Nashik, Trimbakeshwar and Sula vineyards

I was interested in going to Nashik when I heard about the temples and whole scene there, but it was the Sula Vinyards 10km out of town that clinched it for me.

Nashik is a pretty cool town and certainly deserves a couple of days exploring with the its involvement in Ramayana a Hindu epic there are lots of pilgrims a great atmosphere and a couple of good places to stay and eat, the scene at the bathing tank and temples is involving. Trimbakeshwar is 30km down the road and an even more interesting place, its more laid back than Nashik and I could have spent a couple of days here. I bought two reed flutes here and spent about half an hour getting ones that were nearly in tune with themselves, the recorder styled flute is so so, but the flute is very nice indeed and Ive built a holster from an old water bottle for them and attached it to my front pannier.

Sula

My favourite day so far, an easy cycle on secondary roads, great views and a wine tour at the end. The wine tour was pretty much as most wine tours but lighter as the vineyards are so new, not so big and have no cellars where artisans laboured for centuries ensuring that the wine got you pissed leaving a most agreeable taste on your pallet.

The whites are interesting, the reds have potential but need aged BADLY.

sv. Blanc 2007
A little green, grassy even not bad but not in the same class as the chennin blanc.

Chennin Blanc 2007
This is the best offering and drunk at the vineyard it was good, going on very good. I have concerns about transport and storage though and think it maybe sometime before its at its best when the customers actually get it.
Rose Blush Zinfandel
I was surprised by this and enjoyed it, there is a hint of rosehip to the taste and it was surprisingly dry.

Cabernet Shiraz 2007
This needs ageing, I could drink it with game, but would rather one of those missing artisans mentioned earlier got hold of it and cast some magic.

Reserve Shiraz
Needs ageing, but drinkable.

Savingon blanc vine aged
This was a surprise and I enjoyed it immensely, though the taste of lemon is so strong I could swear flavouring was added, enjoyable.

Trimbak

Trimbak is an easy 30km ride from Nashik and I enjoyed the scene here even more than in Nashik, its quite a small town, the people are great, the visitors too and there is more bling bling tat on sale per capita than anywhere else Ive been. Good for a days visit, too if you climb the hill and the MDRC resort room/ chalet was very good if a little expensive.