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SECTION T SATURDAY OCTOBER 2, 2010 thestar.com BEAUTY OF WHERE’D ALL THE Orlando Air + 5 Nights BELFAST AMERICANS GO? $ ◊ Architecture, Drop in U.S. guests since Champions World15 Resort 9+taxes&fees$239 Price is based on a family of 4. Departs Nov 28/ggv/dl. ADD 4-day Universal scenery bring life to 9/11 hurts Canadian Orlando® park to park ticket for $174/adult & $154/child (3-9yrs). Northern Ireland T5 tourism T15 Conditions apply, see main ad for details. 18663170958 Head office address: 1 Dundas St. West Suite 200, Toronto, ON, CA, M5G 1Z3. Call for retail locations. ONT. REG #4671384 ON ON2 ON Uncorking its finest india ASPECIAL EDITION Wine tourism turning heads CAROLINE EDEN SPECIAL TO THE STAR The Indian wine market is accel- erating quicker than you can say “cheers”. Bouncing back from the global financial meltdown and the Mumbai terror attacks — which affected tourism, the hotel indus- try and general spending — it ap- / pears that nothing can dampen JENNIFER BAIN/TORONTO STAR the spirits of India’s wine pio- neers. More wine is being sold Winemakers in Mumbai and beyond nurture nationally, Indian brands are en- tering the global arena and tour- asmall industry whose vintages are gaining ists, too, are setting off to visit local vineyards. acclaim despite only being around for a short time “Steadily the hotels are back on track and the wine industry is CAROLINE EDEN mangoes,” he says. “But it was when well-poised to get back to its dou- SPECIAL TO THE STAR Iexported table grapes to Europe ble-digit growth,” said Sumit NASHIK, INDIA—As well as a good nose that the idea struck me: If they are Jaiswal, marketing manager for for business, Lilo Gurnani is also in good enough to eat, then maybe Zampa Wines. “Wine tourism is possession of a fiendish sense of they would be good enough for catching on, but currently there humour, a vital quality for a man wine.” are very few wineries who have who has invested around $1.325 When asked how the wine scene CAROLINE EDEN PHOTOS FOR THE TORONTO STAR (ABOVE, BELOW) the set-up. There are some niche million of his own money into In- has evolved in India since he corked At Sula Vineyards, guests tourism companies who have dia’s newfangled wine industry. his first bottle in 2000, he enthusi- can stay at a villa after started a dedicated wine tourism “I asked a friend how to make mil- astically replies, “The market is still ment there is a three-bedroom villa enjoying wine tastings on itinerary and are marketing it lions in the wine industry” he says, small. Over a year we sell about close to the estate, but in the au- the property owned by well. In times to come there will pausing for effect, “he told me start what London polishes off on a good tumn this year our 20-room hotel Rajeev Samant. be many more.” with billions and you’ll end up with weekend, but it is growing. We pre- will open, which will include a small Zampa is in Nashik, in the state millions!” dict that every three years or so the spa offering wine treatments. Sula of Maharashtra, the region with Ichuckled but his son, Ravi Gur- market will double. The elite class attracts thousands of visitors by far the highest concentration nani, smartly dressed with designer has grown massively. Before, at par- throughout the year, some are in- of vineyards. It’s only a short trip spectacles, looked as though he’d ties and social events, wine used to ternational.” from Mumbai, which helps the heard the gag before. be in the corner. Now, if a decent With this, I decided it was time to tourism trade. Only a few thou- The Gurnanis, who own York wine is served it is drunk more than find out for myself. sand visitors have arrived since Winery, are not alone in their quest anything else.” The next morning as the 8:20 Zampa opened to the public last to bring Indian wine to the world- One such example of a good Indi- Pushpak Express pulls out of Mum- November, but Jaiswal said more wide arena. In the bustling, old cot- an wine is the Sula Rasa Shiraz bai’s chaotic Chhatrapati Shivaji are making the journey as news ton mills of South Mumbai, Rajeev 2007, winner of a silver medal this Terminus railway station. spreads of the wine trade’s Samant, a fellow wine trailblazer, year at the prestigious Syrah Du My fellow passengers are en- growth. runs Sula Vineyards. Belonging to Monde competition in France. grossed in newspapers or fast With good profits and a surge