Latest news with #SulaVineyards
South China Morning Post
27-05-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Indian wine country on the rise as award-winning vineyards draw tourists and domestic fans
At Nashik International Airport, there are so many posters advertising vineyards and wine tastings, you could be forgiven for thinking you have landed in California's wine country rather than India's west, 160km (100 miles) north of Mumbai. Yet in the past two decades, Indian wine production has become a thing, and Nashik is its epicentre. The greater wine industry is taking notice: Sula Vineyards, India's leading winemaker, won the gold medal for cabernet sauvignon at the Global Wine Masters in May 2024, the highest honour an Indian bottling has received at that annual competition. A viognier from Grover Zampa, which has vineyards in Nashik, and Bengaluru in India's south, was named best of show at January's Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America competition. Sula Vineyards in Nashik is the largest Indian wine producer, making more than half of all wine consumed in India. Photo: Dreamstime/TNS Beyond winning awards, Nashik is fuelling a thirst for wine in a country where alcohol consumption is restrained and mostly limited to whisky
Epoch Times
23-05-2025
- Business
- Epoch Times
In India, Wine Culture Takes Off—With a Vineyard Scene That's Worth a Trip
Sheila Yasmin Marikar Bloomberg News At Nashik International Airport, there are so many posters advertising vineyards and wine tastings, you could be forgiven for thinking you've landed in California's wine country rather than India's west, 100 miles north of Mumbai. Yet in the past two decades, Indian wine production has, in fact, become a thing, and Nashik is its epicenter. The greater wine industry is taking notice: Sula Vineyards, India's leading winemaker, won the gold medal for cabernet sauvignon from the Global Wine Masters last May, the highest honor an Indian bottling has received at that annual competition. A viognier from Grover Zampa, which has vineyards in Nashik as well as Bangalore, in India's south, was named best of show at January's Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America competition. Beyond winning awards, Nashik is fueling a thirst for wine in a country where alcohol consumption is restrained and mostly limited to whiskey. Its recent successes are not only resonating with locals but also generating renewed interest in international travel to India and bringing a new audience to the region. Ten years after Chandon, part of the LVMH-owned Moët Hennessy portfolio, opened its first winery in Nashik, the brand's president, Arnaud de Saignes, touts the region's 'potential to produce premium grape varieties' and calls India a 'dynamic market,' 'with a growing appreciation for high-quality wines.' Why Travelers Should Go 'The concept of wine in India doesn't make sense, initially,' says Lisa Alam Shah, the director of Micato Safaris India, a luxury tour operator that's arranged subcontinental adventures for the likes of Hillary Clinton and the Ambani family. Part of that, she says, is because India heavily taxes alcoholic beverages, which makes it difficult for residents to access quality wines and spirits made abroad. But her clients are increasingly 'looking for something new beyond the Taj Mahal and the palaces of Rajasthan.' So Shah has helped develop Micato's new tour to Nashik, on offer since last year. 'The word 'authentic' is overused, but that is what people want, whether they completely understand it or not,' she says. 'Nashik, right now, feels quite authentic.' The highway that leads from Mumbai to the vineyards is modern, but sections of it involve winding dirt roads and wayward cows. (It's a good idea to hire a driver, as Micato does for its guests.) And while wine is central to the experience, it's hardly the full extent of what to do there. This is a place to sample brut rosé and cabernet-shiraz and then take a sunset boat ride on the reservoir of Gangapur Dam, one of Asia's largest. The region also houses Trimbakeshwar, a revered and architecturally significant shrine to Shiva that dates to 1755 and contains a special three-faced representation of the Hindu god, and the 2,000-year-old Pandav Leni Caves, once frequented by Buddhist monks. The Game Changer Chandon may be a name known around the world, but Sula Vineyards has put Nashik on the map for international wine lovers. Founded in 1999 by Rajeev Samant, a former Oracle engineer who returned home after quitting his Silicon Valley job, it produces more than 50 percent of the wine consumed in India. Related Stories 10/5/2024 1/17/2022 Sula's production is encyclopedic: It makes more than 70 labels, from a pineapple-y sparkling rosé to an oaky chardonnay to a tannin-thick cabernet sauvignon that could pass for something out of Napa. Sula's Nashik tasting room—billed as India's first when it opened in 2005—features a bar that can easily accommodate 100, a gift shop filled with kitschy T-shirts (think: 'Partners in Wine') and a theater that plays a short movie about Sula's rise. Since 2010 it's also operated a vineyard resort, the Source, which looks like a cross between a Spanish hacienda and a Tuscan villa —albeit with an intricately painted elephant sculpture in the lobby. Suites look out onto vineyards of chenin blanc and groves of queen of the night, intoxicatingly redolent when they blossom after dark. Instead of mimosas at breakfast, there's a 'build your own chai' bar and an accompanying 'chaiwala,' which is essentially a mixologist but for tea. The rates start at about $100 per night. 