You'd think the most visited winery in the world would be in France, or maybe California.
But, no, more people drop by Sula Wines in India than another other winery on the planet.
This is perplexing because many of us don't even know that wine is produced in India.
Yet, it is, it's good and it attracts crowds at Sula, which is located 180 kilometres northeast of Mumbai in India's largest wine-producing region -- the Nakhik Valley.
India is densely populated with an emerging wine culture, the perfect combination to lure visitors to Sula's tasting room (the first to open in India in 2005), store, restaurants, hotels and spas.
I'm telling you this because Sula Wines has a new tie-in in British Columbia.
Calgary-based liquor agency Black Stallion Spirits represents Sula in Western Canada and has just introduced eight Sula wines at a bunch of private liquor stores in BC.
That means you can buy Sula at Urban Liquor and Franco's Liquor in Kelowna; Summerland Liquor Store; U District in Kamloops; Costless Liquor in Prince George; and Liquor Planet II in Victoria.
You may consider wines from India an anomaly and a novelty -- and to some extent they are.
But, Sula vintages are also well-made, quality bottles that can compete on the world stage.
All this should convince you to give wine from India a try and be pleasantly surprised.
The eight Sula wines available in BC are:
- Sula Sparkling Shiraz ($21), a bubbly with a profile of blackberry, pomegranate and Shiraz's signature spice
- Sula Tropicale Rose Sparkling ($21), a pink with aromas and flavours of peach and passion fruit from a blend of Chenin Blanc, Riesling and Syrah
- Sula 2023 Zinfandel Rose ($17), with a pink grapefruit and cranberry profile
- Sula 2023 Chenin Blanc ($17), India's best-selling white wine for its fresh and lush expressions of orange, lemon and honey
- Sula 2023 Riesling ($17), pleasantly off-dry with a grapefruit and honey profile
- Sula 2023 Sauvignon Blanc ($17), New Zealand-style with aromas and flavours of apple, guava and bell pepper
- Sula 2023 Shiraz-Cabernet ($17), India's best-selling red wine for its bold and smooth expression of blackberry, plum and black pepper
- Sula 2023 Zinfandel ($17), California-style red with a cherry-plum-cinnamon profile
Sula was founded by Rajeev Samant in 1999 when he discovered his home region of Nashik was ideal for growing wine grapes.
After earning degrees in economics and engineering management at Stanford University in California and working for a while at Oracle Corp., Samant returned home with that California spirit of innovation and entrepreneurship that morphed nicely into helping establish Nashik as a wine-producing region.
Sula owns 62% of the market share for wine in India, is a member of the International Wineries for Climate Action and exports wines to 26 countries.
By the say, Sula means 'peace' in Indian and the name for the winery was derived from Samant's mother's first name -- Sulabha.
Upcomings...
- The fourth annual Bubbles & Oysters party at Mirabel Vineyards in East Kelowna is Sunday, July 28, 1-4 pm.
While you mingle and drink in the view, Shucked Oyster Co. will be on site serving up half shells to elegantly pair with the yet-to-be-released 2020 Blanc de Noir sparkling wine.
Tickets are $55 at https://mirabelvineyards.com/.
- The next installment in Maverick Winery's Intimate Dining Series is tomorrow night.
The menu of caramelized onion tartlette, gnocci Parisienne, pork belly and peach cobbler will be paired with Maverick wines from its estate in Oliver.
Tickets are $120 at https://www.maverickwine.ca/product/dine-with-us-intimate-dinner-series-july-20-2024/?c7EmailId=b6acb4c2-5ce4-4427-bc87-0bfe67afb6a9.
- The Summer Music Series at Okanagan Crush Pad in Summerland continues Thursday, July 25 with SoCo Blues Crew, wines and bites.
Tickets are $59 ($47 for wine club members) at https://www.exploretock.com/okanagan-crush-pad-summerland/event/487742/haywire-music-series?_kx=sGQblDYp6Or8X0jkAGIMvuILEmBKc0rZcLMxVH7DrbPhrk3kny2VgD6kh-N_Hwr2.YdBEUD.
Steve MacNaull is a NowMedia Group reporter, Okanagan wine lover and Canadian Wine Scholar. Reach him at smacnaull@nowmediagroup.ca. His wine column appears every Friday afternoon in this space.
