Rajeev Suresh Samant is the founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards India's largest winery. [1]
Rajeev Suresh Samant is the founder and CEO of Sula Vineyards India's largest winery. [1]
Born in Mumbai, Samant completed his education from Stanford University where he received a bachelor's degree in Economics, followed by a master's degree in Engineering Management. [2]
He then joined Oracle Corporation as one of the youngest managers there. However, after a couple of years, he quit and decided to return to India and start something of his own. [3]
After backpacking around the world for a year, Samant returned to India where he decided to live the rural life. He started farming mangoes, roses, teak wood, and table grapes at his family's 20-acre plot in Nashik. In 1996, he had an epiphany when realized that Nashik had the perfect climate for growing wine grapes. His determination grew when he returned to California and met with Kerry Damskey, an eminent winemaker, who enthusiastically agreed to help him start a winery. [4] [5]
In 1997, the duo took the revolutionary step of not only being the first to grow wine grapes in this region, but also planting varietals such as the French Sauvignon Blanc and Californian Chenin Blanc that had never been planted before in India. In 1998, Sula Vineyards was established, and launched their first wines released in 2000. [6]
Today, Sula Vineyards is India's largest wine producer and holds a market share of 65%. They are also pioneers in Indian wine and started facilities like a tasting room and at their winery in 2005. [7] Sula is also the only Indian wine company to be present in all price and product segments including Red, White, Rose, Sparking and Dessert wines. [8]
In 2016, Samant married his Russian girlfriend Margarita Andronova in a church wedding at Siolim, Goa. [9] The couple has one daughter. [10]
Sparkling wine is a wine with significant levels of carbon dioxide in it, making it fizzy. While it is common to refer to this as champagne, European Union countries legally reserve that word for products exclusively produced in the Champagne region of France. Sparkling wine is usually either white or rosé, but there are examples of red sparkling wines such as the Italian Brachetto, Bonarda and Lambrusco, and the Australian sparkling Shiraz. The sweetness of sparkling wine can range from very dry brut styles to sweeter doux varieties.
Nashik, Marathi: [naːʃik], formerly Nasik) is a city in the northern region of the Indian state of Maharashtra. Situated on the banks of the river Godavari, Nashik is the sixth largest city in Maharashtra after Pimpri-Chinchwad. The population of Nashik city is around 2.2 million and is emerging as one of the fastest-growing cities in India. Nashik is located about 165 km northeast of the state capital Mumbai, and about 210 km north from Pune. The Mumbai-Pune-Nashik region is called the "Golden Triangle of Maharashtra". With its high agricultural production, Nashik is dubbed the Napa Valley of India and the "Wine Capital of India" as more than half of India's vineyards and wineries are located here. Around 90% of all Indian wine comes from the Nashik Valley. Nashik is one of the Hindu pilgrimage sites of the Kumbh Mela, which is held every 12 years.
Ridge Vineyards is a California winery specializing in Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, and Chardonnay wines. Ridge produces wine at two winery locations in northern California. The original winery facilities are located at an elevation of 2,300 feet on Monte Bello Ridge in unincorporated Santa Clara County in the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, south of Los Altos, California and west of Cupertino, California. The other Ridge winery facilities are at Lytton Springs in the Dry Creek Valley AVA of Sonoma County. Ridge Vineyard's 1971 Monte Bello Cabernet Sauvignon gained prominence for its fifth-place finish in the 1976 "Judgment of Paris" wine tasting.
Childress Vineyards is a winery in Lexington, North Carolina owned by NASCAR Cup Series championship team owner Richard Childress. The connection between NASCAR and fine wine is reflected in the labeling of some of the wines produced by Childress, featuring a checkered flag motif.
J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines is a winemaking company headquartered in San Jose, California, with over 4,000 acres of estate vineyards in the Paso Robles AVA in San Luis Obispo County, Arroyo Seco and Santa Lucia Highlands AVAs in Monterey County, and the St. Helena AVA in Napa Valley, California. The family-owned and operated company was founded by Jerry Lohr in 1974. The company operates wineries in San Jose, Paso Robles, and Greenfield, California. In 2013, Steve Lohr was appointed CEO of the company. J. Lohr Vineyards & Wines’ product portfolio includes eight tiers of wine: J. Lohr Signature, J. Lohr Cuvée Series, J. Lohr Vineyard Series, J. Lohr Gesture, J. Lohr Pure Paso Proprietary Red Wine, J. Lohr Monterey Roots, J. Lohr Estates and ARIEL Vineyards. The portfolio also includes specialty brands Cypress Vineyards and Painter Bridge. J. Lohr ranks among the top 25 wine producers in the United States, with annual US sales exceeding 1.8 million cases.
Virginia wine refers to wine made primarily from grapes grown in the commonwealth of Virginia. Wine has been produced in the area since the early days of European colonization in the 17th century. Virginia has hot humid summers that can be challenging to viticulture, and only within the last twenty years has the industry developed beyond novelty status. By tonnage, Vitis vinifera varieties represents 75% of total production. French hybrids varieties account for nearly 20% of total wine grape production in the commonwealth, while American varietals make up only about 5% of the total. As of 2012, the top 5 varietals produced are Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Vidal blanc and Viognier.
