A thoughtfully curated wine experience

Wine tastings at Vintage Wines in Karjat, Maharashtra, are designed to enhance the appreciation of wine and deepen our understanding of it, writes

- Brinda Gill

Located a short drive off the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Oleander Farms resort, spread over 180 acres at Karjat, Maharashtra, makes an easy destination for a holiday. It features restaurants, a brewery, boutiques and a wine tasting lounge.

Mihir Kulkarni, sommelier at Vintage Wines, the enoteca at Oleander Farms (not to be confused with Vintage Wines winery in Nashik), says, “Tastings make all the difference in learning about wines. They introduce people to the wonderful world of wines, give them a taste of new, lesser-known grape varieties and labels, as well as a taste of premium wines that they may not otherwise buy.”

Set in an attractive, standalone, glass-fronted, single-level structure, with a paved path through a well-kept lawn leading to it, Vintage Wines enoteca catches the eye with its earthy tones, wooden elements, lounge seating and a neat display of wine bottles along two walls. On stepping into the air-conditioned space, one is free to browse bottles and books on wine, buy a few wines or enjoy a tasting. The two tasting options cost Rs 750 for five wines and Rs 1,200 for ten wines.

The wine collection comprises about 400 labels. These include all styles of wines as well as sherry, beer, fruit wines and meads. The wines, displayed by country marked above each set of shelves, are mainly from India, old world and new world countries. There is also a small collection from Lebanon, Greece and Portugal, and a separate section on sparkling and rosé wines.