. R.V.Deshpande today congratulated Mrs Revati and  Yogesh Krishnaswami. Tourism dept officers, Jungle Lodges & Resorts Chairman Mr. Jayasimha were present.