THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) is set to launch its own brand of wine, 'Nila', made from fruits such as pineapple, banana, and cashew apple. The university is waiting for a label license to bring the product to market. The Excise department had received four applications for wine manufacturing licenses, and Kerala Agricultural University was the first to receive approval.

The wine will be made from fruits sourced from the university's own farms and purchased from local farmers. The production is currently on an experimental basis. The price of the wine is expected to be below Rs 1000 per litre. The university is yet to decide on the sales strategy, whether to sell directly or through the Beverages Corporation. At present, there are no wine production units in the state.

Currently, wines available in Kerala are sourced from other states like Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Expense of 5 lakhs

• The initial investment required to start a unit is at least ₹5 lakhs
• The cost of the unit built by the Agricultural University has not been disclosed.
• Production capacity per batch: 125 litres of wine
• Fruits required: 250 kg
• Annual fee: ₹50,000
• Wine bottling license fee: ₹5,000
• Label registration fee: ₹25,000
• License validity period: Three years