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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
IOL News
29-04-2025
- Business
- IOL News
A toast to the world's newest wine route
The vineyards at Sula, a massive wine estate north on Mumbai in India Image: Supplied Sheila Yasmin Marikar At Nashik International Airport, there are so many posters advertising vineyards and wine tastings, you could be forgiven for thinking you've landed in Cape Town rather than India's west, 160kms 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 whisky. 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.' Inside the cellar at Sula Vineyards in india Image: Supplied New tour routes '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% of the wine consumed in India. 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 in California. 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 theatre 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 R1850 a 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 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. Sanket Gawand in the cellar of his Vallonné winery. He cut his teeth making wines in Bordeaux and now produces some of India's best. Image: Supplied 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 with quaint furnishings, vineyard views, priced at about R1300 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 - myself, 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.'
Bloomberg
25-04-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
In India, Wine Culture Takes Off—With a Vineyard Scene That's Worth a Trip
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.
Associated Press
05-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Tashi Baijiu 'The Spirit of Tibet' Wins Double-Gold Medal and Best of show Baijiu at the 2025 WSWA Spirits Competition
Less than a month after capturing the #1 White Spirit at the San Diego International Spirits Challenge, Tashi 'The Spirit of Tibet' takes home the coveted Best of Show Baijiu award at WSWA NAPA, Calif., March 4, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Tashi Baijiu, known as The Spirit of Tibet, has achieved another monumental milestone by winning the prestigious Double-Gold Medal and Best of show Baijiu at the 2025 Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Spirits Competition. This remarkable achievement comes less than a month after the brand was honored with the title of #1 White Spirit at the San Diego International Spirits Challenge. Tashi Baijiu, a unique and premium offering crafted from ancient Tibetan traditions, has gained global recognition for its unparalleled flavor profile and cultural significance. The recognition at WSWA solidifies its place among the finest spirits in the world, reinforcing its growing reputation in the competitive international spirits market. The Double-Gold Medal win signifies unanimous praise from the competition's expert panel of judges, which includes industry leaders, sommeliers, and spirits professionals. The Best of show Baijiu award, the most coveted distinction of the competition, acknowledges Tashi Baijiu as the top overall Baijiu in the competition for its exceptional quality and innovation. 'We are incredibly proud and humbled by these prestigious accolades,' ZhiPing Hu said, General Manager of Tibet Alajiabao Spirits which produces Tashi Baijiu. 'To be recognized by such a respected panel, not only for the unique and rich heritage behind our product but also for its exceptional taste, is a true honor. These wins are a testament to the dedication of our team and the authenticity of Tashi Baijiu as a celebration of Tibet's traditions and craftsmanship.' The WSWA Spirits Competition judges evaluate Baijiu entries with rigorous standards for taste, innovation, and overall quality. Tashi Baijiu's back-to-back wins at both the San Diego International Spirits Challenge and WSWA place the brand in an elite class of spirits, with growing recognition from both consumers and industry professionals alike. Tashi Baijiu's journey, rooted in centuries-old Tibetan heritage, is marked by the use of naturally huskless barley from the Himalayan region and 600-year-old distillation techniques. It continues to captivate spirit connoisseurs around the globe, from the United States to Asia, for its bold and distinctive character. Tashi Baijiu's continuous success highlights a new chapter in the global spirits industry, with more exciting developments expected in the coming months. About Tashi Baijiu Tashi Baijiu, The Spirit of Tibet, is a premium baijiu made of highland huskless barley and inspired by the rich history and culture of Tibet. Crafted using time-honored distillation techniques and organically grown barley native to the Himalayan region, Tashi Baijiu offers a unique and refreshing alternative to traditional spirits. The brand has garnered international acclaim for its bold flavors, cultural significance, and innovative approach to modernizing a centuries-old tradition. 'One World ~ One Sky ~ Tashi Delek!' 707-888-8700
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cydcor Event Services Capabilities Bring Brands to Life with Experiential Marketing
Cydcor's Event Expertise Shared with a High-Impact Presence at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access Live Agoura Hills, California--(Newsfile Corp. - February 27, 2025) - Cydcor, a leader in outsourced sales and marketing solutions, continues to evolve its service offerings to meet the dynamic needs of brands. As part of its commitment to delivering high-impact solutions, Cydcor is leveraging its expertise in residential, business-to-business, and retail sales to offer a full suite of event services including: Sports venue brand ambassadors Product education and training Retail sales ambassadors Sales driven samplings and tastings Booth buildout and event activations Known for its expertise in face-to-face interactions, Cydcor's experiential marketing services allow brands to connect directly with consumers through interactive, high-energy engagements at trade shows, retail spaces, and entertainment venues. Earlier this month, Cydcor made a powerful impact at the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) Access Live event in Denver, where it showcased the company's expertise in creating immersive, high-energy brand experiences. As brands seek more direct and impactful ways to connect with consumers, Cydcor continues to innovate with scalable and customized event solutions. "Our expertise in customer acquisition and brand engagement naturally extends into live events, allowing us to create powerful consumer interactions that drive real business impact," said Vera Quinn, CEO of Cydcor. "Bringing our event services capabilities to WSWA was a great opportunity to demonstrate how we help brands maximize visibility, engagement, and sales in competitive spaces." With more than 30 years of experience in helping brands grow, Cydcor's event services provides tailored solutions designed to help its clients maximize their return on investment in live events. For more than three decades, Cydcor has provided customer acquisition solutions to Fortune 500 and emerging companies in a wide range of industries. Cydcor has mastered the power of building relationships with consumers while leveraging the advantages of technology to acquire, grow, and retain customers for its clients. Founded in 1994, the privately held company is based in Agoura Hills, California. For more information about Cydcor, visit Media Contact: Gail MichalakVice President of Marketing805-277-5525gmichalak@ To view the source version of this press release, please visit
