This softly aromatic vibrant and refreshing white conjures up honeysuckle peach green apple quince tropical fruit candlewax wildflower honey and smoked peppercorns. There’s a twist of lemon and lime on the finish that has us straight back in for another sip.\n \n Producer Information\n Sula Wines is a wine producer based in Nashik, 180 kilometers (112 miles) northeast of Mumbai. It is by far the largest producer of wines in India. Today the operation farms over 1,200 hectares (3,000) acres of estate and contracted vineyards. These are situated in both Nashik and the more recently established Dindori region. Sula was the first in India to release wines made from Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc and, today, it has increased the vineyards to hold plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Shiraz, Merlot, Riesling and Viognier. The company was established by Rajeev Samant, a native of Mumbai in 1999. He had been introduced to wine while studying at Stanford and working in California for technology firm Oracle. His family owned mango and fruit farms in Nashik, and a visit there in 1994 convinced him that the area had potential for winegrowing. The name Sula is derived from Sulabha, the name of Rajeev Samant's mother. It took Samant three years to lobby local government to be allowed to plant Vitis vinifera grapes, as it had never been done before. Eventually he was given permission and, in 1997, Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc were planted in the vineyards. According to Sula these were the first white wine vineyards established in India. The Rasa Shiraz is the prestige cuvée red wine made at Sula and is only produced in the best years. It is made from estate vineyards at Nashik and is a complex wine with the ability to age. The Reserve Viognier is the top white wine from Sula from the Dindori Estate. There is also a range of sparkling wines, made from a complex blend of Viognier, Chenin Blanc, Sultana, Shiraz and Pinot Noir. The collection is rounded out with a Late Harvest Chenin Blanc, which was the first dessert wine crafted in India.
