Feb 21: Rajeev Samant of Sula, Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati of KRSMA and Sonal Holland MW find a spot amongst 9 people out of 100 in the Luxebook India 2020 List of the most powerful people in Indian luxury (Spirits Category), that also includes Vikram Achanta of Tulleeho and the well-known Master Mixologist Shatbhi Basu, writes Subhash Arora who rues that an entity like Luxebook does not differentiate between Wine and Spirits, a bane in the growth of wine culture in India
Sula Vineyards-Founded by Rajeev Samant in 1999 in Nashik, KRSMA Estates- located near the UNESCO World Heritage site of Hampi Hills in Karnataka and owned by Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati, and India’s only Master of Wine Sonal Holland have made it to the 2020 list of the most powerful people in Indian luxury (Spirits Category). Here is a list of Seven in the Spirits Classification:
1. Rajeev Samant, Founder & CEO | Sula Vineyards Pvt. Ltd.
2. Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati, Co-Founding Chairpersons | KRSMA Estates Pvt. Ltd. Chairman & MD; Executive Director | Granules India Limited
3. Sonal Holland MW Founder Director | Sonal Holland Wine Academy, SoHo Wine Consultants & Vine2Wine Pvt Ltd.
4. Vikram Achanta, Founder & CEO; Co-Founder | Tulleeho; 30 Best Bars India
5. Shatbhi Basu, Master Mixologist & Beverage Consultant
6. Abhishek Shahabadi, VP & Portfolio Head for Luxury and Premium brands | Diageo India
7. Shekhar Swarup, Founder; Joint Managing Director | India Craft Spirit Co; Globus Spirits
Rajeev Samant is the undisputed leader of the Indian wine industry who started wine production in 1999 to become the leading producer in 2009 and reaching an astounding 1 million cases of wine sales. a couple of years ago. He has been at the forefront with several new ideas, including the use of screwcaps, introducing varietal and Reserve wines, an annual Music and Wine festival (SulaFest) and has been miles ahead of competition in Wine Tourism that has earned him and the Sula wines an international recognition and Awards.
Also Read : Ten Indian Top Women of Wine (WOW) Recognized at delWine Excellence Awards 2019
Krishna Prasad and Uma Chigurupati, co-founders of KRSMA Winery in Hampi Hills, are known more for their passion for red wines (especially Cabernet Sauvignon) than the Billion-dollar company of bulk drugs that they own in Hyderabad, with plants and sales offices in several countries. They have owned the boutique winery since 2010 and want to produce the best red wine in India. They are happy selling their wine in Bangalore, Hyderabad and the US where their labels command the highest prices for Indian red wines.
Sonal Holland MW is India’s only Indian Master of Wine. She focuses on wine education and events through her companies Sonal Holland Wine Academy and SoHo Wine Consultants. She also dabbles in wine Retail through another company Vine2Wine which handles Retail of wines for Food Hall, the premier supermarket.
For the complete List of Top 100, click HERE:
Rajeev Samant was inducted into the delWine Excellence Awards Hall of Fame at the second edition held on 23 April, 2019 at Pullman Aerocity New Delhi. At the event, India’s Top Ten Women of Wine were also recognised- both Sonal Holland MW and Uma Chigurupati were a part of this elite group of women who matter the most in the Indian wine sector today-be it the area of production, marketing, sales and distribution, import or education.
Luxebook Award acknowledges the spirit of enterprise, innovation, resilience and, above all, empathy. It has instituted several Awards in various categories and business segments in India.
Coincidentally, it also published a List of Top 50 Indian Luxury’s Most Powerful Women which included Madhulika Bhattacharyya Dhall and Sonal Holland MW in the List of 2020: Both have been in the List of Top 10 Women of Wine (Wow) in India, instituted by delWine and Indian Wine Academy since 2013. Madhulika has been in that List since 2017.
Subhash Arora
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