The Best Vineyards and Wineries to Visit in India

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Winery
India’s biggest and most popular vineyard is Sula Vineyards. Sprawling over 3,000 acres, it is located in the premier wine-growing area of the country—Nashik, also called the Napa Valley of India. Founded in 1996, this vineyard captures about 80 percent of India’s wine sector. It makes its wine through sustainable viticulture and has raked in several awards owing to its premium wine quality and varietals.

Visitors can take a tour of the vineyard and sample its wide selection of wines which run the gamut from white such as Riesling, Chenin Blanc and Zinfandel Rosé to sparkling like Brut Tropicale and Seco, to red such as Dia Red, Satori Merlot and Cabernet Shirza. The vineyard also has a luxury resort named Beyond, complete with beautifully appointed rooms, gym, spa, restaurant, games room, and an infinity pool. Outside the resort, visitors can take a stroll or bicycle along the winding paths and bask in the nature all around. Adding to the beauty is the beautiful and calm Gangapur Lake and the rolling hills. There are packages available for weekends and weekdays that cover winery tour, tasting, and breakfast—check the website for more information.

If you’re interested in an organized wine event, visit in February as it hosts the biggest wine tour in the country—‘Sula Fest’, pepped up with an array of fun activities and events.

Founded in 2007, Fratelli Wines is an Indo-Italian vineyard started by the Secci brothers from Italy, Sekhri brothers from Delhi, and Mohite-Patil brothers from Solapur. It is known for making the best red wine in the country—the Fratelli Sette Reserve Red. It also offers guided wine tours and tasting of a variety of red, white, and sparkling wines, including late-harvest dessert wine, dry Chenin Blanc, Sette, Chardonnay and Sangiovese Bianco. Whether you’re a novice or a dedicated wine lover, you’ll always find a wine here to suit your taste. Other than Solapur, which is its main vineyard, Fratelli operates in two more regions—Garwar and Motewadi, and all are blessed with verdant landscapes, making them a charming place where wine connoisseurs can take a tour and sample their wines. If you fancy staying for a day or two, there are several packages to choose from—you just need to make reservation ahead. Also, there is an option to rent the entire vineyard.

Set in a beautiful vista of three artificial lakes, lush landscape and the Nheira-Ori hills, the Chateau d’Ori is a winery that every wine aficionado or anyone looking to get away for a few days will definitely enjoy. The estate has a modern winery, offering a variety of experimental blends. Known for making classic wines, like Cabernet Merlot, Viva Rosé and Sauvignon Blanc, it is also dedicated to sustainability at every step of wine-making. It also sells a range of imported wines, and even has the largest merlot plantation in India. Visitors can take a vineyard tour and savour wines at the tasting lounge of the dome-shaped winery. If you’re interested in staying, the property also has a farmhouse overlooking the artificial lakes in the midst of verdant vines.

Winery
At Four Seasons Vineyards, wine and food pairing is a part of the tour. Located amid the picturesque setting of Western Ghats in Baramati, the Four Seasons Vineyard is a palatial property with stunning architecture and varietal wines made from flavorful grapes, thus pleasing to architecture and wine aficionados alike. With a wide range of wines on offer—red, white and rosé—it is definitely worth a visit. Also, the property includes 14 luxurious rooms, offering spectacular views to visitors and complete with a swimming pool, spa, party deck, and a restaurant. Adding to the beauty is the small reserve forest located next to the property where you can spot deer while on a leisurely stroll. The best time to visit is January–April, when you can see the entire process of wine making, from cleaning and crushing to extraction.

Spread across 230 acres in the Dindori area of Nashik, the Charosa Vineyards is a beautiful vineyard that charms its visitors with a Tuscan theme and modern architecture, as well as a diverse selection of wines, which are classified into three categories—reserve, selection, and pleasure. Its wines, such as Reserve Tempranillo, Sauvignon Blanc, and Voignier, are all worth trying. Featuring scenic hills, forests, and plush landscapes and exuding sophisticated ambiance, the estate is worthy of exploration.

Nestled in the foothills of the scenic Nandi Hills, Grover Zampa Vineyard is a 400-acre estate claimed to be started by the oldest viticulturist in India, Mr. Kanwal Grover and Mr. Georges Vesselle. They were the first to grow French grape varieties in India. Visitors can learn about the wine-making process, tour the vineyards, and sample the premium wines, such as Chardonnay, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon, among many others. The vineyard tour happens three times a day at 10:30 a.m., 2:30 p.m., and 4 p.m. It is a glorious spot to visit any time of the year, with a wealth of natural beauty rich with miles of forests, sloping green hills, and trekking trails. There is another facility in Nashik.

Winery, $$

Given the beautiful location near Sahyadri Valley, plush landscapes, soil, and climate, the Chateau Indage Vineyard produce some of the best wines. There are about 32 different varieties of wine—from first-timers to the most discerning wine connoisseur, there is a wine for every palate. The wine tours are available on weekends for two hours, followed by wine tasting and fine dining at the winery’s Ivy Café and Bar. After the tasting session, you can go for a stroll along the lush vegetation that includes sugarcane fields, sweet corn fields, as well as vineyards. If you want to stay longer, there are cottages on the property overlooking the wine trails. Apart from the facility in Narayangaon, they have vineyards in Himachal Pradesh, and Nashik.

For a winery experience coupled with picturesque vistas, visit the York Winery, located just a stone’s throw away from Sula Vineyard. This winery has several awards under its belt for its white and red wine varieties. It’s open every day for you to enjoy the scenic views of the surrounding hills and lakes, winery tour and wine-tasting sessions. The must-try wines include the new varietal like York Sparkling Brut, and classics like Cabernet Sauvignon and Reserve Shiraz. Day tours of the winery are only available, from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Winery

Situated in the Sanjegaon district in Nashik, the Vallonne Vineyard is a boutique winery that is known for its French-style wines. Do try their Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc, rosé, Malbec, and dessert wine—Vin De Passerillage. There is a lake-facing restaurant on the property, which serves south-east Asian cuisine to soak up all that booze. If you want to stay longer, there are four rooms, complete with vintage furnishings and artifacts.