In countries that produce large amounts of the world's wine, wine tourism abounds. In France and Italy, for instance, every other villa seems to have a signature wine or vineyard. This isn't the case in India, however. Indian wine tourism is a relatively new travel trend, although certain regions of the country have been producing wine for centuries.
Grapes are a popular fruit in India, but it wasn't until around 15 years ago -- when the famous Sula Vineyard opened -- that wine came to national attention. Since then, wine tourism has slowly expanded to attract international travelers. Sula's first years attracted approximately 5,000 visitors annually, but 2012 saw approximately 150,000, reports The New York Times. Many established wineries have added tasting rooms, opened restaurants and hotels and organized vineyard tours for visitors.
India's vineyards are home to many varieties of grapes, which grow well in the sunny, temperate climates of the country's popular wine regions -- including the states of Karnataka and Maharashtra. Except during the monsoon season, the climate is fairly dry. The weather conditions unique to India create some subtle twists on classic wine varieties. Bhisham Mansukhani, an Indian writer and oenophile, recommends several reds -- including Reveilo Reserve Syrah, Sula Rasa and Grover’s La Reserve -- and whites -- including Indus Sauvignon Blanc, Reveilo Chardonnay Reserve and Mercury Chenin Blanc.
Since its establishment in 2007, the Karnataka Wine Board has promoted wine in Karnataka, one of the largest grape producers in India. The region has several major wineries, and your best bet is to find them in the highest-producing regions -- including the Nandi Valley, Cauvery Valley and Krishna Valley. Although the region produces many grape varieties, it has three key players: Thomson seedless, Anab-E-Shahi Dilkush and Bangalore Blue. Government efforts to encourage highly profitable wine production have contributed to the region's wine boom, making it an ideal place to find a wine tour.
Because the state of Maharashtra contains the capital city of Mumbai, many tourists arriving in India find themselves near the largest wine-producing region in India. The region's vastness makes identifying a signature wine or grape variety nearly impossible, but a few stand out -- cabernet sauvignon, chenin blanc, shiraz and sauvignon blanc. Nashik, a region within Maharashtra, is the center of wine tourism in India, with many wineries and vineyards open to visitors. In fact, Nashik is responsible for more than 90 percent of India's wines. A slow ripening process -- resulting from the region's weather patterns -- keeps the grapes acidic and full of flavor.
