‘Wine Fest’ at Panambur Beach turns into a ‘Booze Fest?’

‘Wine Fest’ at Panambur Beach turns into a ‘Booze Fest?’

Mangaluru: “The Karavali Beach Wine Fest-Panambur organized by The Karnataka Wine Board in collaboration with Department of Horticulture and Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project at the Panambur Beach from 23-25 December with about 15 wineries participating, was marred by chaos and rowdy behavior by a section of the visitors who had paid nothing to walk in, since the organizers decided not to keep an entry fee after they had received an earlier complaint from some media as to why they were charging a fee when such an event was organized by government board.

The organisers perhaps had grandiose plans to make the Wine Festival accessible to “masses” rather than “classes” by abolishing the entry fee, although they had earlier charged Rs 20 as entry fee when the Wine Fest was held at Kadri Park couple of weeks ago. This gave a considerable opportunity to everyone interested to taste wines. But the fortified samples of wines available free of charge saw many people get drunk and create some rowdiness at the venue marred the sanctity of this fest which is a progressive and laudable effort by the Karnataka Wine Board.

Unlike last times Wine Fest at Kadri Park when the entry fee was Rs. 20 and a limited number of tastings was free, this Wine Fest at the Panambur Beach the organizers had free entry with the tastings at stands erected by producers like Sula, Grover, Big Banyan, KRSMA and others. Many of wine lovers who have patronized other wine fests in the past and who had visited this Panambur Wine Fest would agree with me that this Wine Fest was not well organized, and most importantly there was no security personnel, for event like this where alcohol is involved. A wine Fest is a more decent socializing fest than a beer fest, where a decent crowd attends, but unlike last night, the crowd was “different”?

The biggest problem according to most trade professionals who attended the Show was the presence of too many people (mostly beach visitors from out of town) who neither knew anything about wine nor were interested- they came in for a free joy ride with the booze. To that extent, the busy stands of all these wineries provided the fuel. Although some of the wineries were selling a bottle of their fortified wine for around Rs 100 or so, had many takers, and the free tasting was a big attraction. It seemed to be a win-win for all except the serious wine connoisseurs and women many of whom were reportedly mobbed by the inebriated.

Besides Wine Tasting, the Fest offered the opportunity to pick up wine at a discount of up to 10%, which most of the “drunks” took advantage of to get more “drunk?”. In spite of the assurance given by the organizers during the Press Meet at Mangalore Press Club a few days ago, that they would give only samples of wine in miniature glasses, and even if the wineries sold their products, the buyers wouldn’t be allowed to consume the wine at the event venue- but that wasn’t true. Revellers were seen sipping from the wine bottles openly at the venue- empty wine bottles were seen scattered at many spots. The same scene was at Kadri Park wine fest too where revellers were socializing with wine – even though the venues were government properties where alcohol is prohibited. Seems like the policy of our government officials- “We don’t practice what we preach?”

Although it was announced that Mangaluru’s top rock band “Thermal Joint” would perform on Sunday night, but what the rock music buffs got was Hindi, Konkani, Kannada rather than numbers like ‘Rock You Like a Hurricane” by Scorpions, “Money for Nothing”-“Sultans of Swing” by Dire Straits, “It’s My Life” by Bon Jovi, “Summer of 69” by Bryan Adams etc. It was later clarified by Jill D’Souza- the band leader, that they had to change the music list to suit the crowd?. Another negative part of the venue the event was set up right behind the “Horse Stables”, a smell of horse poop was in the air. Even a bunch of “Man’s Best friends” were loitering around the venue looking for thrown away bones and waste food.

Oh well, we all make mistakes and we can all learn from our mistakes to do a better job next time! To make these things known to the concerned people behind this unique Fest, happening for the First time at the Beach side I called up Ravindra Shankar Mirje- Chairman- Karnataka Wine Board; Yogesh H R- Dy Director of Horticulture; and Yathish Biakampady- CEO of Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project, who were unaware of such issues, and agreed to host such events in future in a better and friendly environment. The organisers would perhaps agree that there is a need to evolve and change the direction, tweaking every edition but we certainly don’t want to throw the baby out with the bath water. Karnataka and for that matter, Kudla has a good thing going- thanks to Karnataka Wine Board (KWB) and their associates by involving various stakeholders; KWB can be the binding factor. Carry on KWB, Department of Horticulture and Panambur Beach Tourism Development Project-Cheers!!

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