Do as the Europeans do, and pedal your way across three vineyards in Nashik as you quaff fancy wine and tuck into cheese platters
Illustration/Uday Mohite
The wind rushes past you as you pedal, carrying the scent of juicy grapes with it. On either side are orchards, with vines all arranged in neat rows. You step into a vineyard and swirl, sniff and sip glasses of the best reds and whites the region has to offer. Then, you get on your bicycle and pedal to your next stop for more vino.
Sounds like something you'd be interested in doing on your next trip to Europe? Turns out you can do it next weekend, right here in India's wine capital, Nashik.
Carvan Trips is conducting a cycling tour through three vineyards, with stops at each for a lesson in wine-making, as well as plenty of tastings. "This is the first time we're doing this type of trip. I've seen it being done in France, and we wanted to bring the experience to this part of the world," says founder Sharad Shah, adding that the trail has been in the works for the last six months.
Those attending will be provided transport in an AC vehicle from Mumbai to Nashik and back. The leisurely cycle ride will begin at Soma Vine Village around 10.30 am and conclude at Sula Vineyards at 5 pm. "It's not a difficult route to cycle through. The roads are in good condition, and the topography is fairly flat. We'll be covering an approximate distance of 8km over the course of the day," adds Shah.
If you start feeling tired midway, you can give up the bicycle and get back into the AC van, which will be trailing the cyclists. And if you're not too big on cycling, you can ditch it completely and participate in the vineyard hopping from the comfort of the vehicle.