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A Homegrown Guide To India’s Best Vineyards

Disha Bijolia

Vineyards are a great getaway destination. Driving through beautiful rolling hills covered in straight rows of vines bejewelled with grapes slowly ripening in the sun is a delight one can share with their friends. The best time to visit one is after summer as the weather cools down and the winemakers start to harvest and prepare their grapes for processing. You might have heard of the famous Sula Wines in Nashik, but there are plenty of other vineyards offering delicious wine-tasting opportunities in picturesque locations. Here’s a list of some of the best ones.

Image Courtesy: Make My Trip

I. Fratelli

Fratelli, which means ‘brothers’ in Italian is the collaboration between Secci brothers from Italy with the Sekhri and Mohite-Patil brothers from India. Located in the rolling hills of the Sholapur region in Maharashtra, their vineyards offer an immersive experience in handpicking your own harvest, winemaking, and wine tasting. They also have 4 elegantly styled rooms for a stay as you envelope yourself in nature sipping their delectable wines.

Find out more here.

Image Courtesy: Soma Vine VIllage

II. Soma Vine Village

Soma Vine Village stands tall amidst the lush green vineyards in Nashik that have been nurtured with utmost love and care. It brings you the opportunity to take India’s first boutique winery’s guided tour in which their Sommelier will take you through the processes of making White, Red, and Rose as well as sparkling wines followed by a wine-tasting session. They offer Luxurious rooms, resorts and even service apartments if you wish to stay, and activities like grape stomping, getting a spa treatment and rock-climbing and Go-Karting in the Zonker’s adventure park.

Find out more on their website.

Image Courtesy: Pinterest

III. Charosa

The Tuscan look with contemporary vernacular architecture is the first thing that strikes you about the Charosa Winery as you drive to the vineyard. Surrounded by picturesque hills, valleys, forests, and water bodies, it is a location ripe with possibilities. The creation process of fine Charosa wine is unique with open tank fermenters being used for the first time in India. The vineyard is located in the Dindori-Niphad-Satara area of Nashik and is a homegrown wine brand to be named after the village in which it is located.

Read more about them here.

Image Courtesy: Nashik Wine Tours

IV. Nipha Winery

Nipha wines are created in an artisanal way in extremely small quantities by close involvement in every aspect of wine-making. Their vision is to become India’s premier eco-friendly boutique winery. They use good practice & organic food science to make clean wines that are free of excess sulphite, and other additives, preservatives or contaminants. Their wines are also low in histamines. The Nipha estate also offers tours, wine tasting and grape stomping experiences.

Check them out here.

Image Courtesy: Chandon

V. Chandon

If you enjoy sparkling wines, you’ll be pleased to know that globally-renowned Chandon made a ​much-anticipated entry into India in early 2016. The vineyard is located on 21 acres of land near Nashik. Its pristine facility (the sixth in the world) sparkles, just like its splendid Brut and Rose wines. When you visit Chandon India, you’ll be welcomed by the symphony of serenity. You can spend the day handpicking delectable grapes in their 19-acre vineyard at Dindori, followed by a mesmerising tutored tasting experience in their graceful tasting room, and end it with a glass of sparkling and the view of a spectacular sunset.

Find out more on their website.

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