 Impressed by the immense success last year of the fourth edition of SulaFest that had put up the ‘Houseful’ signboard in the afternoon of February 6 last year, York Winery, located on the way from Sula winery to its ‘agri-turismo’ guest house ‘Beyond ‘had also thrown open the cellar doors to the wine, food, music and entertainment loving public three weeks later on February 26 through the wine festival known as York live. Gauging the success of Sula which decided to make it a 2-day long party on February 4 and 5 this year, York seems to have beaten Sula, at least in the timing of wine fest- second edition of York Live was organized a couple of weekends earlier- on January 21.
Ravi Gurnani is quite pleased with the attendance and the success of the event. ‘We had about 500-600 people, about 70% of whom came from Mumbai, especially for the entertainment at the event, paying Rs. 900 for the entry. There was continuous music from 4 bands till 10 in the evening,’ he says. Was there a strategy in his holding it a couple of weeks before Sula, I ask? ‘Last year was our first year and many people did not come because they had already been to Sula, which is much bigger than ours and would not be affected if held before or after us, whereas, we have to still establish ourselves.’
York Live 2012 kicked off at slightly past mid-day last Saturday. For an entry fee of Rs.900 that entitled you to the winery visit and wine tasting, you could enjoy, good music, besides shopping in the bazaar. The pointless but popular grape stomping at such events and carnival games were there for entertainment. Ravi Gurnani, adds “The fest also had an array of wines, coupled with amazing performances by Shrilektric with Nasik Dhol, Something Relevant and the headlining act by Karsh Kale.”
Sula Fest follow son February 4 and 5. Last year 3000 people attended and going by the enthusiasm, it was my guess that this year, the number would cross 5,000, leaving a problem in the hands of Rajiv Samant since the place has a limited capacity and was full to the brim. Rajiv did the easiest and the smartest thing-simply made it a 2-day festival.
The festival is a gourmet live fest with multiple options in food, wine and scores of fun activities including performances by well-known international music artist Nitin Sawhney who has not performed in India so far, Reggae Rajah’s, Ankur and the Ghalat family and Dualist Inquiry at the amphitheater- home of Sula Fest, located next to the winery and within the vineyard space.
BlueFROG, the popular night club of Mumbai, which has set up base near Qutab in Delhi very recently and is all set to mesmerize the young music lovers of Delhi (hopefully a lot of them are wine lovers too) is handling the music at Sula Fest; a musical treat is assured-along with the food delights and opportunity to enjoy a complete range of Sula wines (yes-there is beer too!)
Tickets are at Rs.1000 for a day and Rs.1500 for both days. If you are in Delhi and not as lucky as a group of Delhi Wine Club members who will be at the annual jamboree, after visiting Zampa, Sula, York, mercury and Vintage Wineries, check out Blue Frog at The Kila in Mehrauli where a special evening of music has been dedicated to Sula Fest tomorrow, January 25.
Incidentally, Sula has been busy with yet another Fest-this one neither in Nasik, nor directly related to wine. Sula was participating at the Lit-fest at Jaipur. Rajiv Samant who is reportedly there will also be present at this interesting musical evening. Entry to the Club, I am told is complimentary before 9 pm.
Double the pleasure, double the fun!. For wine and music lovers of Mumbai, Pune and Nasik, the two wineries have provided an option to attend either or both the events and enjoy wines from the latest harvest along with condiments like great music and food and lots of entertainment.
A right step towards promoting wine culture and wine tourism in the State wine Capital, indeed!
For earlier articles, please visit
Sulafest-Mini Woodstock in Nashik
York : Younger Step-brother of Sula
Subhash Arora |