Goa says no to bikini, yes to bottle

PANAJI - Goa may have banned the bikini from billboards and advertising hoardings, but the state’s tourism mandarins are not too keen on shunning the bottle.

The Goa Tourism Development Corporation (GTDC) for the sixth year in a row will host the Grape Escapade, a wine festival, here to promote the coastal state as a distinctive lifestyle destination, an official said Wednesday.

“The festival promises to be a unique cultural experience as the event brings together international wine makers and local patrons, hoteliers, restaurants and professionals from the entertainment, food and beverage and lifestyle under one roof,” GTDC managing director Nikhil Dessai told reporters.

Leading wineries from India namely Indage Vintners, Zampa wines, Kingfisher Bohemia, Grover Vineyards, Four Season wines, will participate in the four-day event beginning Jan 23.

Dessai said the wine festival would also have other side shows, including the immensely popular grape stomping event, where tourists and invitees would be allowed to crush grapes with their feet, as a traditional way to mark the beginning of the event.

“It’s an immensely popular event. We are trying to have it twice during the festival, since it is a big draw,” Dessai said, adding that wine tasting sessions would also be conducted by experts on all four days of the festival.

“GTDC as the nodal Goa Tourism promotional agency is organizing the event and is striving very hard to establish it as a brand,” Dessai said.