'My dad was born in Nashik,' says Samant of his connection to the land. While attending Stanford University in the 1980s, he visited Napa Valley. A decade later, his father showed him a parcel of land he was thinking of selling. 'It reminded me of California,' Samant says of the area's verdant rolling hills and dirt roads. 'I said, 'I don't think you should sell this. I'm going to try to do something here.'' Now more than 350,000 visitors pass through the tasting room each year— as of April, more than 331,774 have come through in 2025 alone. 'The notable spike reflects the growing popularity of wine tourism in India,' says Sula representative Kinjal Mehta, as well as the fact that the cooler months are the most popular time to visit Nashik. While the majority of visitors are domestic, Sula says that the share of international visitors is growing. On a recent Thursday evening, the tasting room was packed with swillers of all stripes, from sari-clad grandmothers to polo-shirt-wearing bros broadcasting big bachelor party energy. A sign hung near the cellar door bears a believable, albeit unverifiable claim to fame: 'More people taste their first wine here than any other place in the world.' A caveat of selling wine experiences to a new-to-wine market, however, is that the 30-minute tastings feel very Wine 101. 'Don't drink it like a shot,' one employee admonishes during my visit, dispensing sparkling rosé into proffered glasses, then clarifying that it's not in fact made from roses. Around a horseshoe-shaped bar, heads reverently nod. Afterward, many guests head to an on-site pizzeria bustling with parents and kids, washing down slices of paneer-topped pies with jammy zinfandel. Instagram opportunities abound. Founded in 1999 by Rajeev Samant, a former Oracle engineer who returned home after quitting his Silicon Valley job, Sula Vineyards produces more than 50 percent of the wine consumed in India. Dreamstime/TNS A Wild West for World-Class Wines Sula is not the only game in town. About a half-hour drive from the Source is Vallonné, a humble winery producing some of the best wines in the region, owned and operated by Sanket Gawand. A Nashik native, Gawand cut his teeth at wineries in Bordeaux, France, and Bologna, Italy, before opening his own outfit. He also serves as Vallonné's winemaker and runs its tastings, which take place in the cellar amid stainless steel tanks. He manages a team of 10 that harvests nine lakefront vineyards by hand. Vallonné's viognier and Anokhee cabernet sauvignon stand up to their French inspirations more so than any other wines sampled in Nashik this fall—in my opinion—but Gawand admittedly lacks the public-relations prowess of more popular neighbors like Sula. 'We're not good at marketing,' he says, with an amiable shrug. Maybe he doesn't need to be. The four rooms at Vallonné's upstairs inn—quaint furnishings, vineyard views, priced at about $70 per night—are consistently booked, and its restaurant serves what might be the best food in the region. The all-day menu, which is also available to walk-in guests, includes succulent lamb kebabs and toothsome Hakka noodles made all the better with a glass of Vallonné's crisp chenin blanc. Diamonds in the rough such as Vallonné are best reached with the help of a local guide like Manoj Jagtap, a Nashik native who began conducting tours 10 years ago under the moniker 'The Wine Friend.' 'I've got a group of eight Aussies coming tomorrow,' Jagtap tells his charges—me, my mother and a family friend—midway through a recent day trip that included Vallonné, Chandon, and Grover Zampa. 'During the winter harvest season, it's nonstop.' When to Go Fall and winter are prime time for the region, and the success of the past season signals that planning for next year will be more essential than ever. Since 2008, Sulafest, a wine and music festival akin to Coachella, has brought about 20,000 visitors to Nashik every February. Hotels drive up their rates; locals sell yard space to day trippers in need of parking. It's the marquee event for Sula Vineyards and Nashik as a whole. 'There is potential for India to produce far, far better wines,' says Gawand, who believes that he and his peers are just getting started. 'Many Indians are traveling abroad,' tasting quality wines and returning home with an elevated thirst. 'Once consumers start understanding quality, the winemakers here will be forced to level up.' A sip of Vallonné's 2016 cabernet sauvignon—rich, smooth and redolent of sun-ripened red fruit—suggests that India's winemakers are well on their way. To his competitors, Gawand raises the proverbial glass. 'We are a dense population,' he says. 'Even if there are another 1,000 wineries, everyone will be well. There is more than enough business to go around.' Copyright 2025 Bloomberg L.P. Visit Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dear Readers: We would love to hear from you. What topics would you like to read about? Please send your feedback and tips to
Mint
13-05-2025
- Lifestyle
- Mint
India's Gen Z is drinking less, but drinking better
