This sunny Chenin Blanc comes from Nashik located to the north of Mumbai in the Western Ghats Mountains of India. And it’s our favourite from the impressive Sula Vineyards range. This softly aromatic vibrant and refreshing white conjures up honeysuckle peach green apple quince tropical fruit candlewax wildflower honey and smoked peppercorns. There’s a twist of lemon and lime on the finish that has us straight back in for another sip. Consider pairing this with dal chole bhature thoran Gujarati thali Sri Lankan mallung fruity salads quiche or savoury dishes made with cider or apples. Alternatively it has a touch of off-dry sweetness that loves the heat of Caribbean dishes. This is India’s bestselling wine.
Sula Vineyards – described by Jancis Robinson as India’s “leading wine producer” – was established by Rajeev Samant who began planting vines in 1996. It became the first winery in the ancient city of Nashik and that area of Maharashtra has since emerged as the country’s largest grape-growing region. Inspired by his time spent in Napa Valley Rajeev Samant not only pioneered the cultivation of French grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc but has also experimented with Zinfandel for which he took a pruning from California and stuffed it into a duffel bag then five days and four fridges later planted it in Nashik. This is not an obvious place to launch a winery. The tropical climate monsoon rains high investment required complex taxes and inability to advertise alcohol locally all create significant challenges. However Sula Vineyards have made such a success of it they no doubt inspired the multinational luxury goods brand LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) to create Chandon India about an hour’s drive away.
The wine industry has a diversity issue. So it’s great to see wineries like Sula vineyards opening up new frontiers and breaking down old barriers. The company follows sustainable practices and in 2021 became part of the International Wineries for Climate Action a group working to decarbonise the global wine industry. Not only is it an eco-friendly winery covered in solar panels but it’s also committed to providing fair livelihoods for the local farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Although Sula has become an international powerhouse their focus has always been on the local market. So the fruit-forward wines are an affordable luxury always bottled under screw cap so there’s no need for a corkscrew. This has the added bonus of making them a fine choice for hot weather spicy food barbeques and picnics.
SKU No.: 3494551
Style No.: 893969
Region: Nashik
Grapes: Chenin Blanc
Closure: Screw
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 12%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites
This sunny Chenin Blanc comes from Nashik located to the north of Mumbai in the Western Ghats Mountains of India. And it’s our favourite from the impressive Sula Vineyards range. This softly aromatic vibrant and refreshing white conjures up honeysuckle peach green apple quince tropical fruit candlewax wildflower honey and smoked peppercorns. There’s a twist of lemon and lime on the finish that has us straight back in for another sip. Consider pairing this with dal chole bhature thoran Gujarati thali Sri Lankan mallung fruity salads quiche or savoury dishes made with cider or apples. Alternatively it has a touch of off-dry sweetness that loves the heat of Caribbean dishes. This is India’s bestselling wine.
Sula Vineyards – described by Jancis Robinson as India’s “leading wine producer” – was established by Rajeev Samant who began planting vines in 1996. It became the first winery in the ancient city of Nashik and that area of Maharashtra has since emerged as the country’s largest grape-growing region. Inspired by his time spent in Napa Valley Rajeev Samant not only pioneered the cultivation of French grapes like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc but has also experimented with Zinfandel for which he took a pruning from California and stuffed it into a duffel bag then five days and four fridges later planted it in Nashik. This is not an obvious place to launch a winery. The tropical climate monsoon rains high investment required complex taxes and inability to advertise alcohol locally all create significant challenges. However Sula Vineyards have made such a success of it they no doubt inspired the multinational luxury goods brand LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton) to create Chandon India about an hour’s drive away.
The wine industry has a diversity issue. So it’s great to see wineries like Sula vineyards opening up new frontiers and breaking down old barriers. The company follows sustainable practices and in 2021 became part of the International Wineries for Climate Action a group working to decarbonise the global wine industry. Not only is it an eco-friendly winery covered in solar panels but it’s also committed to providing fair livelihoods for the local farmers in Maharashtra and Karnataka. Although Sula has become an international powerhouse their focus has always been on the local market. So the fruit-forward wines are an affordable luxury always bottled under screw cap so there’s no need for a corkscrew. This has the added bonus of making them a fine choice for hot weather spicy food barbeques and picnics.
SKU No.: 3494551
Style No.: 893969