While some are light and luscious, others are bold and rich on the palate — we are uncorking the lid of the 12 best wines in India for you to bookmark and raise a refreshing toast to the New Year 2023.
The Indian tipple connoisseurs’ affection and curiosity for the best wines in India has only been getting stronger for the past few years. From millennials to the younger crop and seasoned drinkers to the ones beginning anew, a myriad wine choices including red and white wines, rosé, sparkling and some coveted limited-edition wines sit bottled up in anticipation to be explored and savoured sip by sip.
Before we wrapped up 2022, the last month of December witnessed an interesting entry in the stock market, of one of the largest wine producers in India and Nashik’s triumphing wine brand, Sula Vineyards. Founded by Rajeev Samant, the brand opened its IPO (initial public offering) listed as an offer for sale for three days.
Now, as we step into the new year, TravelDine brings you a curated list of the best wines in India you must add to your spirit reserve this 2023.
Grover Zampa Art Collection Chenin Blanc
One of the top names in the vocabulary of Indian wine drinkers, Grover Zampa, the three decades old winemaker in India has been fostering a solid trove of its special Art Collection made of a variety of grapes. The Grover Zampa Art Collection Chenin Blanc is one such wine that hits with a refreshing mouthfeel and intense fruity aromas of grapefruit, pineapple, guava and herbs. With its straw-yellow hue, the medium body wine enjoys a crisp acidity with a lingering feel on the palate. The illustration on the label is a work of beauty by Bengali artist Sanjay Bhattacharya.
Where to buy: Groverzampa.in
Sula Vineyards Dindori Reserve Chardonnay
With a sprawling winery in Nashik in northern Maharashtra, Sula Vineyards is another celebrated wine brand that produces a stream of some of the best wines in India. The Sula Vineyards Dindori Reserve Chardonnay is a palate-pleasing vino that carries a lemony, buttery and rich mouthfeel with distinct flavour hints of honey, lemon, vanilla and tropical fruits. Made with 100 per cent Chardonnay, the wine is partially barrel-fermented and partially aged in French oak for a truly immersive experience in every sip.
Where to buy: Sulavineyards.com
Cabernet Sauvignon Sula The Source
You cannot just stop at one variety when it comes to wines from Sula Vineyards. Move your attention to the Cabernet Sauvignon Sula The Source, a striking red wine that is exceptionally smooth and fresh on the palate, oozing aromas of bold cherries and blackberries along with delicate notes of plum and chocolate. Partially aged in French oak barrel, this red wine by Sula is well-balanced yet complex with a fruit-forward finish on the tongue.
Where to buy: Sulavineyards.com
Ivelle by Yauatcha and Fratelli Wines
Impelled by the growing interest of wine enthusiasts, the country’s first of its kind, private wine label Ivelle has made its way in our list of the best wines you must try in 2023. Launched towards the closing months of 2022, Ivelle is launched by KA Hospitality’s Asian fine-dining Yauatcha in collaboration with Fratelli Wines. Made with a combination of homegrown Müller and Gewürztraminer grapes, its standout notes of lychee, apricot, pineapple and other fruits lend it a fresh, zesty flavour, elevated by deep floral notes that linger as a comforting sip of wine on the palate.
Where to buy: At the restaurant – Yauatcha Mumbai, Bangalore and Kolkata
Fratelli J’NOON Red 2017
The journey of J’NOON started back in 2016, when Jean-Charles Boisset of one of the top French wine brands Boisset visited Fratelli’s winery in Sholapur in Maharashtra. The collaboration between the two birthed a range of vintage wines – red wine, white wine and JCB No. 47 – that commands a place in every wine savant’s reserve. Fratelli J’NOON Red is a 2018 vintage made with Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Marcelan and Sangiovese painting the drink deep purple in colour and a full-bodied luscious finish of black fruits in flavour.
