Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa in Nashik launches India Wine Studio showcasing wine from about 35 vineyards

Home to some of the best winemakers and vineyards in the country such as Sula, Chandon and York, Nashik is often referred to as India’s Napa Valley. A four-hour drive from Mumbai, Nashik’s landscape and climate (cooler nights) make it fertile for wine cultivation. The city has now inspired the creation of India Wine Studio. Located within the Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Nashik, the studio is a curated collection of wine, bringing together over 90 varietals from nearly 35 renowned vineyards, predominantly from Nashik.

The wine studio was launched a few months ago at the culmination of a two-day trail across Nashik that pulled back the curtains on India’s burgeoning wine industry. According to Jatish Ghai, the hotel’s general manager, the studio is a way to spotlight the 40 vineyards across the city.

Though Sula is one of the pioneers of wine tourism, other vineyards in the city, such as Vallonné, Chandon, Soma and Grover Zampa, too offer tours and tasting sessions.

“There are more varieties of wine in India than one would expect,” Jatish says. From classic reds and white, to more unique dessert wines and rosés, the city has a wide variety of choices, given that they work with grape varieties such as chenin blanc, Shiraz, cabernet sauvignon and sauvignon blanc.

A testament to this is the guided wine-tasting event led by Sonal Holland, the first recipient of the Master of Wine title in India. On the menu are wines from seven brands — rosé from Chandon, Grillo from Reveilo, chardonnay from York H Block, Signet Shiraz (Amphora) from Grover Zampa, RĀSĀ Cabernet Sauvignon from Sula, Anokhee from Vallonné and Antaraa Cabernet Sauvignon from Good Earth.

The hotel also offers a wine trail across the city. “The wine trail is to let people experience the variety that the city has to offer,” says Jatish. The hotel offers a two-day wine trail experience, which includes a visit to two premium vineyards in the city, chosen by the guest. Those interested can book the package through the hotel’s website.  

As part of the experience, we get a closer look at two wineries — Vallonné and Chandon — where we learn about the winemaking process from berries to bottles and sampled the varieties on offer.

Boutique wine

Surrounded by the Sahyadri mountains, Vallonné Vineyards is a boutique wine estate that was set up in 2009. The yellow building, which houses a winery, a restaurant and a small hotel, stands tall in the quiet village of Igatpuri, just outside Nashik.

For founder Shailendra Pai, who has a long history with the wine industry, Vallonné, which produces around 15 varieties of wine, is a labour of love. As we walk through the lush slopes of the vineyard taking in the earthy smell of the ripening grapes, Shailendra talks about the time-consuming and care-driven process of making wines.

A little ahead, a small wooden table is set up with some picks from their wine collection.

The Anokhee Cabernet Sauvignon quickly becomes a crowd favourite. Crafted in 2009 and 2016, it is part of their grand reserve wines, which are barrel-aged for 24 months and further aged in bottles for a minimum period of two years. With a bouquet of other wines on offer, Shailendra says innovation is important to them.

Apart from its fruity and refreshing rosé, the dessert wine Vin de Passerillage stands out with a sweet taste that could pair well with Indian desserts.

Around 60 kilometres away, Chandon winery is a sight to behold. A lush, 19-acre property, located in the Dindori area of Nashik, Chandon India is part of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy Group.

A tour of the property begins at the gallery room, which showcases the brand’s history and its beginnings in India. A miniature model of the entire property is set up in the middle of the room and at the further end of the room, two sliding doors open to a view of the winery. Currently, Chandon currently makes five varieties: Brut, Rosé, Delice, Aurva, and the Chandon Vintage 2015 edition.  

From berries to bottles

Winemaker and brand ambassador of Chandon India, Amrut Vare, who leads the tour, explains the wine-making process in detail. From the vineyard where the grapes are grown to the factory where they are aged and bottled, he walks us through the steps: the crushing of grapes, fermentation and rigorous testing. The tour ends with a wine-tasting session with Kaushal Khairnar, head winemaker at Chandon India.

Chandon makes sparkling wine in two variants — brut and rosé. Last year, they also launched their first still red wine, Aurva. Kaushal engages the crowd with the basics of wine tasting. He also comes up with three-word descriptions of the wine, simplifying the session for first-timers. For example, he describes Brut as “vibrant, precise and layered”.

A learning experience

The wine market in India is still in its nascent stages but is slowly growing. For winemakers, these trails are a means to demystify the beverage and make it more accessible. “If you want the industry to grow there has to be an education,” says Shailendra.

“What we do through these tours and tastings is to educate people. We tell them a story about how wines are made and slowly introduce them to the world,” he adds.

The Indian wine industry has undergone a metamorphosis, observes Sonal during the tasting. She says the industry has grown leaps and bounds with many Indian wines now bagging awards, both locally and globally. And Nashik is a big part of that journey. The global wine market was valued at approximately $330 billion in 2023. According to a report by Prowess Group, the Indian wine industry, which is currently valued at $175 million, is expected to increase to $440 million by 2028.

The writer was in Nashik on the invitation of Radisson Blu Hotel and Spa, Nashik