Pune special: White wine and idlis

For the country’s first wine bar in a place far from the city yet close enough for a drive, the clientele is exactly what Chateau was banking on.

So, along with the 32 wines comes an equally appetising food spread that includes tandoori preparations, delicious starters and seafood.

Though the food for now is Indian, the breakfast menu has cornflakes alongside idlis. The wines come from the vineyards, a stone’s throw from the restaurant; the seafood is equally fresh, fished from a nearby well.

Says Chateau Indage director Ranjeet Chougule, ‘‘the bar is a hit with travellers and the people of Narayangaon. Since wine is not common here, we thought of serving Indian food, but a multi-cuisine menu is on the anvil’’.

The restaurant is housed in a red-brick structure at the gates of the massive estate. Open from 7.30 am till about midnight — yes, they serve wine all through — plans are on to introduce grills soon.

From this year, the vineyards have increased their capacity, up to 4.5 million litre, says Shamrao Chougule, the man behind Chateau Indage. ‘‘Our wine prices are about 50 per cent lower than other places because we sell it right outside the estate,’’ says Ranjeet, adding that talks are on to franchise this model and to open a spa at the estate.

And if you like to have your red wine with fish, nobody will smirk at you. ‘‘We want people to enjoy their food and wine in the combination they want,’’ says Ranjeet.