Main Info
Nashik Overview
One of the most famous wineries situated in Nashik, the Sula Vineyards is located at a distance of 180 km from Mumbai, in the northeast direction and is popular for the variety of its grape wines, including Zinfandel, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Riesling. The company that has now grown to an area of 1800 acres running across Nashik and parts of Karnataka, initially started on a 30-acre estate within Nashik. This huge estate is now open to be visited by the general public throughout the year. People can visit, take a tour, and enjoy a round of wine-tasting on all days. It has gained huge popularity over the last few years.
Home to almost sixty wineries in total, Sula Vineyards can proudly boast of being the first winery in the whole country. Between the months of January and March, there is a delightful activity of grape stomping that happens here. The vineyard also has a gift shop, a bottle shop, and two restaurants which serve delicious food. Within the vineyard, there is a winery, a resort for people to stay in, and tasting room for people where they can go and taste different varieties of wine manufactured within the winery.
This place is the ideal getaway
for anyone who wants to get away for a weekend or spend a day leisurely, away
from the city chaos. The environment and vibes of the place might even make the
visitors forget that they are still in India. The beautiful ambience and views
make it feel like a different world altogether, almost like a foreign land.
More on Sula Vineyard
Tours and Tastings at Sula Vineyard
Visitors who wish to try some exquisite varieties of wine, or are simply more curious about the whole process of winemaking, can come here to sign up for an exclusive winery tour. It is a guided tour where the guide briefs the people about the history and story of Sula and also tells them in detail about the different steps involved in the process of making wine.
This amazing tour ends when the guide takes the visitors to visit the tasting room or the tasting cellar, where a special team is present to guide them through the five particular steps of wine tasting. Except for certain specific days like dry days on Republic Day, Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti, these tours and wine tastings happen all year round every day.
Grape Stomping at Sula Vineyards
The months of January to March witness the crush and harvest season for grapes used in winemaking, and that’s when grape stomping happens at Sula Vineyards as well. It is a part of the Roman tradition where people crush grapes with their bare feet and is a once in a lifetime experience that should not be missed.
Other Facilities at Sula Vineyard
The Sula Vineyards are also a house to some exquisite Gift and Bottle Shops, where you can buy some exclusive wine brands that are only available here. Before you leave, you can get some wine as a souvenir from these shops. The two beautiful restaurants that serve lip-smacking Indian and Italian cuisines go by the name of Soma and Little Italy. The Gangapur Dam backwaters and the vineyards are visible from the tasting room and it is the best view one could ask for.
Sula Fest
The annual music festival of the vineyards that happens live every year is called The Sula Fest. This gourmet world music festival that started in 2008 is a two-day treat with amazing drinks and food, and some great music artists. If you decide to visit during this festival, you can also engage in wine tasting, camping, and grape stomping while you are there.
History of Sula Vineyards
Mr Rajeev Samant founded the Sula Vineyards in 1998. He established Sula after quitting his corporate job abroad and coming back to India. It was followed by a variety of experiments with different crops like roses, mangoes, teakwood, and table grapes. It was ascertained then that as per India’s climate and temperature and other conditions, wine grapes were the best option.
Upon continued consultation with
a winemaker from California, Kerry Damskey, Rajeev Samant set up the first
winery in Nashik. The name of winery is derived from ‘Sulabha’, the name of
Samant’s’ mother. With time, the vineyard saw the introduction of new grape
varieties and the product range of the company expanded. The place is today
known as the Wine Capital of the country and houses almost sixty distinct
wineries.
Sula Vineyard: Tips For Visiting
- If you want to visit the location for a calm and peaceful experience, it is advisable to visit during weekdays because it is a prime tourist destination in Nashik and is generally overflowing with crowds of wine lovers.
- If you buy the ‘Taste and Buy’ package by paying the basic fees, you get to go on the tasting tour and try six different varieties of wines with the winemakers at Sula.
- To make the most of the time there, you can also choose the VIP tasting or the personalised premium tasting within small groups.
How to Reach
Nashik is accessible by all means of transport as it is only 210 km from the Pune city and 180 km from Mumbai.
