Sula Vineyards

What does a Stanford-educated engineer working at Oracle in California do next? For Rajeev Samant, the answer was to return to India and start a winery. In 1996, on a visit to his family's land in Nashik, a region known for table grapes, he saw an opportunity nobody else had seriously considered: making wine. Teaming up with Californian winemaker Kerry Damskey, Samant established Sula Vineyards in 1999, naming it after his mother, Sulabha. Sula’s journey was about creating a market from scratch. The company pioneered new grape varieties in India like Sauvignon Blanc and Chenin Blanc. A key part of the playbook was building a destination. Sula opened India’s first winery tasting room in 2005, making wine tourism a core part of its business. This strategy helped transform the Nashik region into "India's Napa Valley." By focusing on quality and building a recognizable brand, Sula grew to become India's largest wine producer. The company's growth culminated in a significant financial milestone: in December 2022, Sula Vineyards launched its Initial Public Offering (IPO) on the National Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange. The IPO, an offer for sale of existing shares, marked a new chapter for the company, solidifying its position as a leader in the Indian beverage industry.