Wine Tour at Nandi Hills

The wine tour at Nandi Hills is a great experience, as it blends nature’s beauty with the suave of fine wine. Located just a short drive from Bangalore, Nandi Hills offers the perfect setting for a leisurely exploration of some of the best vineyards in the region. As the winemaking scene in Karnataka continues to grow, Nandi Hills has become a favored destination for wine lovers seeking to experience the art of winemaking firsthand. The rolling vineyards and the temperate climate in such a picture-perfect landscape behind the hills make this visit a feast for the taste buds and the senses.

The good geographical and climatic advantages make Nandi Hills an ideally fitting destination for a wine tour. In this region, there is relatively cooler climatic condition along with good fertile soil at a relatively higher elevation. This is the perfect condition to grow healthy and high-quality grapes. The elevation keeps the air fresh and cool, while the surrounding hills provide natural irrigation for the vineyards. As a result, winemakers in Nandi Hills can produce wines that are rich in flavor and aroma, with the region becoming increasingly recognized for its premium wine production. That is not all - proximity to Bangalore can make it a great weekend getaway place if one needs to escape the stress of city living and indulge in a sophisticated wine-tasting experience.

Over the years, several leading vineyards in and around Nandi Hills have contributed to the area being identified with fine wine production. The more notable vineyards are Grover Zampa Vineyards and Kinvah Vineyards. Grover Zampa is one of India's oldest and most famous wineries. Their range starts with red and white wines to rosés and sparkling varieties. The other brand is Kinvah Vineyards, which boasts of excellence in modern winemaking techniques and its beautiful setting among the dense greens. These vineyards will provide you with guided tours that will take you for a walk through the vineyards, and cellars, and understanding the entire process of winemaking right from grape to glass. Winemaking has a long history at Nandi Hills and was ably championed by local industry pioneers who helped create a culture of wine drinking, now attracting visitors from even other parts of the country.

Wines from Nandi Hills are varied and beautiful. The area is characterized mainly by Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chenin Blanc, and the famous sparkling wine also comes under trial. Each cellar has its very special style, and visiting those cellars with guides is one of the best ways through which one can understand more about the differences between every wine. Visitors get a firsthand glimpse of the winemaking process, from viticulture to fermentation, aging, and bottling. Besides learning about winemaking, visitors can try wine tastings, which would let them experience the powerful flavors and fragrances of the wines brewed locally. Wine tastings usually go with carefully prepared pairings of foods and wines, with each pairing meant to accompany an appetizer or cheese.

Ideally, the right season to visit Nandi Hills for a wine tour is from November to March, as the weather is cool and very pleasant. It's also the period when the vineyards appear to be at their best with their grapes ready for the harvest, and the landscape is full green. Tourists visiting during this season can experience the best of both worlds intense wine tour and the incredible natural beauty of Nandi Hills. Moreover, during the harvest period that usually falls during January to March, the tourist will have a one-of-its-kind opportunity to see the winemaking process in full swing. It is a good time to watch grapes being hand-picked and hand-sorted and get closer to understanding what labor goes into the excellent craftsmanship behind the finest wines.

Besides the wine-tasting, most of the vineyards here in Nandi Hills have so much to offer. Join the grape stomping during harvest, or enjoy a picnic lying down on top of the hills. Activities such as cycling tours around the estate and hot air balloon rides above the landscape in a bird's eye view also take place. Restaurants are also available within the vineyards, and meals are prepared with locally sourced ingredients and wine from the vineyard on a few occasions.

These tours become much more rewarding if you go to the neighboring attractions such as the Nandi Temple, and Tippu Sultan Fort. Nature lovers can take several paths through the hills that offer chances to explore the rich biodiversity of this region. It is the amalgamation of cultural landmarks and natural beauty that makes Nandi Hills an all-round destination offering much more than a wine-tasting experience. Everyone who fancies blending leisure with learning may never want to give up on the opportunity of a wine tour at Nandi Hills. So, gather your camarilla, head to the vineyards, and enjoy a day well spent!