When does tipple fest begin?

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A file photo of Sula Fest

We may not be as renowned as others, but the Sula Fest in Nashik sure gets its fair share of patronage. With the sixth edition set to take place in the beautiful city of Nashik on February 2 and 3, we catch up with youngsters who are making a beeline to be part of this eclectic and fun gathering.

For Sneha Suresh, a 27-year-media professional, it was a cultural surprise of sorts, “Though I’m from Bengaluru, I moved to Mumbai last year on work. My friends took me to the Sula Fest and I simply fell in love with it. Not only did I meet like-minded people, I also got to see some really interesting things like wine-making, beautiful vineyards and of course, meet connoisseurs! It was fantastic and I am definitely going this year.”
This year, the fest looks more promising. The line-up has been announced and artistes like French electronica duo Deep Forest, Italian dub artist Gaudi, and Oregon reggae group Indubious will play. Not to forget home-grown bands such as folk-fusion band Whirling Kalapas, rock act Swarathma and funk, soul and pop act Vivienne. Manish Dhanjiani, an MBA student in Mumbai, says, “I’m not a big fan of wine and yet, I’m really excited to go. The artiste line-up, along with the backdrop of a scenic place, sounds very alluring. It will be a good break from studies for me.”
This is a prolific event, as the who’s who of the hospitality industry will also be present. Considering Maha-rashtra accounts for a good 90 percent of grape-wine production and Nashik amounts to a good 80 percent itself, the destination is an obvious choice. There will be interesting activities like grape-stamping (a hit with youngsters especially) Restau-rateur Payal Chabbria says, “The fact that Sula Fest is so popular and is only attracting crowds each year, shows a shift in culture and change in thinking. Fine dining is certainly on the rise in big metros, and wine is a part of this etiquette. Not only is it a splendid business opportunity, but a chance to learn more about wine.”