The modern Indian Wine market is small but growing; annual per capita consumption of wine in the country is a mere 9 milliliters, approximately 1/8000th that of France. The main reason for this can be attributed to the fact that Indians preference for hard liquor and beer boasts nearly 98% of market share whereas wine with low ABV only has 2% market share. The viticulture in India has a long history dating back to the time of the Indus Valley civilization when grapevines were believed to have been introduced from Persia. Winemaking has existed throughout most of India's history but was particularly encouraged during the time of the Portuguese and British colonization of the subcontinent. The end of the 19th century saw the phylloxera louse take its toll on the Indian wine industry followed by religious and public opinion moving towards the prohibition. Following the country's independence from the British Empire, the government encouraged vineyards to convert to table grape and raisin production. In the 1980s and 1990s, a revival in the Indian wine industry took place as international influences and the growing middle class started increasing demand for the beverage. By the turn of the 21st century, demand was increasing at a rate of 20-30% a year. The city of Nashik in the state of Maharashtra is called the "Wine Capital of India."
Nova Scotia wine is Canadian wine produced in the Canadian province of Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia's wineries are primarily organized under the Wine Association of Nova Scotia, though not all wineries are members. The industry began in the late 1970s with the original Grand Pré Winery in the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia.
Vallée de Vin is an Indian winery which was founded in 2006. Vallee de Vin was set up in collaboration with Ravi Jain, Deepak Roy and Neeraj Deorah. Vallée de Vin offers five varietals of Zampa still wines, its flagship brand of premium wines and Zampa Soirée range of two premium sparkling wines. Labels from the brand are available in Mumbai, Pune, Delhi, Gurgaon and Goa. In 2012, Vallée de Vin merged with Grover Vineyards to form Grover Zampa, which is today the second largest vineyard in India after Sula Vineyards.
Cecil O. De Loach Jr. is a California grape-grower and winemaker in the Russian River Valley AVA who has contributed to the reputation and notoriety of Sonoma County viticulture.
Bethel Heights Vineyard is an Oregon winery in the Eola-Amity Hills AVA of the Willamette Valley. Founded in 1977 by twin brothers Ted and Terry Casteel, their wives Pat Dudley and Marilyn Webb, and Pat's sister Barbara Dudley, the vineyard was one of the earliest plantings in the Eola-Amity Hills region. A winery soon followed, with the first estate wines produced in 1984. Bethel Heights specializes in Pinot noir, offering several individual block and vineyard designated bottlings, but also produces wines made from Chardonnay, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc, Riesling, Grüner Veltliner, and Gewürztraminer.
Breaux Vineyards is a Cajun owned and operated winery and vineyard located in Purcellville, Loudoun County, Virginia. Founded by E. Paul Breaux, Jr. in 1997, the 100% estate grown winery was one of three United States wineries to be named in the book "250 Best Wines 2012" by Oz Clarke for their Viognier, which landed at #87 in the publication. Breaux Vineyards is one of Virginia's largest grape growers & suppliers of wine grapes, bulk juice, and bulk wine to other East Coast U.S. wineries. The company logo is a red Crawfish, which pays homage to the Breaux family's Cajun heritage because they are often used in the local Cajun cuisine in Louisiana.
Mia Klein is a Californian winemaker and entrepreneur, founder of Selene Wines in Napa, California. Her career has spanned decades in the food and wine industry in both Northern and Southern California.
Willow Creek Winery is a winery in West Cape May in Cape May County, New Jersey. Formerly a produce farm, the vineyard was first planted in 2005, and opened to the public in 2012. Willow Creek has 40 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 6,000 cases of wine per year. The winery has recently purchased Legates Farm Market and is cultivating an additional 68 acres under vine. The winery is named for a large willow tree near the owner's residence, and the Pond Creek, a stream that borders the farm.
Hopewell Valley Vineyards is a winery in Hopewell Township in Mercer County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 2001, and opened to the public in 2003. Hopewell Valley has 25 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 6,000 cases of wine per year. The winery is named for the region where it is located.
Sylvin Farms Winery is a winery in the Germania section of Galloway Township in Atlantic County, New Jersey. The vineyard was first planted in 1977, and opened to the public in 1985. Sylvin Farms has 11 acres of grapes under cultivation, and produces 1,000 cases of wine per year. The winery’s name is an amalgamation of Sylvia and sylvan, reflecting the owner's wife's name and the surrounding Pine Barrens, respectively.
Sula Vineyards is a winery and vineyard located in the Nashik region of western India, 180 km northeast of Mumbai. It was founded by Rajeev Samant in 1999. Sula has grown to be India’s largest and most awarded wine brand. Sula introduced grape varietals such as Chenin blanc, Sauvignon blanc, Riesling and Zinfandel in India and is the leading player in the Indian wine industry.
Four Seasons Wines Limited is an Indian winery which was established in 2006, based in Bangalore, India. It produces wines from grapes grown around Sahyadri valley in Maharashtra. It is a subsidiary of United Spirits Limited (USL), which is itself part of the United Breweries Group. Four Seasons Wines manufactures and markets wines in India. It provides red, white, and rosé wines. Four Seasons Wines markets its wines under two brand names: Zinzi and Four Seasons.
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Grover Zampa is an Indian vineyard and wine producing company located in Doddaballapura, Karnataka.