Homegrown Wine Brands Bringing The Heat
India's wine scene has levelled up and it's time to catch up
India’s reputation for a good glass of wine has long lived in the shadows of whiskey bottles, beers, imported Bordeaux, and the country’s spiced cuisine.
There used to be a time when ordering wine at an Indian bar meant choosing between “red” or “white,” poured from a bottle with a sun-faded label and a name that sounded vaguely European. Wine was either an afterthought or a novelty. Moreover, insecure and surrounded by burgeoning wine nations around us—France, Italy, Spain—we just always assumed that India can never be included in the same prestigious pages of the Old-World wine gods.
But fast forward to today, and wine in India is having a very real moment. Not just as a drink, but as a lifestyle.
There are vineyards with boutique stays, sommeliers with actual opinions, and homegrown winemakers who know exactly what they’re doing. The country’s terroir—once underestimated, now celebrated—is producing vintages that aren’t just drinkable, but genuinely good. Nashik is no longer just a sleepy temple town; it’s India’s answer to Napa. And in Hampi, rocky ancient hills double as backdrops for fine French oak barrels.
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So why are we so staunch when it comes to picking homegrown wine brands? It’s time to stop guzzling down the same old bottle of Robert Mondavi and give these Indian labels a much-deserved spot in your collection.
Best Indian Wine Brands
Sula Vineyards
You can’t talk about Indian wine without tipping your glass to Sula. A stalwart of the scene since 1999, Sula brought wine into the mainstream with a distinctly youthful flair. Today, it’s not just a vineyard—it’s a cultural movement, complete with a music festival, a staycation-worthy estate, and a wine list that’s gone from safe to sophisticated. Their Rasa line is bold and confident (think brooding reds), while The Source rosé proves they know how to do light and elegant too. It’s all part of Sula’s charm: wine made fun, without compromising on craft.
Esquire Recommends: Rasa Cabernet Sauvignon, Dindori Reserve Chardonnay, The Source Grenache Rosé
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KRSMA Estates
KRSMA is one of those underrated wine companies in India, and only those willing to drive into the middle of Hampi, Karnataka to find something exceptional, will discover it. Born from a couple’s shared passion for wine, this boutique label is all about small-batch excellence. Each vintage is obsessively crafted—aged in French oak, grown in rocky terrain, and made with serious attention to detail. Their K2 red is deep and structured, while the Sauvignon Blanc is vibrant, mineral-forward, and ideal for an Indian summer. KRSMA doesn’t shout—it lets the wine speak for itself.
Esquire Recommends: K2, Sauvignon Blanc
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Vallonné Vineyards
Nestled in Igatpuri, Vallonné feels like a secret whispered among wine lovers. With French-style winemaking and a picture-perfect estate overlooking Kanvai Peak, it’s as much about the experience as the pour. Their wines are limited, artisanal, and beautifully expressive—whether it’s the complex Anokhee Cabernet or a rare dessert wine made from sun-dried grapes in straw huts. Their Viognier Reserve is floral, textured and aromatic. The Vin De Passerillage dessert wine is rare and poetic. Add in a lakeside restaurant and boutique stay, and you’ve got one of India’s most romantic wine escapes.
Esquire Recommends: Anokhee Cabernet Sauvignon, Viognier Reserve, Vin De Passerillage
Chandon India
This isn’t a vanity project. The LVMH-backed sparkling wine brand set up shop in Dindori with its 19-acre estate and signature méthode traditionnelle finesse. Their Brut is a celebration in a bottle—crisp, floral, with just enough complexity to feel grown-up. But the real treasure is Chandon Aurva, a cellar-exclusive red that marries Indian grapes with Old World soul.
Esquire Recommends: Chandon Brut, Chandon Aurva
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Big Banyan Wines
Founded in 2007, the owners brought saplings from all over the world to the outskirts of Bengaluru. With the help of an Italian winemaker, Lucio Matricadi, Big Banyan Wines was born. The Sauvignon Blanc and the Chenin Blanc offered are excellent, and their limited Cabernet Sauvignon received a bronze medal in the International Wine Challenge in 2024.
Esquire Recommends: Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot