If enjoying a wine tour among the picturesque vineyards is what you have in mind for a serene weekend getaway, the vineyards in Bangalore are just the place for you. In recent years, viticulture and wine tourism has been growing rapidly in India with Karnataka being the second largest producer of wine, right after Nashik in Maharashtra. The history of winemaking dates back millennia but only gained popularity first in Goa by the Portuguese in the 16th century and later during the British rule.
Today, there are several vineyards scattered across the country that are not only known for their reds and whites, but also for their spectacular estates set amidst the rolling hills and verdant landscapes. As Bangalore’s cool climate along with the apt soil conditions makes it an ideal location for wine grape farming, many vineyards have opened their gates for wine tours, offering guided wine tasting and a peek into the whole process of wine making.
With a taste so alluring and an art so refined, one can just not afford to miss this exotic experience of wine tasting in Bangalore. Here is a list of the best vineyards in Bangalore and wineries that are worth a visit.
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Best Vineyards In Bangalore That Are Worth A Visit
1. Big Banyan Vineyard: The New Vineyard On The Block
Situated near Bangalore’s famous 400-year-old banyan tree (also known as dodda alada mara by locals), the Big Banyan Vineyard first started producing wine at its Goa winery about a decade ago and then expanded in 2016 to Bangalore, with the construction of its second winery. Taking place in a wood-panelled room decorated with images of the wine-making process, it makes wine tours interesting by pairing 10 kinds of unique cheese with six different wines. Covering over a hectare of land with a scenic backdrop, you can take a walk around this vineyard in Bangalore while hearing the story of their wine making process or enjoy the sunsets while sipping on some delicious wine. From March to May, the vineyard also offers visitors a chance to hand-pick grapes.
Where: Chunchanakuppe Village, Tavarakere
Timings: 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Available Activities: wine tour & wine tasting, canoeing, organic farming, outdoor games and stay over.
Price: INR 500 onwards
2. Grover Zampa Vineyard: India’s Oldest Winemakers
Mumbai-based businessman Kanwal Grover’s quest for good-quality Indian wines eventually led him to open Grover Zampa Vineyards, one of the first vineyards in Bangalore. With over 81 hectares of their own vines, they were the first to use an optical sorting machine that easily separates the best grapes for fermentation. At the company’s sprawling vineyard, you can spend some peaceful time learning about their winemaking process, as well as get recommendations on wine pairings. With six different wines, this vineyard in Bangalore sweetens the deal with a delicious buffet lunch amidst a lovely ambiance with music.
Where: Devanahalli Road, Doddaballapur
Timings: 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Available Activities: taste wines, understand filtering, processing, fermentation, storing, bottling, labelling, packaging and grape-stomping session.
Price: INR 1500 onwards
3. Kādu Winery: India’s First Wine For A Cause
Renaming it Kādu Winery from Heritage Winery, which means “wild” in Kannada, the winery is Sula Vineyards’ fourth unit in Karnataka. Kādu winery Bangalore is India’s first wine offering that gives a portion of its proceeds towards tiger conservation in Karnataka. Spread over nine acres of land, you can enjoy one of the best wine tour in Bangalore with a guided, taste the Kādu and Sula vineyards Bangalore wines in their tasting room, learn about the various aspects of winemaking, and dine at Epulo, the vineyard restaurant. You can also take part in grape-stomping at this vineyard in Bangalore for an additional cost of INR 500 per person.
Where: Gangedoddi Village, Chekkere Post, Bangalore – Marlur Road
Timings: 10.30 AM-5.30 PM
Available Activities: winery tour, wine tasting, tour of barrel room, bottling unit, fermentation unit and wine stomping.
Price: INR 400 per adult for a tour of 1-2 hours. Kids (below 10 years) have no fee.
4. SDU Winery: India’s First Female-owned Boutique Winery
SDU Winery is a winery run by Shaambhavi Hingorani, the first female wine entrepreneur. With a focus on producing easy-drinking wines, the boutique winery adheres to a simple, yet modern approach to winemaking with machinery imported from Italy. Under the famed Italian winemaker Andrea Valentinuzzi’s leadership, the winery produces a range of easy-drinking varietal, reserve and blended wines under the brand names Deva, Reserva and Trilogy respectively. You can savor some of their fine wines and gain insight about the intriguing wine making process on a classic wine tour to this vineyard in Bangalore. The winery also plans on hosting open-air vineyard brunches in the future.
Where: Gowribidanur Taluk, Chikkaballapur District
Timings: 10:30 AM-5:30 PM
Available Activities: vineyard tour, wine tasting, Lawn Tennis, Mini-Basketball.Price: From INR 500 to INR 1500
5. Kinvah Vineyards: Refined Taste And Fine Living
Kinvah or Nandi Valley Vineyards spread over a 250 acre vineyard has a current capacity to produce ten million liters of wine. Produced from premium quality French grapes, Kinvah is all about refined tastes and fine living. The tour of this vineyard Bangalore is more than just learning about the production and tasting wines. You are also pampered with a welcome drink and snacks, followed by a visit to the factory and a 3 course meal for lunch; finishing with a fun grape stomping session.
