World Class Sula Wine and Music outdoor festival.Elsie Gabriel

World Class Sula Wine and Music outdoor festival.

Elsie Gabriel.

Begun eight years ago by an industrious grape-growing brand- Sula Wines, the festival began as a way to introduce and educate the populace about the merits of wine, music and festivities. Since those early beginnings, Sula has grown in stature to become one of the top wine production houses in India, and the Sula Wine Festival has grown to become the #1 tasting event in India, featuring varieties of wine, paired with gourmet food offerings, fashion shows, and unbeatable musical entertainment.

I took in the sun, the fun, the notes of music and wine –all making a heady mixture, uplifting me to experience an unforgettable wine festival..I have been on the Australian and South African wine trails but believe me this Sula festival is a boon to India.

Sula is also a pioneer in India’s wine tourism opening the country’s first winery Tasting Room in 2005 and first vineyard resort, Beyond by Sula, in 2007. With over 200,000 visitors last year, Sula is one of the most visited wineries in the world and the #1 spot where Indians first taste wine.

Firmly committed to remaining at the forefront of Indian wines, Sula continues to experiment with new varietals, engage in sustainable agriculture and support the local rural economy. Sula is well on its way to becoming one of the world’s most sustainable wine producers.

The fest on the 7^th and 8^th of February this year saw close to 11,000 fest-goers who had a weekend to remember and this year was a grander production with even more amazing memories.

A huge Greek-style amphitheater was bathed in sunshine rays, truly making it a world class Music festival by itself, with thousands of music lovers sipping wine and enjoying a mix of nationwide and internationally celebrated artists. In the distance you could see white tents dotting the wine farmlands offering exotic accommodation for the festival, that’s if you didn’t already book the hotels around the Sula vinyards.

 I enjoyed the groups that performed, Young The Giant, Gentlemans Dub Club, Will abd the People, Yes Sir Boss, Speed Caravan, Cuban Beats, Kefaya, Sandunes, Hamza Feat but Lucky Ali still stole my heart along with Bombay Basement and Swarathma and Manuidhira some good fusion Indian music there floated around with quite the right beats.

The Sula wine festival is one of the largest outdoor wine festivals in the state/country! This beautiful city of Nasik is the original home of the wine festival with a spectacular gathering of wine, food, music and fun – at the interiors of the farmlands of Maharashtra, just few hours away from Mumbai! A hip crowd of thousands of wine lovers flock to the two day Festival, making this one of the most desirable wine consumer event of the year!

If you want to celebrate the spring season with wine and food pairing, simply visit the Sula wineries! Wine appreciation and evaluation is done by understanding a wine through its colour, aroma, flavour, texture and body.

Wine tasting sessions help you broaden your horizons on wine and also help you know how to pair food and wine, how to serve wines or how to know which wine is perfect for gifting.

 

Well, I came away happy with taste buds tingling with a thousand flavours, ranging from mild citrus hints with strawberry notes, creamy mousse, dry Citrus  - lemon zest, nectarines, rose petals and lychees,  crisp, light-bodied, woody and oak and not to mention smoky, acidic and aromatic.

Make Ginger Wine with Elsie Gabriel….. each gulp is fiery and spicy just right for a cold winter evening…

Come let me take you with me on the wine making journey at home….I have always been passionate about making wine, when I first started out of course they came out like vinegar used for cooking but now I have learned the art and would like to share them with you…so read on if you wish to make good ginger wine at home during the festive season, do not forget to write in and tell me how it all turned out…

 

Make  Ginger Wine with Elsie Gabriel….. each gulp is fiery and spicy just right for a cold winter evening…

INGREDIENTS

4 tablespoons dried ginger or four pieces of ginger root.
3 to 5 KGs raisins
2 oranges
2 lemons

5 Red dried chilies
1,500 grams sugar/ caramelized for color
Wine yeast
1 gallon of water/ Almost 4 liters

METHOD
Add cleaned ginger to a saucepan of boiling water and allow to simmer. Also add the oranges which are peeled and sliced, together with lemon zest and simmer for approximately 30 minutes. When it is luke-warm, add the yeast and leave overnight. Add diced raisins or dried grapes in the morning along with the dried red chilies. I make a spicy flavored ginger wine, its unique and savory…

Strain ginger wine mixture and transfer to a clean plastic large bottle container or  winemaking fermentation bucket. Keep the original strained solids and boil once more in more water to ensure that maximum  flavor has been extracted, again simmering for another 15 minutes.
Place everything in any suitable vessel as long as it is very clean. If you want your ginger wine to be red in color just add caramelized sugar syrup if the dried grapes do not give it sufficient colour.

Stir each morning and evening, for ten days. Strain carefully and transfer ginger wine  into a clear winemaking bottle/jar or any airtight container will do, ensure its airlock. Ferment for six weeks. Drink ginger wine after waiting one year, or longer.

If Christmas is around the corner, and you are in a hurry to say Cheers-simply add Brandy to the mixture and use after you have let the wine settle down and clear. You may use bits of raw papaya to clear the wine hazy look.

I find making wine a terrific hobby. Not only will you have fun making it, you will have fun drinking it!

A bottle of wine makes a wonderful gift. Whether you are going to a friend’s house for dinner or in need of a small holiday gift, a bottle of wine is always a nice touch.

Of course always keep one at home for impromptu guests!The non alcaholic wine is tasty and served to the entire family as well. Enjoy and cheers –happy Holidays.

.
.