Sula Vineyards launches new Indian wine through Laithwaite's

By Tara Craig

Published: 19 September, 2013

Indian winery, Sula Vineyards, has launched its newly created Nasika wine range in the UK which will be available exclusively through Laithwaite's.

The Nasika range, a Sauvignon Blanc 2013 and a Zinfandel, is available online only, from Direct Wines-owned Laithwaite's. It is initially launching exclusively in the UK, although may become available further afield.

"As the range is developed for Laithwaite's and Direct Wines' customers, however, and as Direct Wines also operates in the US, Australia, Hong Kong, Switzerland and Germany there is a possibility the wines will also be available in these markets from next year", a Sula spokesperson told Harpers.

Sula also confirmed to Harpers that the range may expand in future. At present the company is focusing on establishing the Nasika name in the UK.

Nasika Sauvignon Blanc

"Our wines under the brand Sula Vineyards already have a good standing in the UK with Hallgarten Druitt but this is one of our latest milestones and we hope to continue expanding our reach in the UK to every customer segment. It is encouraging to put India on the world wine map."

The two Nasika wines - the first Indian offerings on Direct Wines' books - will retail at £7.99 a bottle. They arrive in the UK just three years after the first Indian wines hit supermarket shelves here, when Globus Fine Wines introduced the Miazma range, followed in 2011 by Waitrose with the Four Season and Zampa labels.

The range takes its name from the Nasik district in India's Magarashtra region, 180km north of Mumbai and home to the first Sula vineyards. Founded by former Silicon Valley-engineer Rajeev Samant in 1997, Sula works with a number of overseas distributors, ranging from Izumi Trading in Japan to Dreyfus Ashby & Co in the United States.