The Chateau at Roti Village

Here’s another desperate picture post, before I go on another short trip, this time to India.

Who would’ve imagined a chateau with a vineyard, and fabulous suites in the middle of rural India, surrounded by villages of goat herders and sugar cane farmers?

Well, welcome to the Four Seasons Winery, Roti Gaon (Village), Baramati District, Maharashtra, India



This place lies less than 20 minutes away from the project site office where I used to work, in Kurkumbh, Daund. We could get fleeting glimpses of the manor, from a few confined parts in our Project, but mostly the view is hidden by the many hills, buildings or farms in the area. I remember wondering what the hell the building was, until one day when a colleague suggested visiting the place. The route there is interesting. From the highway that we were building, we had to take a small trunk road up a steep rocky hill in the direction of Baramati. At the top of the climb lies Roti village (yeah, that’s the real name of the village, don’t ask me why, …maybe they’re really good with their rotis (generic name for Indian flat breads like chapatis, etc)). Right past Roti, you’ll get the full grand view of the winery, like some outlandish French manor, out of the blue, a pocket of opulence amidst bullock carts, goat herders and acres of empty grassland.

The first time there, I brought the family along on a Sunday, but it was closed, and was asked to come back another day. Since then, we’ve been there a few times, especially when visitors come for a visit. Unfortunately, all our visits were towards the end of my stay in Daund, and none were during the harvesting season (or there would certainly be a lot more photos). And with the winery being so close, what better way to get wine, than to send the driver there with a shopping list, haha. See my previous post with a picture of the Project Team in the wine cellar, and of Justin sampling wine.

Here’re more photos…








More views of the chateau, during the day, and at night


The vineyard and pastures surrounding the winery, during the monsoon


Yours truly, with Justin and brother-in-law, Gopal, at the grassland surrounding the winery, filled with sharp prickly grass (yeah, they’re nice to look at, but be warned, do not, under any circumstances, walk barefoot on it, or you’re asking for trouble).


The grounds within


The large stainless steel tanks… (nope, don’t friggin remember what they’re for, despite having it explained to me 3 times, in 3 separate tours…)


The wine cellar