Where: Thimanayakanahalli, Yelahanka Hobli
Timings: 10:30 AM-5:00 PM
Available Activities: vineyard tour, wine tasting, factory visit and stomping.
Price: INR 900 for kids, INR 1695 for adults
6. Myra Vineyards: Featuring Latest Winemaking Techniques
Myra Vineyards around Bangalore is perfect for those looking for a splendid and gratifying wine tour within Bangalore’s city limits. Offering both white and red wines, the winery uses different varieties and the latest winemaking techniques to produce high quality wines that will delight the taste buds of wine lovers. Founded by Ajay Shetty in December 2011, the wines produced here are designed to present a fine taste that can be enjoyed by connoisseurs as well as experimenters. At this vineyard in Bangalore, you can enjoy an interactive wine tour where you can get insight on their wine making process as well as try out their various wine varieties.
Where: A Division of ABS Vintners Pvt. Ltd. 27, Victoria Road
Timings: 9:00 AM-9:00 PM
Available Activities: vineyard tour, wine tasting
Also Read: The best vineyards to visit in India
7. Soma Vineyards: Boutique Winery Known For Signature Wines
Just 60 km from the city center is this 120-acre excellent wine tourist destination called the ‘Soma Vineyards’. With Makali Hills on one side and Gundamagere Lake on the other side, this vineyard is one of the most scenic vineyards near Bangalore. The man behind this beautiful vinery is Mr. D.N. Raju, an engineer turned wine lover. He has followed the sustainable growing practices under the guidance of his philosophy ‘wine for wellness’ and ‘a sense of place.’ One can enjoy 360-degree views of this scenic vineyard from different points at this boutique winery. Make sure you book well in advance as they do not accept walk-ins.
Where: Gundamgere Village, Sonnenahalli
Timings: 3:30 PM – 7:30 PM
Available Activities: Guided vineyard tour, 3 wine tasting with veg & non-veg starters, Dinner with red wine and Stays.
Price: Starting from INR 1200 per person
8. Rico Wine Park & Vineyards: India’s Premier Wine Producer
Because of the high-quality grape wines produced, Rico Wine Park is one of India’s premier wine producers. This place is truly a paradise for both wine enthusiasts and nature lovers. Your visit here starts with a curated wine tasting session and the rest of the day filled with exploration and experience about wines and wine-making. Immerse yourself in the art of winemaking while enjoying the fantastic view and the majesty of the vineyards here at Rico Vineyards.
Where: Yelahanka, Singanayakanahalli
Timings: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
Available Activities: Wine Tasting, Vineyard Tour, Multicuisine Buffet Lunch, Grape Stomping
Price: Adults INR 1695, Kids INR 850
After the wine tasting experience why not check Bangalore’s food with our Food Walk Tour.
How To Make The Most Of Your Trip To These Vineyards?
A winery tour in Bangalore is truly a distinctive and a wonderful experience. Every year, hundreds of wine lovers visit these vineyards in Bangalore to taste their favorite blend of wine and experience the art of wine making. The perfect alternative option for those who love to take the offbeat track, visiting vineyards in Bangalore is one of the fascinating activities to indulge in during the cooler months.
Before visiting these vineyards, do your homework to get to know a little bit in advance about the wines and the region. If you’re curious, you can also ask questions to the tour guide or staff at the vineyard or winery.
Also Read: 18 rules of drinking etiquette from around the world
Relaxing in an open meadow with a glass of your favorite wine is something wine-lovers cannot help but picture. So, the next time you’ve made up your mind to experience the beauty of nature, make sure to include one of these vineyards in Bangalore on your travel itinerary.
FAQ’s On Wine And Vineyards
Though both are associated with the production of wine, there is a huge difference between a winery and a vineyard. A vineyard is a place where grapes are grown for wine making. Whereas winery is a huge production house with multiple warehouses that has tanks to store wines, automatic bottling lines, laboratories for the production of wine.
RĀSĀ Cabernet Sauvignon by Sula Vineyards is the most expensive wine. This complex structured wine with a satisfying taste cost close to 2k for a 750ml bottle.
Nashik a city in Maharashtra state which is about 100 miles northeast of Mumbai is the most famous city for wine in India. It’s no surprise that Nashik is being called as the “Wine Capital of India”.
Italy, France and Spain are countries that tops the chart for the production of wine. With wine being the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages in the world, the production of the wines have been stepped up and is available in three different types, white, red and rose.
The best time to visit vineyards in Bangalore is during the harvesting months of February and March. This is the time when vineyards spring back to life after the winter dormancy.
