Fratelli Vineyards: The Witch, the Wizard and the Wine…
My wife and I set out on a trail, a quest rather, for exploring the wine gems that the beautiful state of Maharashtra had to offer. We went all around and looked everywhere. We had some here, we had some there. But late at night we reached a place, a place they called the Fratelli Resort. The in-keeper of the resort let us in and showed us to our room. Exhausted, we entered our room, looking for comfort and food. Instead what we came across was a magical cupboard. My wife and I were so intrigued by the magical cupboard; we couldn’t help but be pulled by its spell. So join us as we enter the Magical World of Fratelli- The Witch, the Wizard and the Wine.
So you see my friends, even the cupboard at Fratelli can give you inspiration beyond your imagination. But yes, it is true; Fratelli does have a witch, a wizard and of course, wine. The witch in question here is the hardship that one can associate with the uncultivatable land that exists here at Motewadi, near Akluj. The vast expanse of mountainous terrain, the dryness in the air, the sun beating down on the barren soil; seems as if one is standing on the sets of a Wild West classic. The lack of irrigation facilities is partly to be blamed. The wrath of Mother Nature sums up the rest.
And like in any movie, where there is a tyrant, there comes a hero, a knight in shining armor. The hero of our story is Mr. Piero Masi, the knight from Italy, who saw potential in this barren land and gave the people of this region something to be really proud about.
It wasn’t easy. It must have taken a never ending will and an unending desire to transform the tough soil into a bountiful gold mine that it is today. And it’s not just Mr. Masi, but the several hard working men and women who put in their effort, brave the sun and the harsh conditions and come out victorious. Perhaps it’s an entire army of wizards led by a man of iron will.
And all this effort, all the million man hours, all the sweat and tears, magically transforms into this divine drink that rests in a beautiful chalice. Perhaps it is this desire, that makes Fratelli wines stand out from the rest. Whether it is the Sangiovese Bianco or the Sette, each wine has an exquisite taste that only comes from love and effort. And what stood out most for me was the utmost respect that everyone at Fratelli had for Mother Nature. I asked the staff if the birds disturb their grape collection and calculation in any manner, to which the staff member happily replied “we have taken so much from nature; we don’t mind giving a little back.”
… And as we came out of the cupboard, my wife and I were happy, with our bellies and our spirits replenished and our souls rejuvenated by this magical place they call the Fratelli Winery and Resorts.
“The word Fratelli means ‘brothers’. It refers to the coming together of the Secci brothers, Andrea and Alessio from Italy, along with Sekhri brothers Kapil and Gaurav and the Mohite-Patil brothers, Ranjitsinh and Arjunsinh.
The name was adopted to represent the desire that each of the promoters nurtured in their hearts – to create a product of truly international standard but one that was made in India using centuries-long Italian wine making traditions.” Source: Fratelli Wines
Quick Facts:
Location: Motewadi, Maharashtra 413107
Phone: 011 2659 2900
Distance from Mumbai airport: 323.2 Kms. We went from Pune. It took us about 3 hours by cab.
USP: Personally, perhaps the best wine that’s being made in the country. The beautiful vineyards seem to transcend you into a Yash Raj movie – romantic and classy.
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Abhinav Sahni
Abhinav Sahni is the co-founder of Blue Sky Dreamers. He quit his job in IT to pursue his love for writing and travelling.
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Courtney
I had no idea that India had it’s own vineyards and it’s even more amazing that they were able to grow in what looks like a more difficult climate. I am now intrigued and dying to taste some wine from India. Thanks for sharing your experience, I may just have to put “visit vineyards in India” on my bucketlist :).
M. Elaine Estes
You write beautifully. I like your descriptions too. The reference to The Witch, The Lion and The Wardrobe was very clever too. Sorry I just can’t seem to catch up on all the blogs I want to read. Yours is definitely a good read!! I will try to do better. My apologies.
purvabhatia
Thank you Elaine 🙂 Come back whenever you have the time!