Namaste, Sula Vineyards – Maharashtra, India
A giant sculpture of a sparkling-wine bottle, painted in psychedelic colors, welcomes visitors at the entrance to India’s largest winery. Located in the city of Nashik in the state of Maharashtra, this internationally award-winning winery has been producing wines since 1999, many of them sparkling.
The Nashik region is considered the Napa Valley of India. Its wines display surprising concentration. At an average latitude of 20 degrees north, one would hardly expect to find a wine industry at all—especially one producing white and sparkling wines. Grapes intended for sparkling wine require well-defined acidity. Contrary to the expectations of experts and connoisseurs, distinctive sparkling wines with suitably balanced natural acidity are being produced in India’s hot and humid climate. What is the secret behind this wonder? The Charmat method—explained below in the wine description.
Sula Vineyards’ vineyards are planted at various elevations, the highest of which reaches 584 meters, on volcanic and rocky soil in a relatively cool and balanced climate.
The wine: Sula Vineyards Brut Tropicale N.V. is a dry sparkling rosé made from a blend of Chenin Blanc, Shiraz, Pinot Noir, and Riesling—an interesting combination of red and white grape varieties. It offers highly fruity aromas and flavors, accompanied by distinct yeasty notes.
As noted above, the wine is produced using the Charmat method, commonly used for Spanish sparkling wines such as Cava. After fermentation, the blend is transferred to a hermetically sealed pressure tank, where gas bubbles are added before bottling, much like in soda water.
The finished wine is delicious, fruit-forward, and easy to pair with food. It is best served chilled to 6–8°C.
https://sulavineyards.com/
