A twenty minute drive from our friend's house in Nashik city saw us twisting down a narrow road lined with grape vines and then through the gates of the Sula Vineyards. In a country which sells more Johnnie Walker whiskey than is distilled in Scotland, the Sula brand has been instrumental in making wine a mainstream drink in most city restaurants and bars. Set up by a re-transplanted Indian from California, the wine tours and tastings offered at the vineyard make for an entertaining afternoon of people watching. Sitting on the sun drenched balcony one can spot straw hatted page 3 belles, staunchly middle class saree clad ladies, yuppie city slickers and of course...grand-moms herding the kids while the parents participate enthusiastically in the tasting routine. Add to this a good selection of wine and cheese, garnish it with the company of old friends, throw in a round of grape stomping and you have a travel experience which is...a uniquely different face of a new India...
