Nashik, known for aeons for its sacred spots, has become a popular tourist spot amongst youngsters in the past few decades thanks to its vineyards. Wine tourism in Nashik is booming, and Nashik vineyard tours are increasingly sort after. Sula Vineyards is Nashik’s first winery, established in 1999. Soon others followed suit, and now Nashik boasts some 40 wineries and has emerged as the Vineyard Capital of India. Rum has been the favoured drink of Indians, but now wine is slowly but steadily gaining popularity among connoisseurs.
The vineyards are spread on the outskirts of Nashik in different directions, so you must plan your trip carefully. The three vineyards near the Gangapur Dam located next to each other are Sula, Soma and York. These three are the most popular among tourists. Chandon is located in the Dindori district, while Vallonne Vineyards and Grover Zampa are in the Sanjegaon district.
Sula: The Pioneer of Nashik’s Wine Industry
It is the brainchild of Rajeev Samant, who returned to India after studying at Stanford and a stint with Oracle in California. The idea to explore winemaking emerged when he visited his family’s land in Nashik, known for its table grapes. Why not grow wine grapes? In no time, he was in California at a small winery owned by his mentor cum friend Karry Demskey. Then there was no looking back, and in 1999 was born ‘Sula’ a short form of ‘Sulabha’ his mom’s name.
Entry Tickets
The entry ticket cost to Sula is Rs.1000; you will get coupons worth that much. You can redeem the coupons for buying food/ wine or for the winemaking tour and wine tasting.
No sooner do we park our car and enter the vineyard that we notice the various signages that mention exciting titbits about the vineyard. An ‘I Love Sula’ signage, attractive wine bottle displays, selfie points in the form of giant wine bottles, a yellow bicycle, and an outline of a photo frame will grab your attention.
Wine making Tour
We have signed up for a guided winemaking tour. Our guide provides an introduction to the history of the vineyard, how it all began, and the owner. We move from one room to the next as the various steps in the winemaking process are explained. Those who have enrolled for a wine-tasting session move on further, where 4-6 different wines are offered for tasting, and their nuances are explained.
The tasting room extends to a balcony which provides sweeping views of the vineyards. We order a medley of dishes since it is lunchtime. If you want a leisurely dining experience, then the property has two restaurants. Little Italy for your all-time favourites of pizza and pasta. If you love your desi food, then Rasa, the Indian Restaurant, is another option. If you choose to stay at the vineyard, make prior bookings at The Source.
York Winery: A Serene Escape Amidst Nature
A 5-minute drive from Sula takes us to York Winery. This winery was established in 2006 by Lilo Gurnani, who seized the opportunity seeing, Nashik’s flourishing winemaking potential. As we enter the premises, we can see the building which houses the winery and tasting room on the left and the parking lot parallel to it. A sprawling lawn welcomes us, which overlooks the Gangapur Dam backwaters. The vineyards are spread over six acres of scenic land.
Simple and Scenic
The estate houses a quaint restaurant, Cellar Door, which overlooks the lawns and surrounding vistas. Compared to Sula, which is more expansive and buzzing with tourists, York is more laid back and peaceful. We decide to order some refreshments and relax and enjoy the view. The winemaking tour and tasting is Rs. 500 per head. You can even skip the winemaking and tasting tour and just eat at the restaurant and enjoy the scenic landscape.
Soma Vine Village: Where Wine and Ambience Blend
Soma Vine Village is the brainchild of Mr Pradeep Pachpatil, who spent eight years learning winemaking under experts abroad. He then moved to Nashik in 2006, built a farmhouse on a 10-hectare land and plunged into winemaking. Over a period of time, a resort was built where people could stay, enjoy the ambience and taste the finest wines.
Soma- A delight for Instagram
Like York, it is located on the backwaters of Gangapur Dam and offers majestic views of the Sahyadri mountain ranges. As we enter the estate, we see giant signage of ‘LOVE’ in blood read. There are barrel-shaped wooden kiosks near the vineyards where one can sit, sip on wine, and dine. This place, too, has an energy and vibe that reminds us of Sula. A giant installation of a wine bottle and several wine barrels with the name and logo of the establishment can be seen. Guests are pouting and posing and clicking pics at the various instgrammable locations.
The good part about Soma Vine Village is that if you don’t want to do the wine tasting, you can simply join the winemaking tour for Rs. 100. The prices for wine making and tasting tour range from Rs 500-900 depending on the number of wines one would like to taste. The pomegranate wine is the speciality here.
Vallonne Vineyards, Grover Zampa Vineyards, and Chandon India Winery are some of the other well-known vineyards in Nashik. Vallone Vineyards has the famous Malaka Spice restaurant.
GETTING THERE-
Nearest Airport to Nashik Vineyards: Nashik has a domestic airport. Other nearby airports include Mumbai and Pune.
Distances: Mumbai to Nashik: 166 km or 3 hours 45 minutes. Pune to Nashik: 213 km or 4 hours 30 minutes.
Where to Stay to Visit Nashik Vineyards: MTDC Grape Park near the boat club is a good option. Sula has The Source, which you need to book months in advance. Soma Vine Village has luxurious rooms, villas and service apartments. We stayed at The Courtyard by Marriott. You can do a net search for hotels depending on budget and comfort. At York Winery, entry is free. The winemaking tour and tasting is Rs. 500 per head.
Timings and Best Time to Visit Nashik Vineyards: The best time to visit Nashik is November to March. If you want to see the grapes growing on the vines, then January to March is the best time.
Entry Fees and Charges to Nashik Vineyards: The entry ticket cost to Sula is Rs.1000; you will get coupons worth that much. You can redeem the coupons for buying food/ wine or for the winemaking tour and wine tasting. At Soma Vine Village, if you don’t want to do the wine tasting, you can join the winemaking tour for Rs. 100. The prices for wine making and tasting tour range from Rs 500-900 depending on the number of wines one would like to taste.
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