The wine has not been launched officially but was tasted at the Indian Wine Vintage 2023 event organized by the Wine Growers Association of India (WineGAI) at the Taj Lands End Hotel Bandra earlier this week.

When you think of fine wine, Pinot Noir from Burgundy is likely to come to mind right away and its prices have been hitting the roof during the last few years making it inaccessible for most connoisseurs in France or even Burgundy.

Romanée-Conti is the world’s most respected brand from Burgundy today. Romanée-Conti 1945 at  $558,000  was not only the most expensive bottle of Burgundy ever sold but is the most expensive bottle of wine ever sold.

“We are delighted to launch The Source Pinot Noir, whose delicate charms are sure to entice wine lovers. It is the finest expression of Indian Pinot Noir and boasts all the classic hallmarks of this wonderful variety. Wines from Pinot Noir are soft and delicate as compared to Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon which are much more robust. Our Pinot Noir is best enjoyed lightly chilled making it the perfect red wine for the Indian climate,” says Karan Vasani, COO and Chief Winemaker at Sula Vineyard.

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‘Made from carefully selected Pinot Noir grapes grown in the cool climate vineyards of Nashik, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for five months giving it a soft velvety texture and a long lingering finish. With a light ruby-red colour and aromas of red cherries and raspberries The Source Pinot Noir is an elegant wine and the perfect choice for those who prefer lighter styles of red wine’, says Karan.

The Source range has become a personal favourite of discerning wine drinkers (including Arora) across the country and continues to expand making it a bigger and stronger portfolio of wines.

Kunal Chugh, the winemaker Director of Virgin Hills Wines says, ‘we are very happy that Sula has introduced this elegant but difficult to-grow variety, giving the customers a choice of comparing and enjoying this beautiful grape ascribed to Burgundy but popular with connoisseurs. Emphasizing that it is difficult to grow in a tropical region like India, it gives an opportunity to the consumer to compare the tastes with its Burgundy counterpart. Burgundy is a grape for the connoisseurs and people love or hate wines from this grape. But since it is a rare grape for India and people love rare things, we have been fortunate in this variety which takes years and decades to perfect.’

Interestingly both Sula and Virgin Hills have priced it the same. The Source Pinot Noir is available at Tasting Room in Nasik, and leading retail stores in Mumbai, Pune and Thane at an MRP of INR 1250 whereas the Virgin Hills Pinot Noir is available at the same price in Maharashtra and U.P. where it has been registered for the current year, though it is selling the 2022 edition only.

‘Why not in Delhi? Delhi Excise policy is not encouraging for the producer or the consumer. We have registered 11 labels for Rs. 300,000 in UP, the cost of each label being as low as Rs. 10,000, whereas in Delhi the cost of registration is Rs. 200,000 per label,’ says Kunal.

Both these wines will be available for tasting at the World Food India being held on 3-5 November at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Subhash Arora