The Tonia Group- the beginning

In 1970 after spending a couple of decades in Mombasa Dr Sequeira returned to Goa.

The company was founded in 1971 when its founder Dr Antonio Sequeira started a bottling plant called Tonia Industries to manufacture Cashew and Coconut fenny. One of the brands Tonia Pick Coffee is remembered to this day. In 1985 under the leadership of Dr. Antonio's eldest son Aleixo the group moved into the manufacturing of quality Indian whisky, brandy rum and gin. Soon afterthey moved to manufacturing wines and liqueurs. Indeed the group became very well known for their range of San Andre liqueurs and wines. The wine and spirits division of the group consists of Tonia Liquor Industries, Springfields ( India) Distilleries and Tonia Winery & Vineyards Pvt. Ltd which are manufacturing concerns and Tonia Sales Agency which is a trading firm. Tonia Sales Agency is also into importing of wines,spirits and beers. Aleixo's brother Norman has played a stellar role in the early sales and marketing of the company's flagship brands.

The youngest of the Sequeira sons Mario gives a lot of credit to the house wine maker Fernando Abreu for the good quality of their wines. Fernando he says has been exposed to some very good European wine manufacturing processes as a result of his exposure to various trainings in France and Italy. He has grown over time to become a high class wine maker on whom the Sequeira's have learnt to rely upon.