Indian Wines — Spicing the Connoisseur’s Palate

The growth of Indian wine has produced exceptionally high-quality products, including unique blends and premium pairings that suit our cuisine better than all imported wines. The six chosen wines featured are a good representation of the emerging Indian wine industry’s confidence and distinctiveness.

Let’s settle an old debate.

When you talk about Indian wines at a dinner table, the responses are always varied. Some people will love it. Others will say it is “getting better”. However, there will always be that one person that says nothing compares to a French or Italian wine.

To be honest, we can see why they have this reputation. For many years, Indian wines have been mostly inconsistent, overshadowed by their European counterparts.

However, Indian wines are no longer really trying to compare themselves with European wines in the usual way. The Indian wine industry is set to grow by something like $1 billion between 2026 and 2030, and honestly after tasting a few of the better things that India has on offer, it’s not hard to see why that momentum is happening. Winemakers aren’t really chasing after Bordeaux-style wines anymore; they’re instead producing bottles that fit Indian food much more naturally, like they were made for it in the first place.

Let’s be realistic, though: Bordeaux has never had to figure out how to pair a wine with butter chicken.

This is also why we decided against producing another monotonous “Top Indian Wines” list. You know, those award-winning wine collections, but their tasting notes do little to let you know if they would survive with hot food.

We looked at wines we could really suggest to friends. Like wines, we would gladly open with kebabs on Saturday night, or with mutton curry, or even with pav bhaji from our best street-side bon appétit.

Here’s what made the cut.

1. Sula Dindori Reserve Shiraz

If ‘celebrity status’ refers to any of the Indian wines, then the one you’re most likely to recognise is Sula.

With controlling over 50% of India’s wine market, Sula has made it quite clear that Dindori Reserve Shiraz is a signature wine for them. Somehow it just sort of holds itself up well against those classic Indian dishes, like tandoori chicken, paneer tikka masala, or that slow-cooked mutton curry. There’s enough body and tannins in it to carry the flavours through, without really shoving them out of the way. Honestly, it totally deserves that 3.6 rating on Vivino for the 2023 vintage, really.

Why we’d order it again: Unlike most reds, this wine can be served with food without asking you to change what you serve!

2. Grover Zampa La Réserve

Because people will not stop raving about certain wines, some become destined for greatness. For example, the hard-earned reputation of La Réserve comes from its success. Introduced to the market in 1998, one of the first premium red wines in India, La Réserve also proved that there were French-style wines that could be made in India using French viticulture methods to create impressive wines on Indian terroir.

After some time spent in oak barrels, this wine has kind of picked up extra complexity, so it feels like it’s built for pairing with richer plates like Rogan Josh and fiery laal maas (Indian lamb curry), you know, the kind.

Priced at about ₹1,900–2,500 each, it keeps showing up as a solid value anyway.

Our take: If you’re trying to find a bottle of wine to wow your guests but keep things a little low-key, La Réserve is pretty much the no-brainer.

3. KRSMA Estates Cabernet Sauvignon

Even though KRSMA isn’t widely famous in India’s wine scene, when you chat with seasoned sommeliers about it, you usually get those little, broad smiles. It makes sense, because this boutique winery, set in the rocky hills of Hampi, Karnataka, makes wine in small batches.

Yet, honestly, that might be the exact reason it feels tricky to track down a bottle. It’s won a handful of awards for its Cabernet Sauvignon, including a silver medal from the 2023 Sommeliers’ Choice Awards.

On the nose you get aromas that feel like dark cherry, plus a graphite vibe coming through early, and the body has enough weight to keep pulling you back in after every single sip.

Where we’d open it: It would match up nicely with grilled lamb, smoky kebabs, or a properly cooked leg of roasted lamb. You’re not really going to drink this one every day, so when you do, it tends to stick with you.

4. Charosa Vineyards Tempranillo

So, surprisingly, Tempranillo seems to be doing really well in Nashik for Charosa, but also it’s a decent alternative to the bigger Cabernet vines because it’s lighter on the body. The whole flavour leans more towards a fruit-forward kind of vibe than those bigger, bolder reds.

Here is where we break every rule of traditional viniculture!

Forget fancy dinners.
Pour this with pav bhaji.
Or chaat.

Why we love it: finally, a wine that feels sort of made for what most Indians actually eat on a Tuesday evening.

5. Fratelli Sette

If sophistication had an Indian passport, it might look kind of like Fratelli Sette, you know. A blend of Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon (and in selected vintages they fold in Merlot), Sette is made from Fratelli’s Akluj vineyard, and it spends at least 12 months in French oak before it is let out for consumers. The final result is polished, but not overly grand; there’s a certain calm elegance to it.

Now for 2024… it picked up a bronze medal at the London Wine Competition, and it also landed an 88-point score from an international wine connoisseur. In the glass, you’ll notice ripe fruit and peppery spices, plus those smooth velvety tannins as well.

Our verdict: it’s basically the kind of bottle you bring when dinner feels a bit more ceremonial than usual.

6. Reveilo Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon

Every wine list should have an underdog.

Reveilo Wines may not get all of the publicity now, but they’ve been making a name for themselves over the years with more than 50 awards to their name, and their Reserve Cabernet is an outstanding example. The flavour profile of this Cabernet is basically blackcurrant with cedar wood, plus espresso coffee and just a touch of menthol. One bit of advice: don’t rush it. You should open the bottle, pour the wine into a decanter, and let it rest for around 30 minutes, and then you will notice, like, truly notice, that you’ve somehow transformed the wine.

The payoff is simple: it drinks like something that costs a lot more than it actually does.

Two more bottles we’d happily recommend

Increasingly becoming popular among restaurants for use on their wine lists is the York Arros wine, which has quickly gained traction due to its friendly palate and ability to complement the majority of cuisines. In addition to being a well-known winery, Grover Zampa produces an outstanding wine called La Réserve; however, their newest label, the Chêne Grande Réserve, is above and beyond. With even more complexity, depth and richness than La Réserve, the Chêne Grande Réserve is a great option for those special occasions when you’re feeling generous (or just want to treat yourself!).

A quick serving tip that makes a huge difference

Shall we all come together to stop serving red wine in an unacceptable way at an Indian room temperature? When the temperature is over 35 degrees outside, your wines should not be that warm but should be served at a temperature of around 16 – 18 degrees Celsius to accomplish this. Additionally, these wines would appear much more vibrant, smoother and balanced when they are at the proper temperature and not warm.

Below is a basic guide to wine pairings:

Shiraz goes well with lamb and/or as a main course dish in a curry form (and possibly also with chicken).

By using Cabernet wine for serving grilled meats, you will enhance the level of spiciness present in a grilled curry (note: the tannins in the Cabernet increase the heat from the chiles in the curry).

Tempranillo and Sangiovese are the 2 easiest wine varieties that you could use with pizza, paneer tikka, pasta or any combination of street food.

Our Final Sip

What was the biggest shocker for us when we compiled our list? The best Indian wines do not try to compete with France, Italy or Australia—they may now be becoming the world’s finest because they embrace Indian ingredients, Indian climate, and, most importantly, Indian food. Perhaps that is how we should have evaluated them all along. When the next person tells you that “Indian wines are not ready”, just pour them a glass to open the conversation. We think the wine will do the talking for you.