Aug 15-17 Long Weekend: Discover These Hidden Vineyards Across Maharashtra

Have you heard of the 20/20 rule for wine?

Here's the breakdown: let red wine chill in the fridge 20 minutes before serving, and take white or rose wine out 20 minutes ahead of time. This formula recommends the optimal temperature at which to serve each type of wine, enhancing their flavour and aroma.

This rule will establish if you're a fan of wine and if that is the case, it's time you discovered there five vineyards around Nashik.

Chandon India Winery

On the outskirts of Dindori and since 2014, Tony Jordan and MD Bruno Yvon have been crafting sparkling wines inspired by Nashik's rich culture and land, along with their passion for winemaking.

At the foothills of Nashik — cooled with rainfall and bursting with greenery — you can wander through their vineyard and winery to learn how Chandon intertwines modern manufacturing techniques with traditional ones, savouring the taste of the regional grapes.

"We buy in all our grapes, so our relationships with our contract farmers are very important and our viticulturists consult with them on a weekly basis, helping them with training and quality control," says winemaker Kaushal Khairnar at Chandon.

Don't miss a meal at Chandon's white-wash minimalist and luxurious restaurant, which serves classic appetizers, salads, sandwiches, burgers, wraps, pizza and pasta.

Address: GAT No-652, Stroke 1 and 653, Village Dindori, Taluka Dindori, Nashik, Maharashtra

Fratelli Wines

A dream turned reality, Fratelli (meaning 'brotherhood' in Italian) began in 2006 at the dawn of a vision shared between three families — Secci, Sekhri and Mohite-Patil — who aspired to become storytellers through the art of winemaking.

Their 240-acre estate is located in Akluj, a town in the Solapur district of Maharastra, with rolling hills and plantations located on the right bank of the Nira River. Sounds idealistic?

The Fratelli Estate offers firsthand experiences of the winemaking process (including visiting their winery and barrel room, where fermentation and aging occurs), guided tours through the vineyards to witness grape cultivation and luxurious rooms for you to spend a few days (₹9000 - ₹11,500 per night) to, as Fratelli puts it, "slow down the clock".

Address: RW5H+HQR, Shipaiwadi, Motewadi, Maharashtra

Nipha Winery

You have heard of vineyard tours (₹200) and wine tastings (₹600). But what about grape stomping (₹300)?

Nipha Winery allows you to take part in this family-friendly activity. Though, they offer a disclaimer that it’s seasonal and dependent on the availability of grapes.

Aside from grape-stomping, the Nipha Estate is known for its family-run pizzeria, located at Pimplas Ramache, Tal. Niphad, Nashik. After a stroll through the vineyards or an afternoon of wine-tasting, bite into their hand-stretched wood-fired pizzas and house-made tiramisu.

Held up by the pillars of art and science, as well as passion, quality and integrity, Nipha Winery has been working towards becoming India's premier eco-friendly boutique winery since 2013.

Jyostana, from the branch of arts, and Ashok, from the branch of science, were determined to set up a wine production project and brought it to completion, creating Nipha Winery, whose name comes from 'Nifad', a taluka of Maharashtra known as the 'California' in terms of horticultural agriculture.

Address: Pimplas Ramache, Niphad, Maharashtra

Grover Zampa Vineyards

Founded in the 1960s, Grover Zampa emphasises on attention to detail, giving their wines a discrete style and balance. Presently, it is monitored by wine consultant Michel Rolland.

Located in Nashik Valley, Grover Zampa Vineyards offers tours (price ranges from ₹350 - ₹3000 without GST, may vary between age groups) around the grounds — including the vineyard, winery and barrel room — revealing the chronology of and secrets behind manufacturing the wine.

Enjoy premium wines with Grover Zampa's wine tastings or indulge in a gourmet menu at the vineyard's restaurant. Their wine list includes Chêne, La Réserve, Soireé and the Vijay Amritage reserve collection.

Address: Gat No.967 / 1026, At Post Sanjegaon, Taluka Igatpuri, Nashik

York Winery

Finally, a 20-minute drive from Nashik City, near the Gangapur Dam, you'll find the innovative York Winery amidst lush green hills and running fields. Here are the four pillars of York Winery's estate: tour & tastings, the tasting room, the restaurant and the bottle shop.

On weekends, take the day to tour around York Winery and watch as the vibrancy of the surroundings enhance that of their wines. Savour their palette of flavours, paired with finger foods at their tasting room.

Their restaurant is a breath of fresh air (quite literally, as it’s open-air), creating an eco-centric atmosphere, which complements York Winery’s North Indian and Chinese menu.

Address: Gat No.15, 2, Gangapur-Savargaon Rd, Gangavarhe, Nashik

Next time you visit one of these wineries, remember to hold your glass by the stem, give it a swirl and a sniff, and start with a small sip. Cheers!

Published on: Thursday, August 14, 2025, 06:30 PM IST