78 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER INDIA | MAY 2018
THE ADDRESSwith a refreshing glass of The Source
Grenache Rosé. It is India’s first rosé
made with Grenache grapes and you
can sample its citrusy and tropical fruit
notes only at the vineyard (it’s currently
not available at retail outlets). In the
evening, I get a tour of the winery and
a crash course in winemaking. I am
just in time to see a truckload of freshly
harvested Sauvignon Blanc grapes
arrive at the winery. Crates filled with
tightly bunched, small, round green
grapes are emptied onto a conveyor belt,
which carries them to their demise into
the wine press. The juice is extracted
here and transferred to tall steel tanks
where the fermentation is carried out.
I then proceed to the tasting room
where I sample five-six different wines
from the Sula repertoire, including the
aromatic Riesling and the full-bodied
Rasa Shiraz.
The next day is dedicated to exploring
the city of Nashik. I huff and puff up
the seemingly interminable stone steps
leading up to Pandav Leni, a group of
24 caves carved on a hillside sometime
between first century B.C. and circa
third century A.D. Some caves have
large sculptures of the Buddha, while
others have inscriptions scribbled in
Brahmi script. Elaborately carved
pillars and large stone columns abound.
There’s a lookout that gives a bird’s-
eye view of Nashik. I descend back
into town and check out a few of the
religious sites that Nashik is known for,
like the Kalaram Temple dedicated to
Lord Ram, and the Ganga Ghat.
Sula Vineyards (top left) offers an all-access tour of their winery followed by a sampling of
wines at the Tasting Cellar; The suites look out over Sula's sprawling vineyards (top right)
and the Gangapur Lake just beyond; The butter yellow walls, arched windows, and louvered
shutters all add to the Tuscan-style ambience of The Source (above).ESSENTIALS
The Source at Sula is located next to
the tasting room of Sula Vineyards,
off Gangapur-Savargaon Road in
Nashik. It is 180 km/3 hr northeast
of Mumbai. Regular, direct flights
now connect Mumbai to Nashik. The
two cities are well connected by rail
too. Sula Vineyards is 35 km / 1 hr
southwest of Nashik airport, and
22 km/ 50 min northwest of Nashik
railway station (www.sulawines.com;
doubles from `7,000).Back at The Source, I have a spa
appointment waiting. The signature
grapeseed oil massage is relaxing and
a much-needed antidote to my aching
limbs. That night, I dine at Soma where
I’m treated to a series of delectable
kebabs and spicy biryani, all paired
with a glass of Rasa Shiraz, which is
fast becoming my favourite Sula wine.
As I walk back to my room, I look up at
the star-spangled night sky just in time
to see a shooting star streak past. Away
from the lights and bustle of the city, I
feel The Source working its magic on
me. Or perhaps it’s the wine.¾ PHOTO COURTESY:SULA VINEYARDS