Earlier, it had been reported by Newmai News Network that wine produced from grapes at Champhai and Hnahlan villages on the Mizoram-Myanmar border would hit the market by September. ‘Zawlaidi’ is given the name of the wine to be marketed across the state.
The process of laboratory testing and other essential procedures will be undertaken by Technology Mission, a mission which is established for implementation of various projects which are within the ambit of New Land Use Policy (NLUP) in Mizoram.
In connection with this, a consultation meeting was held today in Aizawl wherein P.L Thanga, member & Secretary of Mizoram State Planning Board, Industry Director Shurbir Singh, Horticulture Director Samuel Rosanglura, Director, Regional Institute of Paramedical & Nursing (RIPAN) Dr. Chawngthanliana, Dr. B.B Bhattacharjee and Dr. H Lalthlenmawia, Senior Lecturer of RIPAN, Aizawl graced the meeting.
The meeting resolved to carry out certain laboratory test to the wine produced from Mizoram. This includes, lab testing of contents of citric acid, Volatile Acidity, Arsenic, Copper and other necessary test and suggested the state to do all these tests as per the ‘international standard’ approved by the ‘International Organisation of Vine and Wine’. There are certain test which is not able to be done in Mizoram and for this purpose the state govt will endorse with National Accredited Laboratory for further test. A step would also be taken to get the certified from National Accreditation Board for Laboratory’ Department of Science and Technology , Govt, of India. Currently there is no proper test of the wine produced from Hnahlan and Champhai.
Meanwhile, a research on the alcohol content of grape wine products from Mizoram revealed that the alcohol content is comparatively high with that of other products of the country.
Apart from alcohol, the content of tartric acid, citric acid and acetic acid are also found out to be higher in the local harvest grape wine comparatively. The alcohol content in the grape wine is 9% which is very high, said the researchers.
The research was carried out by H Lalhlenmawia, scientist and Sr. Lecturer, Department of Pharmacy, Regional Institute of Paramedical and Nursing Sciences (RIPANS), Aizawl with the assistance of Samson Lalfakmawia and Sarah Laldintluangi. Both of them are researchers from Food and Drugs Control Administration, Health and Family Welfare departmentt, government of Mizoram.
According to sources, Hnahlan is expected to produce 8000 bottles of wine and Champhai 12,000 bottles. One bottle would be sold at Rs 150. The wine bottle would be labelled ‘Not For Sale Outside Mizoram’, and it is predicted that marketing the grape wine inside the state would be more profitable than exporting the products outside Mizoram.