A dhaba in a vineyard. Did we hear that right?!
“It’s a wine dhaba,” laughs Grégoire Verdin, global brand ambassador/AVP Tastings and Marketing at Sula Vineyards. This — The Starlight Terrace — is the latest addition to their 30-acre property in Nashik where clients can dine under a star-spangled sky, on charpai-esque seating, as they sip on a variety of wine paired with food one would usually find in a dhaba. As it turns out, traditional Maharashtrian sev bhaji pairs beautifully with a cold, silky Chardonnay.
The Starlight Terrace, the wine dhaba at Sula
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Indian tourists, restless after two years of lockdowns, are looking for memorable domestic destinations now, as the pandemic and its fall out continue to make international travel challenging and expensive. In response, the country’s vineyards are pulling out all stops to offer new experiences.
There are personalised movie nights, customised picnics and wine tasting sessions, all of which you can participate in while staying in their thoughtfully curated boutique rooms and treehouses. Of course, in keeping with the heady theme, offerings include spas with wine baths, cycling through the vineyards and introductory classes to understanding wine.
A lazy day at Sula
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Soak in Merlot
“During the lockdown, people rediscovered Indian wines. For a lot of them it turned out to be different from what they had in mind,” says Grégoire, adding that people began to appreciate Indian wines even as the makers started getting recognised internationally. “They want to experience the vineyard life and learn more about wine,” he says.
Over the last couple of years, The Source at Sula (their Tuscan style resort) has gone from 28 to 57 rooms to meet the burgeoning demand. The occupancy rate is 90% and on weekends it’s fully booked, says Grégoire.