Where to buy: Fratelliwines.in
CinCin Limon Spritz
Inking their five-year anniversary with hues of wine, the Italian restaurant CinCin recently released its third house wine called Limon Spritz. Evoking visuals of tropical lands and endless lush lemony fields, the sparkling wine is made in collaboration with Fratelli Wines with the finest lemons at the winemaker’s state of the art winery in Maharashtra. CinCin’s Limon Spritz in a dark-tinted bottled bundles up zesty and mind-stirring notes of lime, lemon peels, pink grapefruit zest, green apples and ripe pineapples finished with a lingering bold acidity.
Where to buy: At the restaurant – CinCin BKC, Mumbai
Invivo X SJP Sarah Jessica Parker Sauvignon Blanc
With three flavour-bursting iterations, the Australian wine brand Invivo teamed up with the reigning Hollywood star Sarah Jessica Parker to create an exclusive line of a collaborative wine range. Dubbed Invivo X SJP Sarah Jessica Parker Sauvignon Blanc, this selection exudes a more tropical and citrusy appeal laced with hints of exotic guava on the palate. Soft and mouthful, the white wine variety has a balanced acidity folded with a long, fruity finish.
Where to buy: Wine-searcher.com
Vallonné Anokhee – The Grand Reserve Limited Edition Collection
Known as one of the earliest boutique wineries in India, Vallonné Vineyards also comes from the landscapes of Nashik, located along an idyllic valley in Igatpuri. Its bouquet of wines introduces a host of red and white wines, rosé and a dessert wine as well. The Vallonné Anokhee – The Grand Reserve Limited Edition Collection is made with Cabernet Sauvignon variety and aged for three years in premium French oak barrel. Bottled with natural Portuguese cork, the wine’s character continues to mature resulting in a rich, distinguished palate.
Where to buy: Vallonnevineyards.com
York Winery Sparkling Rosé Brut
Made with Shiraz grape variety that is grown in the coolest parts of Nashik that ensures high natural acidity required for the perfect sparkling wine, the Sparkling Rosé Brut by York Winery is for special celebrations and everyday unwinding alike. The rosé bursts with vibrant nose of red fruits and an underlining flavour profile of cookies and cream. One of the best wines in India for the sparkling enthusiasts, while the Shiraz tannins and fine mousse add to the texture of the liquid, its residual sugar fuses with the fruits to bring out overall sweet, honeyed notes.
Where to buy: Yorkwinery.com
KRSMA The Sangiovese
Tracing the hilly regions of Hampi in Karnataka, KRSMA founded by Krishna Prasad Chigurupati and Uma Chigurupati has been making some of the best wines in India since over a decade. From its rich, flavour-packed repository of wines comes The Sangiovese 2012. Aged for 12 months in French oak barrel, the crimson-hued vino drips with notes of plums, blueberries, boysenberries, oregano and smoke, resulting in an overall intense and luscious finish.
Where to buy: Krsmaestates.com
Armand De Brignac Brut
Owned by the music mogul Jay-Z and luxury giants LVMH, Armand De Brignac is one of the best wines for the collectors out there. Coming from its trove is the bottle of Armand De Brignac Brut that spells extravagance in the most memorable ways. With a head-to-toe gilded body and a distinct monogram, the gold champagne is layered with a complex, racy, full-bodied character made with Cabernet, Pinot Blanc and Semillion. On the palate, the brut spells a creamy finish with a noticeable depth and a silky finish. Interestingly, Armand De Brignac was also titled as the best champagne in the world back in 2009 at a blind tasting championship.
Where to buy: Livingliquidz.com
Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block Red Blend 2020
Established in 1993, Boekenhoutskloof has been at the helm as one of the top winemakers in South Africa. Its exclusive and equally intriguing wine The Chocolate Block has ignited many a conversation because of its peculiar name and standout character. If you plan on investing in this, bring home Boekenhoutskloof The Chocolate Block Red Blend 2020, which flourishes with dark, fruity nose of black cherries, espresso, sweet tobacco and cardamom. Each sip of the medium-bodied wine ends with a clean, dry and peppery finish with nuances of ripe plums, violets, black olives, cloves, licorice and cocoa powdery tannins shining through.
Where to buy: Livingliquidz.com
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