India’s hidden wine regions beyond Nashik

When people talk about wine tourism in India, the conversation almost always circles back to Nashik. But quietly, across rocky Karnataka hills, Himalayan orchards and remote valleys in Arunachal Pradesh, a new generation of wine regions has been taking shape, smaller, slower and often far more personal than the country’s better-known vineyard circuits.

If you are also an oenophile, then these five places should be in your bucket list.

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Just north of Bengaluru, the countryside around Nandi Hills has quietly become one of India’s most important wine-growing regions outside Maharashtra. Vineyards spread across Doddaballapur and Devanahalli, where elevations between 800 and 950 metres help soften Karnataka’s heat and preserve freshness in the grapes.

The region’s flagship estate is Grover Zampa Vineyards, whose sprawling vineyards sit against the backdrop of rolling hills once favoured by Tipu Sultan and later the British as a summer retreat.

You can make a late-morning visit here. Guided tours here walk visitors through the vineyards, bottling units and ageing cellars before ending with structured tastings that include sparkling wines and reserve reds. January and February are especially beautiful, when grape clusters hang heavy on the vines during harvest season.

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The idea of vineyards near Hampi sounds unlikely at first. Yet in the rocky terrain of Karnataka’s Koppal district, boutique estates have turned the dry landscape into one of India’s most intriguing wine regions.

The area around Tavaregere and Zhoolkunti villages is best known for KRSMA Estates, a boutique winery repeatedly praised for its Cabernet Sauvignon, Sangiovese and Sauvignon Blanc. Set amid boulder-strewn hills and scrubland, the estate feels more like a hidden retreat than a commercial wine destination.

Visits are generally by prior booking and include tastings, vineyard walks and conversations about low-yield viticulture and water management in an otherwise arid landscape. What makes the experience special is the contrast- ancient temple ruins in the morning, contemporary Indian wines by sunset.

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While Nashik dominates Maharashtra’s wine identity, the Krishna Valley around Akluj and Solapur forms another major but lesser-known wine belt.

At the centre of it is Fratelli Vineyards, one of India’s largest single-owner vineyard estates. Spread across hundreds of acres near the Nira and Krishna river systems, the estate helped establish premium wine production beyond Nashik.

Unlike crowded tasting rooms, Fratelli’s experience feels deliberately intimate. Days unfold slowly here, vineyard walks, cellar tours, tastings paired with cheese platters, and sunsets overlooking endless rows of vines. December to April is the liveliest period, especially during grape harvest and active winery operations.

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In the hills of Himachal Pradesh, wine takes on a very different meaning. Rather than vineyards filled with classic wine grapes, districts like Solan, Shimla, Mandi and Palampur have built a quieter wine culture around apples, plums, peaches, apricots and cherries. The cooler Himalayan climate and orchard economy have helped create what is now one of India’s most distinctive fruit-wine regions.

Shops around Shimla and Solan stock apple, plum and apricot wines, while orchard stays in Kotgarh, Thanedar or Palampur let visitors combine fruit picking, mountain walks and slow evenings with regional food.

The experience feels deeply Himachali rather than European. Here, wine is more likely to be paired with trout, siddu or momos than elaborate cheese boards. Spring and autumn are especially beautiful, with blossoms in April-June and apple harvest colours between September and November.

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Hidden among pine-covered hills and terraced rice fields, Ziro may be India’s most unexpected wine destination. In Hong village, Naara Aaba Winery has built India’s first organic kiwi-wine operation using fruit sourced from local orchards and Apatani farmers.

Today, the small winery produces kiwi, pear and plum wines that have drawn attention far beyond the Northeast. You can tour the compact facility, taste unusual fruit wines and often interact directly with the founder herself.

What makes the experience memorable is the setting. Ziro is already known for Apatani villages, homestays and the famous Ziro Music Festival, and the winery adds another layer to the valley’s identity.

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