in wine’s newest new world, he is Samant says of the award-winning asleep. I, however, am far interest, it’s only natural that oth- young, charming, smart and exactly red: “It was clear that we had an too excited to doze, and in- er regions of India are trying to the kind of winemaker who gives exceptional lot. We produced 700 stead busy myself with en- produce wine too. Andhra Pra- wine traditionalists the heebie-jee- cases and it is, to date, the best wine visaging luscious vines desh, in the southeast, is a region bies. It was by chance he ended up to come out of India.” and the lazy afternoon to watch because it makes quality in the business when he returned to India is well known for spiritual ahead spent sipping table grapes. The same can is true India after studying engineering at tourism, beaches and desert es- Shiraz. of Karnataka in the southwest, Stanford University in California. capes. Could wine-tasting trips be Then, almost with- where a few wineries can be “I came back and my father had 20 added to the list, I ask? out warning, the found. But the prime region still acres of land for sale. I said to him, “The resort at the vineyard, Be- monsoon arrives. remains Maharashtra, due to an rather than sell it, let me try to work yond, is expanding to cope with de- established market and a near- with it. I grew teakwood, roses and mand,” Samant says. “At the mo- WINE continued on T12 perfect wine-growing climate. Book Now & SAVE! CIENFUEGOS • CUBA SANTIAGO DE CUBA VARADERO • CUBA HOLGUIN • CUBA Brisas Trinidad Del Mar 4# Carisol Los Corales 3# Brisas Del Caribe 4# Brisas Guardalavaca 4# Oct 29 • 1 week • All Inclusive Oct 31 • 1 week • All Inclusive Oct 31 • 1 week • All Inclusive Oct 30 • 1 week • All Inclusive $448 $268 $308 $388 +213.91 tax +213.91 tax +213.91 tax +213.91 tax Hours of operation are: Sun: 9am-11pm 1-800-665-4981 Mon-Thurs: 7:30am-11pm | Fri: 7:30am-9pm | Sat: 8am-9pm Prices are in CAD, per person, based on double occupancy and subject to change without notice. Space is subject to time of booking. Rates are based on lowest room category offered. All flights vary on Cubana Airlines, Air Transat or Canjet and taxes of $213.91 must be added to published rates. All departures are from Toronto. Refer to our 2010/2011 brochure for full terms and conditions. Hola Sun Holidays • 146 West Beaver Creek Rd., Unit 8, Richmond Hill, L4B 1C2. Ont Reg. 4062527. ON ON2 ON T12 H TORONTO STAR H SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2010 ON ON2 TRAVEL Wine tasting takes off WINE from T1 which in the summer months lan- able. The industry here is still in its guidly swim in the monsoon-swol- infancy — we have to educate as Raindrops the size of milk tops lash len lakes to a soundtrack of frog well as sell and produce the wine.” the train windows, a smoggy haze song. It is tropical, hot and un- Quite a challenge in a country with descends ominously over the slums tamed. Yet to wine pioneers such as apopulation of 1.1billion. But quite lining the city limits and I realize I Rajeev Samant and Ravi and Lilo the enormous potential, too. could be in for more of a wet week- Gurnani this is the epicentre of the We begin the tasting with a spar- end than an Indian summer. Indian wine revolution. It was here kling Sula Brut, which was com- When I arrive, just over three that they, along with a handful of pletely quaffable and perhaps ligh- hours later, the sun breaks through others, saw potential. ter than Champagne. Ajoy tells me the clouds, a feeble attempt to shine Soon enough, however, I sat on a that the Japanese are fans of this on Nashik before yet more rain ar- veranda with eight bottles of premi- one and that the market there is rives. Dogs dart through the Wild um Indian wine laid out in front of keenly buying up magnums. West-style wada houses into court- me. The chief winemaker at Sula Moving on to the Sauvignon yards and a pair of scary large rats Vineyards, Ajoy Shaw, is taking me Blanc, Ajoy helps with the tasting: wobble for shelter under a cart. through the different labels while “Long finish, slightly fruity with PHOTO COURTESY OF SULA VINEYARDS “Much rain is coming down, mad- simultaneously enlightening me on hints of bell peppers.” I nod and Sula’s wines have the right flavours to pair with succulent Indian cuisine. am,” the taxi driver says with a head Indian viticulture. make a mental note to order a full wobble. “Indians do not own corkscrews glass of this one later.