About 200 kilometres from Pune is a small town called Nasik – from the Sanskrit word Nasika, for nose. Legend goes that this is the spot where Lakshman (Ram’s brother) sliced-off Surpanakha’s (Ravan’s sister) nose when she began harassing the two brothers after they rejected her repeated advances. Then came Ravan, who made off with Sita (Ram’s wife), and thus goes one of the most famous battle legends of India.

Today the story attracts visitors by the hordes; people who want to take a slice of history back home. And then there are those who discover this side to the town quite accidentally. En route to sampling other newer attractions.

Welcome to Sula Vineyards – another remarkable legend of Nasik. The wine may not be something to write home about, but the drive there, the locale, the tour, the jolly guides – the overall experience – are really worth a visit. What could be better than kicking of your corporate shoes and slipping into a delicious wine-sampling mode for the weekend.

Sula was the first to introduce wine sampling and tours to India at their chateau. For a mere 150 rupees, you can enjoy a guided tour of the large estate and the plant. You can also sample five wines, accompanied by a pleasant explanation of each, in the Tasting Room – see, swirl, sniff and sip your way to the wine experience. Do try the Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, India’s first dessert wine.

Step out into the open Lounge to enjoy your wine and a delicious cheese platter amidst spectacular vistas of the vineyard, lush green hills and pristine lakes. A lovely slow day for the taking.

But these are just starters. To complete the Sula experience, take a walk around. Rolling landscapes and a large Greek-style amphitheatre greet you. Walk, lounge, lie down on the soft grass, gaze up at the sky. And as the day draws to a close, head to Little Italy or Kareem’s – excellent restaurants that serve you authentic Italian and classic Indian fare. Lip smacking food served by smiling hosts, accompanied by wine and a gorgeous sunset. Sigh, the perfect weekend comes to an end much before you’d want it to.

But the good news is that you can come back again. Any time is a good time to visit Sula. The harvesting and crushing season runs from January through March only. Time it well, and you could participate in the wine-making process as well, stomping away with glorious abandon. 

 There are several buses from Pune and Mumbai that will take you to Nasik, but driving down yourself is recommended. Sula Vineyards is about 12 kilometres from the centre of the town and with not much local transport you could find yourself in a bit of a sticky spot after a day of heady imbibing.

Or you could choose to stay at Beyond – a villa in the vineyard. A spacious 3 bedroom bungalow with a swimming pool and a personal chef who’ll serve specially prepared meals made from organic vegetables picked from Sula’s private garden. A word of caution though: the rates are incredibly steep and you would do well to check in advance for availability.