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 For the moment, Pachpatil plans to produce only a small quantity of 1000 cases a year to be sold only at the winery which will also have a restaurant and two big banquet halls to accommodate even a wedding party. At the first instance, Sauvignon Blanc, Chenin Blanc and Shiraz will be offered.
Pachpatil, a local Nashik resident has about 27 years of experience in the wine industry. He had worked for Sula for 13 years before deciding to become a full time entrepreneur. He has been a part-time businessman-he owns vineyards and has been selling grapes to Sula. The property of ‘Beyond’ is ensconced in his vineyards and owned by him and leased to Sula for running the operations. He is also a partner in Venus Winery which has been leased to Sula for supplying/selling wines.
Along with the winery structure, Pradeep is also constructing 2 villas each with 7 rooms and an independent swimming pool, obviously betting on the increase in demand of tourists to Sula-180,000 are expected to visit Sula alone this year. He hopes to enhance their resort experience with tennis courts and other facilities.
His respect for him and business astuteness was obvious when he invited Rajeev Samant, Founder CEO of Sula to the first harvest celebrations at Somanda. Incidentally, the name of the winery may sound like an idea borrowed from Sula named after Rajeev’s mother Sulabha, it is an acronym based on the names of his wife (who is helping him in the business), son and daughter.
 Although it is not clear how long the lease for Beyond lasts but Pachpatil insists that two more years are left for it to expire and then he would be free to take whatever decision he wants. The technicalities notwithstanding, it makes business sense for him to remain a satellite for Sula with a virtual extension of Beyond with the ever increasing tourist flow and create his own branding for a couple of decades.
The winery and the facilities of Somanda will be ready to welcome the tourists as the season starts in a couple of months thus offering the wine tourists one more reason to visit Nashik and taste his wines and perhaps pick up a bottle or two. Pradeep justifies his sales model by insisting that the chain from producer to the customer is too long and dominating. It is not possible for a small producer to withstand the pressure from various people in the chain. With the additional problem of logistics and temperature variation at each stage, he is sure there will be enough people willing to taste and buy his Somanda wines and visitors to Beyond may use the Restaurant facilities for a change.
Subhash Arora
For an earlier related article, please click Wine India Moves - Pachpatil Retires from Sula
Tags: Somanda Vineyards, Pradeep Pachpatil, Nashik, Venus Winery, Sula |