Name: Nashik
Rating: 4.2

Sula Vineyard, Nashik Overview

The Sula Vineyards is a famous winery that is located in Nashik, 180 kilometres to the northeast of Mumbai and is renowned for its varieties of grape wines, such as Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling and Zinfandel. The company started from a mere 30-acre estate in Nashik and has now extended to approximately 1800 acres spread across Nashik and Karnataka. This large estate is open to the general public for a round of wine tasting and a tour of the vineyard on all days throughout the year and has gained immense popularity over the years.

Sula Vineyards is home to sixty wineries and boasts of being the first ever winery in the entire nation. The Grape Stomping activity that takes place here between January and March is an added delight. Also, the vineyard has two restaurants that serve lip-smacking food, a gift shop and a bottle shop. The vineyards also house a resort to live in, a winery, and a tasting room in which people can taste different samples and varieties of wines that are produced at the winery.

The vineyard is an ideal getaway for people who wish to spend their weekend or day off in leisure, away from the din of the city. The ambience and surroundings of the place are such that visitors do not even realise that they are actually in India, and the scenic views transform them into another world altogether.

Tours and Tastings at Sula Vineyard

People who wish to taste some exclusive wines, or simply want to know more about the winemaking process, can sign up for a tour of the winery. This tour is well explained by a guide, who briefs visitors about the history of Sula, and describes to them the different stages that occur in the winemaking process.

This lovely tour ends with the guide taking the visitors to The Tasting Cellar, wherein a specialized team guides them about the five steps of tasting wine. The tours and tastings at the Sula Vineyard take place every day all throughout the year, except on certain dry days such as Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti.

Read more about Sula Vineyards

Grape Stomping at Sula Vineyards

The harvest and crush season generally falls between January and March, and this is when the grape stomping is conducted. The grape stomping is a Roman tradition which involves the crushing of grapes with one's bare feet and is an experience that you absolutely should not miss.

Other Facilities at Sula Vineyard

The Sula Vineyards also house an exceptional Gift and Bottle Shop, which stocks some exclusive brands of wine that can be bought only from the winery. You can pick up your favourite wines from this shop as a souvenir before you leave from here. Two restaurants, by the names of Little Italy and Soma, can also be found in the vineyards, and both of these restaurants serve delicious Italian and Indian meals. The Tasting Room faces the vineyards and the backwaters of the Gangapur Dam and is a beautiful place to be at.

Sula Fest

The live music festival of the vineyards is known as SulaFest and takes place every year at the winery. This two-day gourmet world music festival was started in 2008 and offers its visitors some amazing food and drinks with catchy music. People who visit the festival can engage in grape stomping, wine tasting and camping while at the festival.

History of Sula Vineyards

The Sula Vineyards was founded by Mr Rajeev Samant in the year 1998. Samant quit his corporate job abroad to come back to India, and on his return, he established Sula. What followed were experiments with a variety of crops such as mangoes, roses, teakwood and table grapes. Finally, it was ascertained that wine grapes were the best crop to grow in India, keeping in mind the country's climatic conditions and temperature.

Further consultation with Kerry Damskey, a Californian winemaker took place, and finally, Samant set up his first winery in Nashik. The name Sula comes from Samants' mother's name, which was Sulabha. As time passed, newer varieties of grapes were introduced, and the company expanded its product range. Today, the region is known as the Wine Capital of India and is home to around sixty different wineries.

Tips For Visiting Sula Vineyard

1. The Sula Vineyards is a prime wine tourism destination and thus is crowded with wine lovers during weekends and vacations. It is therefore recommended that you visit the attraction on weekdays for a peaceful and serene experience at the vineyards.
2. You will have to pay INR 37 for the Taste and Buy Package, which includes the tour and exclusive tasting of six wines with the Sula Winemakers.
3. You can also sign up for VIP tasting or customized premium tasting for small groups, and make the most out of your holiday.