Sula wines

180km northeast of Mumbai lies the picturesque city of Nashik, one of the holiest and fastest growing cities in India. For several years now it has been known as The Wine Capital of India thanks to the work of Rajeev Samant and his business partner and winemaker Kerry Damskey. Their combined hard work, innovative thinking and expertise has borne fruit and they now own India’s most successful wine label, Sula.

Samant, a Stamford-trained engineer left his job in Silicon Valley in 1993 and decided to turn his attention to his 30 acre family estate which lay just outside Nashik in an area known for growing grapes, but never those which could be used for wine production. In 1997, after recruiting Damskey the pair set about planting French Sauvignon Blanc and Californian Chenin Blanc vines and thanks to the fertile black soil and pleasant climate the project was a huge success. These revolutionary steps have since paved the way for a host of other Indian wineries and orchards which now line the luscious Nashik valleys. Since releasing their first very well received batch of wines in 2000, Sula has gone from strength to strength gaining international recognition in Wine Spectator and leading an Indian wine revolution which now sees the domestic viticulture industry growing by 25% annually.

The wines themselves are a collection of crisp and fruity whites, delicious sparkling wines and deep, silky reds all fantastic alongside both Indian and international cuisine. Notable bottles include their Dindori Reserve Shiraz, bursting with full bodied berry flavors and their peppery Sauvignon Blanc, perfect when chilled and great for cooling off during the summer months. In 2005, Sula also released India’s first dessert wine, Late Harvest. The fruity nectar is the product of leaving the grapes on the vine well after they are ripe and then gathering the pinpricks of sweet juice stored within the dried out fruit. The result is a beautiful accompaniment for desserts and cheese platters or a simple aperitif. All wines are also 100% vegetarian, a popular move in a country with the world’s highest concentration of vegetarians.
The Sula empire has now expanded far beyond the original family estate and covers an impressive 1500 acres. Local farmers are contracted to work on the land and Sula is an advocate for sustainable agriculture, making every attempt to support the local community and protect their environment. In the past six years two more wineries have been opened and the public are welcome to enjoy the on site tasting room complete with 34ft bar and open balcony with charming panoramic views. Visitors can even spend the weekend in their tranquil paradise resort, BEYOND, which boasts gorgeous lake views and fantastic food at the vineyard’s charming restaurant, Little Italy.

Sula is available in most hotels and restaurants - visit the site for a list of international distributors and be sure to enjoy a bottle or two from this simply divine collection.

www.sulawines.com

The wines themselves are a collection of crisp and fruity whites, delicious sparkling wines and deep, silky reds all fantastic alongside both Indian and international cuisine. Notable bottles include their Dindori Reserve Shiraz, bursting with full bodied berry flavors and their peppery Sauvignon Blanc, perfect when chilled and great for cooling off during the summer months. In 2005, Sula also released India's first dessert wine, Late Harvest. The fruity nectar is the product of leaving the grapes on the vine well after they are ripe and then gathering together the pinpricks of sweet juice stored within the dried out fruit. The result is a beautiful accompaniment for desserts and cheese platters or a simple aperitif. All wines are also 100% vegetarian, a popular move in a country with the highest concentration of vegetarians in the world.

The Sula empire has now expanded far beyond the original family estate and covers an impressive 1500 acres. Local farmers are contracted to work on the land and Sula is an advocate for sustainable agriculture, making every attempt to support the local community and protect their environment. In the past 6 years 2 more wineries have been opened and the public are welcome to enjoy the on site tasting room complete with 34ft bar and open balcony with charming panoramic views. Visitors can even spend the weekend in their tranquil paradise resort, BEYOND, which boasts gorgeous lake views and fantastic food at the vineyard's charming restaurant, Little Italy.

Visit the site for a list of international and domestic distributors and be sure to enjoy a bottle or two from this simply divine collection.

http://sulawines.com/