Terroir
The Nashik Region
Nashik is situated 2,000 feet above sea level in the Western Ghats of India. Located in northern Maharashtra - approximately 200 km from Mumbai and Pune - it is an important industrial and agricultural area.Globally, 95-97% of grape cultivation is devoted to wine grapes. Until recently, though, almost 99% of the grapes cultivated in India were table grapes, and most of them came from Nashik. With the demonstrated success of wine grape cultivation in the region, however, more and more producers are switching from table grapes to wine grapes.
Sula Vineyards owns over 300 acres of land in the Gangapur and Dindori districts of the Nashik region, out of which 180 acres are currently under plantation. Another 200 acres are under plantation by contract farmers.
Varietals planted include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and Zinfandel. Experimental research is currently focussed on Muscat, Riesling, Roussanne, Viognier, Grenache, and Merlot.
Soil & Climate
The Western Ghats have laterite soils which are rich in iron with good drainage. They vary from sandy clay loam and red laterite to murrum soils, all well suited for wine grape cultivation.
The climate of the area is mild throughout the year, ranging from winter lows of 8-10°C to summer highs of 32-35°C.
Grapes are usually harvested at the end of winter (January–March), which helps to expose the crop to warm days and cool nights. This exposure aids in the slow maturation of the grapes, enhancing their quality.
Water
The Nashik region consists of two rainfall zones. The first is the high rainfall (80-100 cm) hilly Konkan area in the west, and the second is the low rainfall fertile plain to the east.Being at an elevation, our vineyards in the Dindori district are assured of ample rainfall. In addition, 7 of the 19 dams in the Nashik region are located in Dindori. The Kadva and Kolvan rivers - tributaries of the Godavari - pass through this area as well, further augmenting the availability of water throughout the year.
Dindori
Dindori is the future of Indian wine. This picturesque district of Nashik features gentle hills of red laterite and basalt rock. Well-drained light soils on the slopes give way to heavier, clayey soils on the valley floors. Clean air, plenty of monsoon rain and a cool climate all contribute to Dindori’s suitability for quality vineyards.Sula acquired 300 acres of land at Dindori in 2003 of which 150 acres are planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Sauvignon Blanc. The remaining acreage is being planted in stages, and will eventually create India’s largest wine grape vineyard. Dindori’s focus is on sustainable agriculture, with minimum chemical inputs and reduced irrigation.
Viticultural operations in Dindori are carried out by hand. No heavy machinery enters the vineyard once the land has been ploughed before planting. Fruiting branches are individually tied to the trellis by string for optimum shoot positioning. When our Dindori farm reaches its full potential, we will harvest 1,200 tonnes of handpicked, top class fruit.
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