Tage Rita: Carving a Unique Identity in Winemaking
Tage Rita spent six years researching and perfecting the process and formulation for the ideal kiwi wine. She started her venture with careful planning and scientific precision
Tage Rita spent six years researching and perfecting the process and formulation for the ideal kiwi wine. She started her venture with careful planning and scientific precision
Tage Rita was born in the picturesque Ziro Valley of Arunachal Pradesh. She belongs to the Apatani tribe and holds a degree in Agricultural Engineering from the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), located in Nirjuli, Arunachal Pradesh. Tagi Rita began her career as an agricultural engineer, but soon evolved into a remarkable entrepreneur.
She is the founder of India’s first organic kiwi wine brand, Naara Aaba. In October 2017, she established the Naara Aaba Wine Company in memory of her late father-in-law. Based in Hong Village of Ziro, Arunachal Pradesh, this private Indian company is known for producing the country’s first organic kiwi wine.
Ziro Valley, famous for its fertile soil and scenic landscapes, produces kiwis in abundance. Rita combined her passion for agriculture with winemaking and transformed it into a successful business. Since kiwis were locally available, she didn’t need to source ingredients from outside. Her kiwi wine soon gained global recognition.
Tagi Rita spent six years researching and perfecting the process and formulation for the ideal kiwi wine. She started her venture with careful planning and scientific precision. Her journey as a successful woman in the male-dominated wine industry is both remarkable and inspiring. Initially, her winery had a production capacity of 20,000 liters, which has now expanded to 60,000 liters, benefiting over 300 farmers in its first year of operation.
The wine tastes best when served at 6 to 8°C, and the entire process from fermentation to bottling takes around four months. However, Rita’s achievements go far beyond wine production.
Rita’s extraordinary story has earned her multiple awards, including the ‘Women Transforming India Award’ by the United Nations and NITI Aayog in 2018, and the prestigious ‘Nari Shakti Puraskar’ in 2022.
Her company is now a significant employer, providing jobs to 25 permanent staff and 100 seasonal workers. With an annual revenue of ₹12 crore (120 million INR), Naara Aaba is a testament to Rita’s entrepreneurial skills. Her success echoes not just in business but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs and advocates for sustainable agriculture.
Winner of the Grihshobha Inspire Award in the Business Leadership Achiever category, Rita expressed her excitement and said the award would continue to inspire her. She believes that there is no field where women cannot perform equally with men. Women must recognize their inner strength, break free from social constraints, and then no force in the world can stop them from achieving their goals.