TRAVEL SPECIAL..FOR LOVERS OF INDIAN WINES

FOR LOVERS OF INDIAN WINES

India has a bustling wine tourism industry with Nashik and Karnataka leading the pack. You can now pamper yourself by staying at a vineyard resort and indulging in an open spa, with your glass of wine 

    India is increasingly becoming aware of its capacity to produce quality wine. And wine tourism is on the rise thanks to the wine industry pulling out all stops to promote the beverage. Though wine tours can be embarked upon at any time of the year, you can indulge in maximum number of activities only during ‘season months’. And unlike a few years back, most vineyards in the country now offer accommodation, too. You can stay back in rooms that overlook the lush greens and enjoy the view instead of scouting for hotels around the vineyard. An important factor for wineries to flourish in an area is the weather, which has to be warm and sunny during the day and cool at night. The soil should be rich and well-drained to make the grapes suited for wine production. Only a handful of places in India have the luxury of this weather combination and they have now started to make the most of it through wine production and tourism.
Compiled by Sujata Reddy

NASHIK
Often referred to as the Napa Valley of India, Nashik is one destination that is instantly associated with wine. In fact, wine production and tourism gave the sleepy city of Nashik a much needed face lift. Till just a few years back, locals would take their guests to the Trimbakeshwar temple and the site of the Kumbh Mela. Today, they hop over to a vineyard close to their home. Wine tasting rooms, plush vineyard resorts with infinity pools that overlook the grape gardens and just the sheer number of wineries in the area make one want to come back for more.

POOLSIDE FUN: Enjoy with your friends with wine for company, in an infinity pool that oversees grape gardens at Sula’s vineyard resort in Nashik

OPEN UP: Grover Vineyards in Karnataka and Mercury Vineyard in Nashik arrange many elaborate wine tasting sessions

OUTSKIRTS OF NASHIK
While Nashik has a host of wineries in its midst, the surrounding areas are no stranger to the phenomenon either. The base of the lush and beautiful Nhera-Ori hills at Dindori, on the Nashik-Dindori road has wineries known for their production of red wine. You can do more than just sample wine here. There are artificial lakes for boating and water sports. Nothing like a glass of wine after a bout of adventure sports to help the exhaustion fade away, right? Sanjegaon, located in between Igatpuri and Nashik is another destination that is increasingly becoming popular for its wineries.

SIP ON: Most vineyards have restaurants where you can dig into Italian, Indian and other international cuisines. Chateau d’Ori in Dindori is one such example

PUNE
Nestled on the outskirts of Narayangaon, on the Pune-Nashik highway are a number of vineyards. The location is apt for those who are looking to go for a quick vacation with family or friends. The lavish tasting rooms are the perfect setting for romantic evenings with your loved one.

KARNATAKA
Wine tourism is flourishing and contributing immensely to Karnataka’s economy, thanks to the improved grape wine policies, which led to a boom in the production of wines. This directly resulted in an increase in tourists, eager to bask in its glory. Wineries are mainly concentrated in Nandi Valley in Doddaballapur and Bijapur. One of the few places to grow French grapes, Karnataka boasts of growing around 12 varieties of grapes.

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