EIT success stories: Double bubbles for wine business graduates

Kavya Vunnam and Bharath Gadiparthi are graduating from EIT. Photo / Supplied

A month after their wedding in India, Kavya Vunnam and Bharath Gadiparthi are about to toast another landmark in their lives together - graduating with EIT's Graduate Diploma in Wine Business.

From Chennai in the south of India, the couple met at university and completed their Bachelor in Biotechnology degrees in 2013.

As undergraduates, they shared an interest in the production of alcoholic beverages. Recognising the potential for developing that as the basis for a joint career path, Kavya researched further study options.

She pinpointed New Zealand, attracted by its rapidly growing wine industry, and EIT, as the only tertiary educator in this country offering a short graduate study programme in wine business.

Bharath was excited by her findings, but the pair didn't pursue the idea at the time. While he progressed to Master in Biotechnology studies, she worked in branding and marketing management for different companies in India.

It was shortly after announcing their engagement that Kavya's father - a wine enthusiast who keeps up-to-date on industry developments - surprised the couple by suggesting further studies with a view to them eventually establishing a wine business in India.
There were, however, some potential fishhooks in progressing the proposal.

India isn't a wine-loving country, Kavya explains - "it's perceived as an elite drink".

The subcontinent's climate doesn't favour wine production and the area in vineyard is small. Kavya found 90 per cent of the wine sold in India was sourced from Australia, the USA and France and that export volumes from New Zealand were low.

Imported wine is heavily taxed, making it an expensive purchase for many.
Nonetheless, Kavya anticipates growth in wine consumption.

"India is seeing rapid economic progress and, on the other hand, people are being educated on wine [especially red wine] and its health benefits."

With their parents' encouragement, Bharath and Kavya elected to pursue their dream, although it wasn't an easy decision to start afresh in New Zealand, particularly as she was well-settled in a high-earning job. Now, they have no regrets.

Both achieved high marks and "bagged very dynamic business projects" with locally-owned New Zealand Natural Juice Company as part of their EIT study programme.

Kavya was asked to create a business plan aimed at developing the company's exports to India. Her project was selected as one of the two best student projects in EIT's School of Business and it was showcased in an end-of-year presentation to local businesses.

Recently returned to New Zealand following their traditional Indian wedding, the couple are looking forward to graduation. And, after their stint as international students, they are open-minded about where their lives will take them next.

"Although we studied biotechnology and wine business, we are open to any industry today because passion towards one industry shouldn't stop us from doing different things in different industries," says Kavya.

"We want to explore different things before we settle to one."

*EIT is holding three graduation ceremonies on Thursday and Friday. To celebrate, Hawke's Bay Today is running EIT success stories.