New Delhi: Young Indians are rethinking how they drink. A rising number of Gen Z consumers are cutting back on alcohol or trading quantity for quality, in line with a global shift towards health and wellness. Data indicates that Gen Z drinkers in India are more inclined to reduce their alcohol consumption compared to millennials, who continue to be the primary consumers of alcohol in India. 'There is a clear decline in alcobev consumption globally, and India is not immune to this trend," said Rajeev Samant, founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards. 'Even when we consider the demographic dividend, we still see people on Instagram advocating for a more alcohol-free lifestyle. Things have definitely changed. Alcohol consumption may not be evolving in the way we once expected." Traditionally, the under-30 age group has never been a major wine-consuming segment, he said. 'That said, this cohort in India today likely consumes more wine, relative to previous generations." According to data from IWSR, a global tracker of the alcoholic beverage industry, the attitude of Gen Z (those over the legal drinking age) towards alcohol in India differs significantly from millennials. 'In our latest Bevtrac report on consumer sentiment in India—Gen Z drinkers who choose to drink less outnumber those choosing to drink more by 5%," said Jason Holway, IWSR senior consultant. In a recent survey of full-strength drinkers, 25% of Gen Z drinkers have never chosen to abstain from alcohol for lifestyle reasons, while 41% have chosen to be away from alcohol for one month or more for lifestyle reasons. "In India, boomers, Gen X, and Gen Z are more likely to choose to drink less rather than drink more (millennials are the exception and continue to drive alcohol consumption)," said Holway. As per IWSR, millennials are the generation in India least likely to choose moderation. Millennials who choose to drink more outnumber those choosing to drink less by 8%. Around 28% of millennials have never chosen to abstain from alcohol for lifestyle reasons, while 36% have chosen to abstain from alcohol for a month or more for lifestyle reasons. While older consumers continue with established drinking patterns, younger legal-age drinkers are actively reshaping norms, he said. This doesn't mean Gen Z is abstaining entirely. With increased exposure to bars, pubs, and live events, younger consumers still drink—but with more restraint and a conscious approach. Take New Delhi-based Kanika Dua, for instance. The 28-year-old has cut down from three to four drinks a night to a maximum of two or three. 'It shows up the next day, and with work starting early, I cannot afford a mid-week binge," she said. The era of guzzling is over, said Alok Gupta, managing director at liquor company Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD). 'There is a need to consume better—so instead of three large drinks consumers may opt for two nice cocktails. Consumers want to prioritise morning workouts or early morning work commitments," he said. Also Read: Delhi's beer shelves are full—but where are the big brands? Booze break Gupta said growing awareness around health and fitness is influencing beverage choices. "The lens through which they consume F&B (food and beverages) has changed," he explained. "The fitness piece brings focus on better consumption, considering factors like calorie count and protein-carb balance, which extends to both foods and beverages. The concern isn't just about drinking less, but also drinking better, leading to premiumization," he added. Consumers are drinking better quality gin or tequila and even trading up to better whiskey or scotch. There are early signs of the "sober curious" trend among Gen Z, though its impact in India is still marginal compared to countries like the US, Vikram Achanta, founder of Tulleeho, a Delhi-based drinks consultancy said. 'There's talk of younger consumers drinking less, but it's not yet meaningful from a volume perspective. India is insulated from some of the shifts we're seeing in the West," he said. Still, they're more conscious of alcohol content. "A Spritz (with 8-10% alcohol content) might appeal more than a Martini (with 20-35% alcohol content)," he said. Mint earlier reported that a growing number of urban Indians were embracing sobriety or moderation—not necessarily due to heavy drinking but because of health concerns tied to their lifestyles. This rising "sober curious" sentiment is fuelling demand for non- and low-alcohol alternatives. This gave rise to a number of new-age startups, brands like Catwalk Botanics, Sober, Copenhagen Sparkling Tea and others that are focused on either creating or importing products from different markets. Though the category remains under 1% of the broader alcobev market, it is slowly gaining traction in metro cities. Global giants like Heineken and Beefeater have also entered this space. Despite growing moderation trends, alcohol consumption in India is growing. The country, with its large population, remains a large market for alcoholic beverages. The compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of total alcohol beverage industry in India from 2018 to 2023 was over 2%. Also Read: Beer brewers, after two tepid years, raise a toast to a longer, meaner summer According to Gupta of ABD, more legal drinkers are entering the market annually, and evolving social norms have led to greater acceptance of social drinking and increased alcohol consumption among women. Volume growth may slow, but consumer numbers are rising, and they're drinking better, Gupta said. India had 18-19 million first-time voters in the 2024 general election and an estimated 65 million Indians will be of legal drinking age (depending on the region) over the next five years. For brands, the message is clear: engaging with this evolving consumer base is critical. Samant of Sula said, "At festivals like SulaFest, 90% of the audience is Gen Z. So, we're doing our part by introducing more people to at least entry-level wines."
Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sula Vineyards Q4 PAT declines 4% YoY to Rs 13 crore; declares dividend of Rs 3.60/sh
The wine producer reported consolidated net profit fell 3.84% to Rs 13.03 crore in Q4 FY25 as against Rs 13.55 crore posted in Q4 FY24. Revenue from operations (excluding excise duty) rose 2.6% YoY to Rs 125.71 crore during the quarter. However, profit before tax (PBT) fell 27.56% to ₹13.56 crore from Rs 18.72 crore in Q4 FY24. EBITDA stood at Rs 28.5 crore, down 3.4% from Rs 29.5 crore in the year-ago period. The EBITDA margin contracted to 21.4% from 22.4% in Q4 FY24. The companys own brand sales stood at Rs 109.6 crore as of 31 March 2025, registering a de-growth of 2.9% on a YoY basis. The wine tourism segment performed strongly, with revenue rising 24.6% YoY to Rs 20.4 crore in Q4 FY25. The growth was supported by the successful SulaFest 2025, improved resort occupancy, and increased guest spending. The companys Elite and Premium brands drove a 5% YoY growth in overall sales. The elite category alone rose 17%, led by demand for The Source and RASA. These segments contributed a record 77.1% to total wine sales in FY25 and 75.5% in Q4 FY25. For the full year, Sulas net profit declined 24.77% to Rs 70.20 crore, despite a 2.01% increase in revenue to Rs 579.15 crore in FY25 compared to FY24. Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula, said, We are pleased to report our highest-ever revenue from operations in both Q4 and FY25. However, Own Brands sales were relatively subdued in Q4, impacted by urban consumption slowdown, lower WIPS credit, export contraction, and temporary retailer destocking in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Despite these challenges, several markets, including Haryana, Rajasthan, Chandigarh, and Assam, along with CSD, delivered strong double-digit growth, supporting our pan-India brand vision. The Source range also posted robust double-digit growth in Q4 and FY25, strengthening our Elite portfolio. Our wine tourism segment saw 25% YoY growth in Q4, driven by SulaFest25 and strong resort performance. Profitability remained stable, supported by continued focus on overhead optimization. Meanwhile, the board has recommended a final dividend of Rs 3.60 per equity share (face value Rs 2) for FY25, subject to shareholder approval at the upcoming Annual General Meeting. The record date for determining eligible shareholders is May 23. Sula Vineyards is principally engaged in the business of the manufacture, purchase, and sale of premium wine and other alcoholic beverages. Shares of Sula Vineyards rose 0.98% to Rs 273.35 on the BSE.
Business Standard
09-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sula Vineyards consolidated net profit declines 3.84% in the March 2025 quarter
Sales rise 2.60% to Rs 125.71 crore Net profit of Sula Vineyards declined 3.84% to Rs 13.03 crore in the quarter ended March 2025 as against Rs 13.55 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2024. Sales rose 2.60% to Rs 125.71 crore in the quarter ended March 2025 as against Rs 122.52 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2024. For the full year,net profit declined 24.77% to Rs 70.20 crore in the year ended March 2025 as against Rs 93.31 crore during the previous year ended March 2024. Sales rose 2.01% to Rs 579.15 crore in the year ended March 2025 as against Rs 567.73 crore during the previous year ended March 2024. Particulars Quarter Ended Year Ended Mar. 2025 Mar. 2024 % Var. Mar. 2025 Mar. 2024 % Var. Sales 125.71122.52 3 579.15567.73 2 OPM % 22.6424.05 - 25.7430.97 - PBDT 22.3027.07 -18 123.33157.41 -22 PBT 13.5618.72 -28 88.34125.78 -30 NP 13.0313.55 -4 70.2093.31 -25
