Sula Vineyards

Our Story

This estate is located 180km northeast of Mumbai, in India’s largest grape-growing region of Nashik. Rajeev Samant, believing that Nashik offered the perfect climate for vines and on par with other regions in Spain, California, or Australia, decided to quit his job in Silicon Valley to dedicate to the idea.

In Sonoma County he found Kerry Damskey, an eminent Californian winemaker, to help start a winery on Rajeev’s 30 acre family estate. In 1997 they took the revolutionary step of planting Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc, both varieties had never been planted in India.

The first Sula wines were released in 2000, widely acclaimed as India’s best white wines. It sparked a wine revolution which saw consumption grew at 25% annually, with several new wineries set up. A second winery with three times the capacity was completed in late 2004 to keep up with demand, and a third also started operations in 2006.

Now covering 1800 acres with owned and contracted vineyards, in both Nashik and nearby Dindori, planted with different varieties including Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Zinfandel and Merlot, along with Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier and Riesling.

Apart from selling locally Sula also exported the wines internationally, as well as importing and distributing wines from leading producers worldwide. In 2005 Sula launched its first reserve wine, Dindori Reserve Shiraz, and the first dessert wine in India, Late Harvest Chenin Blanc.

The winery and vineyards are open to public, as well as accommodation for visitors to spend a few nights.

Rajeev Samant

He was born and raised in Mumbai, and after graduating from Stanford University, worked briefly in Oracle in Silicon Valley but quitted in 1993. After backpacking for a year, Rajeev returned to India and started farming mangoes at his family’s 20 acre plot in Nashik.

He also tried other crops but unsuccessful but in 1996 he realized that Nashik had the perfect climate for grapes but no one was making it. So in 1999 he established Sula Vineyards, Nashik’s first winery, with the help of Kerry Damskey, paving the way for Nashik to become India’s wine capital.

Sula is also recognized as India’s premier quality producer, introducing first time varietals and techniques to India. In 2002 Sula became the first Indian winery to feature in Wine Spectator. With the initial sale of 50,000 bottles in the first year, Sula is now India’s largest wine producer with over 60% market share and sales of over 7 million bottles.

Sula’s import arm, Sula Selections, is one of the leading importers of wines and spirits into India. Rajeev also is a pioneer in wine tourism and opened the first tasting room at Sula in 2005, with restaurants and recently a 30-room vineyard resort.

Kerry Damskey

Kerry’s philosophy is that of a gem cutter, to start with the high quality raw materials, identify and then to show what’s inside and highlight it. Growing in San Francisco, Kerry’s visits with his family to winegrowing regions around the Bay Area whetted his thirst for the craft.

After graduating from high school, he enrolled in the enology and viticulture program at the University of California at Davis. Afterwards he worked for wineries in Lodi to San Diego, and in 1986 he was appointed winemaker for the old Zellerbach Winery in Chalk Hill.

The Vineyards

The wines are made from grapes harvested from Nashik and Dindori estates as well as from local contract farmers.

I have recently tasted the 2014 Sauvignon Blanc and below is my tasting note:

Appearance

Bright and clear, it has light lemon-green color, with wide watery rims and legs.

Nose

Clean, with medium (-) intensity of herbaceous notes of grass and bell pepper, green fruit of green apple and pear, tropical fruit of pineapple, citrus fruit of lemon. The wine is youthful.

Palate

Dry, with medium (+) acidity, the wine has medium alcohol and medium (-) body, demonstrating medium (-) intensity flavors of green fruit of green apple and pear, citrus fruit of lemon, herbaceous notes of grass and bell pepper. The wine has a medium (-) finish.

Conclusion

Acceptable quality Sauvignon Blanc, the wine has a fairly light intensity on the nose showing the typical varietal characters, youthful and simple. On the palate it shows good acidity and a light body and concentration, also simple but a good wine to enjoy with simple salad on a summer day, with a fairly short finish. Ready to drink now and not intend for further ageing.