Nasik vineyards, a memory to be revisited

This was our last monsoon in Mumbai and it was the last weekend before we bid goodbye to our warm nest of past two years; we planned for a visit to Shirdi which was on wish list for long. We started quite early in the morning to avoid the traffic and reached before noon by taking a shortcut about a hundred km before Nasik. On the way back to Mumbai, I was kind of taken aback when the car took a detour to Nasik quite unexpectedly, since we didn't need to go via the city. The surprise turned to suspense when we proceeded beyond the city towards the lush hilly abode. It was the beautiful 'Beyond Sula' resort that proved to be our final destination for the day, some 3 kms away from the famous Sula vineyards and winery. That was a surprise gift for me, my husband revealed with a smile and twinkle in his eyes; the elaborate green surrounding dreamy at twilight and the golden lake beyond gleamed in adoration.

The Resort

 

The vineyards

The greenery and the lake

We were welcomed by the friendly reception staff with large smile and wonderful sparkling wine. The quiet dinner at the poolside restaurant accompanied by lovely food and some fine wine played the facilitator. My husband, a man of very few words said a lot in his quiet way through the silence of the romantic evening.

View from resort

Fellow vacationers

Next day we took a tour at the winery in a group led by one of the company staff. He showed and explained the entire wine producing process which ended with a wine tasting exercise. The tasting process was an experience in itself, as he explained the proper way of holding; swirling, sniffing and finally tasting of different varieties of wine (while sniffing few of the more matured red wines I almost passed out). We came to know that the 'James Bond' style of holding wine glass is quite incorrect; glasses should be held at the stem to avoid body contact with the fluid (Mr. Bond needs serious training on that front).

On the way to winery

Grapes crushing pad

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Tank Hall for collecting wine

Oak barrels for maturing red wine

Entrance of Wine tasting floor

Wine tasting ceremony

Post touring we had lunch at a French restaurant within the winery which was again a delightful affair.

Roses from the vineyards

Way back home

The way back to Mumbai was simply breath-taking, valleys covered with green vineyards on both the sides and the equally green hills surrounding it reminded me of the famous Tuscany region of Italy.

The valley

Like a dessert of a three course meal this last outing while staying in Mumbai will remain as a sweet memory to be cherished and revisited over time. Mumbai I will miss you my friend 'Alvidah'.