I realized I have a thing for wineries because I can’t seem to get enough from trying to find more around me!
And it’s really fascinating to hear from so many people how they had no idea about these vineyards, which are pretty much located around the vicinity of any major city in India. Since I live in Bangalore, I’m going to be telling you about the second winery I got around to visit- The Grover Zampa vineyard!
How to get there
It’s an hour away from Bangalore with the most scenic drive ever, located off the Raghunathapur Doddaballapur road. They have 2 sessions of the wine tasting tour, so be sure you make it for the morning batch which is at 10:30am or the afternoon batch at 1:30pm.
What you'll be doing
As all wine tasting tours go, it starts with the detailed explanation about how grapes are crushed as well as the distinctive selection of grapes for each of the wines they produce.
Then you move on to the fermentation tanks which requires careful control for the production of high quality wines. (You aren’t allowed to take photographs in these areas)
You also get to visit the barrel room where controlled oxidation takes place during the barrel ageing process. Lastly, you will see how the bottling and labelling of wines are carried out which includes machinery as well as manual labor work.
Wine tasting and lunch with a view
My favorite part of every wine tour is the tasting.
You get to try six different types of wines – the whites, reds and rosé! And this wine tasting session was more detailed and enjoyable than my previous ones as the ambience of the tasting room was absolutely gorgeous. It’s super cozy with just the right lighting and seating arrangement.
Usually wineries also come with a vineyard tour, but this one didn’t as the vineyard isn’t located on the campus of the winery. It's a bit further from the property, so you can easily drive down for a visit.
They also have a grape stomping session if you pre-book it for a large group of people.
The wine tour ends with the tasting and you could choose to have lunch outdoors or indoors. There's a fixed menu comprising of salad, starters, main course and desserts. The menu has both veg and non veg choices. You could also buy more wine to take home or have with lunch - which we obviously did! Wine, food, a beautiful view. What more can you ask for?
This easily tops one of the best afternoons I’ve spent in the most vibrant and cozy ambience this year! Considering the Covid-19 pandemic, they did take precaution to maintain hygiene and I felt completely safe here.
The four course lunch we opted for was absolutely perfect!
Lastly, you can take a stroll around their beautiful property and enjoy the much needed fresh air away from the hustle of the city!
If the pictures haven’t convinced you to visit this place, you’re missing out on one of the nicest experiences that Bangaloreans can have! Once you start exploring more vineyards around the vicinity, there’s no stopping 🍷
Le vin entre et la raison sort. Wine enters, and reason leaves!
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