INDIA IS KNOWN MORE FOR ITS EXTRAORDINARY MUGHAL PALACES, VIBRANT CULTURE AND ARTFULLY SPICED CUISINE THAN ITS FINE VINTAGES. HOWEVER, THE SUBCONTINENT’S ERSTWHILE REPUTATION FOR SUBPAR FERMENTATIONS STANDS CORRECTED THANKS TO A FLOCK OF PIONEERING LOCAL VINTNERS SETTING UP IN MAHARASHTRA’S FOOTHILLS. AROUND FOUR HOURS FROM MUMBAI, NASHIK IS PRIME WINE TERRITORY, ITS SANDY SOIL, LOW MINERALITY AND ROLLING HILLS SUGGESTIVE (WITH A LITTLE IMAGINATION) OF THE TUSCAN LANDSCAPE.
INTERNATIONAL WINE EXPERT DANYEL HARRIS GIVES US HIS TAKE ON THE SUBCONTINENT’S FINEST VINEYARDS, THESE INDIAN WINES ARE THE NEW WORLD’S RISING STARS TO SAMPLE WHILE ON HOLIDAY IN INDIA.
LVMH Chandon Brut & Chandon Aurva
Moët Hennessy’s exclusive 21-acre estate in Dindori produces a range of crisp, fresh sparkling wines using the méthode traditionelle. Cut through with summery notes of orange blossom and vanilla, LVMH Chandon Brut is every inch as sophisticated as its French sister, and is, of course, the life and soul of every party in Mumbai and beyond. A visit to the beautiful Chandon vineyard and tasting room makes for a wonderful day trip from Mumbai.
If you are lucky enough to visit the Chandon Estate, you can unlock the key to their exclusive, cellar only available selection red – Chandon Aurva, a new world wine with an old world soul, created from the historic Shiraz grape, it’s definitely worth journey and isn’t available anywhere else.
Sula Vineyards Chenin Blanc
A tenacious stalwart of the Indian wine market, Sula was the first winery to set up in Nashik in 1999. Helmed by owner Rajeev Samant, who cut his teeth in the Californian winelands, the estate’s award-winning Chenin Blanc Reserve features on wine menus across the Subcontinent. It’s an easy drinking semi-dry white with vivid fruity notes. For a good, easy red, try the Rasa Shiraz, best enjoyed chilled.
Wine should be about fun, enjoyment, engagement and Sula have certainly captured that in their established winery. Sula have also created a depth in their range, with newer labels such as – The Source and Rasa.
Rasa, in particular demonstrates Sula’s artisanal winemaking and very selective viticulture.
Grover Zampa La Réserve
Having earned itself a Bronze in the 2016 Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Grover Zampa La Réserve is the darling of the Indian wine scene. This full-bodied blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz pairs well with a lamb biryani, its notes of chocolate and dark berries easily holding their own against meat, heat and spice. Grover Zampa’s Soirée Brut is a very palatable sparkling wine for a sundowner on a special occasion.
Fratelli Sette & J’Noon
Matured for a year in oak barrels, Sette is a ruby blend of around 70 per cent Sangiovese and 30 per cent Cabernet Sauvignon cultivated near the Nira River. The star of the show Sette, has close styles to Italian ‘Super Tuscans’. Big, full and bold red following a blending process aged in French oak barrels for 14 months.
It comes from good stock: the Fratelli vineyard is the labour of love of three sets of seven brothers from India and Italy, overseen by Tuscan master winemaker Piero Masi and now under the helm of his son Giovanni.
Most of India’s best restaurants stock Fratelli wines, including the estate’s refreshing white J’noon.
Vallonne Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve
Vallonne is a truly exquisite boutique wine estate, nestled in the tranquil village of Kavnai just on the borders of Nashik. This restaurant estate is a winery that produces premium French-styled wines, where you can sit and take in the lakeside views & rolling vineyards, from their excellent restaurant by Yelloh. They also have a few rooms, for the wine enthusiast amongst you.
A small production with a portfolio that includes the only Indian rose produced with Cabernet and a dessert wine that is made using grapes that are sundried in special straw huts, this is a wine that’s hard to find, but worth the hunt.
My pick though is their Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, a glass full of red bramble flavours that rivals any good Bordeaux. They also make an extremely palatable Viognier that is also well worth a try!
Follow Danyel Harris on his wine adventures both in India & Europe @thegrapeedition
Feature images © Sula Vineyards;/iStock; Wade/iStock; Juanmonino/iStock; izusek/iStock
