How Sula Vineyards Is Turning Monsoon Into Wine Season

There’s something about the monsoon that makes you reach for a drink. Maybe it’s the drop in temperature, the steady rhythm of rain, or the way the day slows down just enough to make space for a pour. It’s the season that pulls you indoors, or onto a balcony, with something warm, something bold, something that lingers.

For a long time, I thought of monsoon as chai weather or my personal favourite, a chilled beer weather with chaat on the side. But increasingly, it feels like wine weather. And in Nashik, Sula Vineyards is leaning into that idea with purpose, transforming what was once considered the off-season into one of its most atmospheric draws.

The sensory season

"The monsoon is a sensory symphony in the vineyard,” says Gorakh Gaikwad, COO and Chief Winemaker at Sula. “The rain amplifies earthy aromas, damp leaves, ripe fruit, which makes walking through the rows a more immersive experience.”

You can smell the wet soil. Hear the soft crunch of gravel soaked by drizzle. The vineyard becomes more than a backdrop; it becomes a feeling. And that shift shows up in the glass too.

“For wine tasting, I find that I subconsciously lean toward wines that mirror the season: reds with spicy or leathery notes, whites with herbaceous tones, and anything with a silky mouthfeel that complements the cosy, damp ambience,” Gaikwad says. “Pairing shifts too — heavier, comforting foods come into play, encouraging full-bodied wines and balanced acidity.”

Drinking with the weather

There’s a reason wine and rain work so well together. Monsoon slows everything down. It invites longer conversations, longer pours. There’s less rush, more ritual. You don’t just drink, you settle into the moment.

Gaikwad gets it. His rainy-day go-to? “Easy: charcoal-roasted bhutta with lime and chaat masala, paired with Sula Zinfandel Rosé. The sweet, tangy corn plays off the wine’s berry-forward brightness, and the pairing feels light yet satisfying. Add an old book, a drizzly balcony, and a woollen throw — pure monsoon magic.”

It’s not about complexity or polish. It’s about comfort. That’s what makes wine so suited for this time of year, it carries mood as much as flavour.

A bottle made for the storm

If the monsoon were a wine, it might taste like the Dindori Reserve Shiraz. And Gaikwad would agree.

“Yes, the Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz is my rainy-day muse,” he says. “It’s intense yet elegant, with dark berry, black pepper, and subtle oak notes. Its velvety texture pairs brilliantly with the monsoon’s introspective vibe. Imagine sipping it with some spicy pakoras or curled up with a book while the thunder hums. It’s that kind of bottle.”

This is the kind of wine that fits into the mood without trying too hard. You don’t need a reason to open it; the weather is reason enough.

Romance in the rain

Most people think of vineyards as a sunny-season affair. But step into Sula during the rains, and the experience is completely transformed.

“Sula turns the rain into romance,” Gaikwad says. “During the monsoon, the vineyards come alive in lush green, and the pace slows to a dreamy, immersive experience. What’s usually seen as off-season becomes an invitation to connect and unwind.”

Guests aren’t just tasting wine, they’re stepping into a story. You can cycle through vineyard trails under a soft drizzle, sip reds while watching mist roll over the hills, and unwind at The Source or Beyond by Sula, where spa days and monsoon stays are built for pause and pleasure. “The rain isn’t a disruption — it’s the mood,” Gaikwad says. “At Sula, monsoon becomes a season of connection, reflection, and indulgence.”

A new kind of wine tourism

What used to be Nashik’s quiet season is now one of its most evocative. With events like the Monsoon Tasting and exclusive vineyard-to-glass trails, Sula is helping monsoon wine tourism in India take shape and setting a blueprint for the rest of the country.

“This season is becoming part of Sula’s brand identity,” Gaikwad says. “Rain-soaked vineyards, misty mornings, and warm glasses of wine make for an unforgettable experience.”

It’s not just about drinking wine. It’s about drinking it with intention in a place that’s built to hold that stillness.

In a world that moves fast, monsoon wine is an invitation to pause. It asks nothing more than this: curl up, pour slowly, sip deliberately, and let the rain do the talking. This year, don’t wait for the sun. Let the clouds and the glass show you how to drink.