- Rajeev Samant -
Our Founder & CEO
Rajeev
Samant's introduction to wines took place during his
early years studying at Stanford University and working
at Oracle in California, neither grapes nor wine were at
the top of his mind when he returned to India in the
early 90s. A chance visit to his family's land in Nashik
- a region well-known for growing table grapes - in 1994
led to the seed of an idea, and before he knew it, he
began pursuing the idea of growing wine grapes in
Nashik. His curiosity piqued, Rajeev spent three months
at a small winery in California that belonged to his
friend and mentor - and now Sula's Master Winemaker -
Kerry Damskey.
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Working
on the frontlines of wine production gave him an inside
look into the world of wines, and in 1999, Rajeev
established Sula Vineyards, with almost 35 other
wineries in India following suit over the next decade.
The name "Sula" came from his mother's name - "Sulabha"
- and symbolized the rich, Indian heritage of his wines.
This was a wine that took pride in being Indian, being
the first company in the country to use an Indian logo.
Deeply influenced by his travels and his personal values, Rajeev Samant firmly believes in being a steward of the land and in sustainable business practices. Under his guidance, Sula is one of the most eco-friendly companies in India, with a significant amount of its resources committed to sustainable winemaking practices and with sustainable vineyards, ensuring fair livelihoods for Sula's community of farmers across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Rajeev is also a leading advocate for India's wine industry and is actively sought out to represent the interests of India's wine producers and farmers to national and state Governments.
Deeply influenced by his travels and his personal values, Rajeev Samant firmly believes in being a steward of the land and in sustainable business practices. Under his guidance, Sula is one of the most eco-friendly companies in India, with a significant amount of its resources committed to sustainable winemaking practices and with sustainable vineyards, ensuring fair livelihoods for Sula's community of farmers across Maharashtra and Karnataka.
Rajeev is also a leading advocate for India's wine industry and is actively sought out to represent the interests of India's wine producers and farmers to national and state Governments.