From Oracle to India’s Wine Revolution: Rajeev Samant of Sula Vineyards
In this episode of the Blume Podcast (Season 4: Destiny Avenged), Karthik Reddy sits down with Rajeev Samant, the visionary behind Sula Vineyards, to unpack how one man’s “crazy” idea in the 90s turned into India’s largest wine brand and a cultural phenomenon.
Armed with a Stanford degree and zero background in farming or viticulture, Rajeev walked away from Silicon Valley to plant the seeds of an entirely new industry in Nashik. From fermenting his first experimental batch at home, to co-authoring Maharashtra’s wine policy, to building India’s first wine tourism destination—Rajeev’s story is one of grit, patience, and conviction.
We explore:
🍇 The early “lunatic” days of introducing wine to a whiskey-dominated India
🏡 Building India’s first wine tourism hub at Sula
📈 Navigating debt, policy battles, and eventually, a successful IPO
🌍 How Sula put Indian wine on the global map
🚀 Why today’s entrepreneurs have it easier—and what lessons endure
This conversation is more than just the story of Sula. It’s about reimagining what’s possible when you follow conviction over convention.
🔔 Don’t miss more stories of grit and destiny in Season 4: Destiny Avenged.
Sponsors
This season is brought to you by IDFC FIRST Bank and Ultrahuman.
🎧 Listen to the full episode now and toast to the cradle of Indian wine with us at Sula!
Blume Venture Investment Manager LLP (“Blume Ventures”)
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