I came across a Press Release last month about the new addition of a still white wine Muscat Blanc with the SULA label in the premier segment, the others being DINDORI, The SOURCE and RASA. I am a fan of low alcohol wines and feel the younger drinkers-especially Gen Z, who have just started drinking wine, would find this low alcohol aromatic wine with enticing aromas a welcome addition to the family and was keen to taste it. I had not visited Sula since it went public in December 2023, and the wine is available in Maharashtra only-so I decided to put my life at hold and also witness first hand all facets of Sula Vineyards including its wine tourism facilities and a look at the life post-stock market entry as well. I planned a quick trip to Nashik so I could also taste the Muscat Blanc at the winery as it is not likely to be introduced to the Delhi market for a while due to its difficult excise policy.

My first stop was the office of Gorakh Gaikwad, the COO of Sula Vineyards and the Chief winemaker who promptly fixed a Tasting of a bunch of wines with Rupali Bhatnagar, senior winemaker for white and sparkling wines. I had met Gorakh when Sula had bought the Heritage Winery near Bangalore in 2017 and he had been appointed as the COO of the winery, renamed as Domaine Sula (Domaine is generally referred to a wine producing company that makes wines from the land parcels it owns; this concept is very popular in Burgundy). 

Gorakh is a very soft-spoken, result- oriented senior management person (in the parlance of Stock exchange watchdog SEBI). He told me that the latest Sula label, Sula Muscat (Moscato) Blanc was the epitome of freshness, finesse, and approachability. “We wanted a low alcohol, gently sweet, and refreshingly light wine that would be pleasant on the palate and also accessible and affordable. With its vibrant floral and fruity notes and a crisp, clean finish, it was a joyful expression that should attract the Gen Z drinkers’, he said claiming it was India’s First Aromatic Low-Alcohol Still White Wine.

Muscat Blanc has the lowest-alcohol wine in the portfolio, with just 7.5% ABV. Crafted to offer a refreshingly light and modern take on white wine, Sula Muscat Blanc reflects the rising global popularity of Muscat, which has been the world’s fastest-growing white wine in the past decade.

Crafted from 100% Muscat grapes, Sula Muscat Blanc is a light-bodied, elegantly aromatic wine that captivates the senses with bright notes of honey, lychee, and rose petals. Refreshing and full mouthfeel, it offers a perfect balance of finesse and vibrancy and elevates the moods of wine lovers with a sweet tooth. It can be an excellent wine for any casual evening or a Sunday brunch and a great choice for hot afternoons, at a very affordable price of Rs. 875 for the Mumbai market. Delhi, as always, will have to wait because of their unfriendly excise policy. It might be available earlier in the vibrant Gurgaon market- the quasi legal pipeline for Delhi-based wine drinkers who frequent Gurgaon and can pick up a couple of bottles on every trip. A perfect wine for gifting to teetotalers and novices!

Sula claims it has been crafted through eco-friendly viticulture and mindful winemaking, within the framework of sustainable philosophy of Sula with a fresh and modern approach. But it was not the first one to introduce this grape. Exactly a decade ago, Mercury wines had introduced this fabulous wine at its Ozar-based winery and produced 250 cases that it exported. Details at Tasting: Delightful Dessert Moscato Wine from Mercury. However, the owner Veral Pancholia who had started the winery in 2006 with his mother, could not sustain the business and the winery went defunct later. 

Sula Muscat Blanc, reflects their commitment to dish out quality wines at prices that don’t break the bank.  I enjoyed the wine at two different locations of Sula- at the Tasting Room at the Source winery with the senior winemaker for sparkling wines as well as white wines- Rupali Bhatnagar-first at the Tasting Room at the Sula Tasting Room and  later at the other one located at the ND Wine facility in Dindori with an enchanting view, with peri-peri French Fries! Delicious and in tune with Sula’s continued dedication to crafting wines that are both accessible and enjoyable and yet quite affordable. 

I also tasted sparkling wine with the same grape of which I will talk about in another Article. Though not fond of sweet wine, it proved to be an excellent wine with desserts or hot and spicy Indian food and will do well because of its affordability.

Also Read  Tasting: Delightful Dessert Moscato Wine from Mercury

Subhash Arora