​Beverage News from India & the World

Grape Escape, Nashik's Very Own Wine Café, Is Now Open
Nashik, April 20, 2026
Nashik got its own wine café yesterday — and it's nothing like what you'd expect.
Grape Escape opened its doors at Ananta Arcade, Pathardi Phata on Sunday evening to a room full of local influencers, lifestyle creators, winemakers, distributors, and hospitality folks. The energy in the room said it all — this is something Nashik has been quietly waiting for.
The name says it best. Grape Escape — casual, fun, a little playful. The tagline, Wine Made Easy, is the whole philosophy in three words.
Step inside the 24-seater space and you'll feel it immediately. Bright maroon, white and green. High chairs, pine wood furniture, exposed brick walls, and wine bottle lights overhead. A double-height ceiling that opens the space up, while somehow still feeling warm and cosy.
Then the showstoppers. A chandelier made entirely from sparkling wine bottles and used barrel wood dominates the room. On the upper wall, a real grapevine — six feet tall, roots intact — glows against a backlit panel.
Downstairs is all energy: Bollywood-wine meme walls, neon signs, and wine art. Upstairs shifts into something more thoughtful — a full Wine Folly-style course on the walls, a map of the world's wine capitals, and a masterclass studio where tastings, training sessions, and wine appreciation evenings will be held.
Scattered across the walls are large, hand-drawn doodles explaining the winemaking process, a “New to Wine?” guide, a “Find Your Wine Personality” quiz, the 5 S’s of wine, and a section on wine and health. Education, but made interesting.
The menu is designed the same way — no varietals, no confusing classifications. Wines are listed by sweetness, freshness, body, and occasion. A simple, wholesome Indian food menu sits alongside, because wine with local food is a conversation worth starting.
Tasting flights of five wines are priced at just ₹200. Eight wines by the glass are available through an Enomatic machine, between ₹220 and ₹250. Takeaway is at MRP — made possible by Maharashtra's recently revised E2 wine bar licence, which now permits retail sale to promote wine. Drink-in per bottle carries a modest 20% markup on MRP.
Glassware and serving temperature are taken seriously here, as they should be.
There are wine cocktails on the menu too — including takeaway options in paper cups with a straw for when you're on the move. And at the entrance, something that might just be a first in India: a can vending machine for the quickest possible wine run.

Founder’s Note – Ashwin Rodrigues, Founder & Winemaker
“I left a career in finance in Sydney to learn wine in the Barossa Valley, came back to India in 2010, and spent the years since trying to craft wines that actually speak to the Indian palate. But production was always only half the story. The bigger goal was always to make wine mainstream — to pull it out of the fine-dining corner it had been sitting in and put it in front of everyday people, especially a younger audience, in an approachable and unpretentious way. Grape Escape is where that vision finally has a home. Come discover it at your own pace.”
(Excerpt from a release)

Hefeweizen at Home: Enjoying a Classic Wheat Beer Through Brew Whale
Beer consumption at home is steadily evolving, with consumers seeking more variety and better understanding of what they are drinking. Among the styles gaining attention, Hefeweizen stands out as an approachable yet characterful wheat beer that offers both familiarity and depth.
What is a Hefeweizen?
A Hefeweizen is a traditional German-style wheat beer, typically brewed with a high proportion of wheat and left unfiltered, giving it its signature cloudy appearance and fuller texture.
Its defining characteristics come from the yeast, which brings:

• Subtle banana-like fruit notes
• Clove-like spice nuances
• A soft, refreshing finish

This balance makes it easy to drink while still offering enough complexity to hold interest.
Its accessibility makes it a reliable starting point for those exploring different beer styles.
Accessing Hefeweizen Through Brew Whale
Access to styles like Hefeweizen in India has traditionally been limited, particularly in packaged formats. While many bars may feature wheat beers on tap, finding them in bottles or cans for home consumption is less common.
This is where platforms like Brew Whale stand out, offering one of the more consistent ways to access Hefeweizen in bottled and canned formats. For consumers looking to explore beyond mainstream options at home, this availability plays an important role in expanding choice.
Closing Thought
As home drinking becomes more experience-led, styles like Hefeweizen offer a simple yet engaging way to explore beer beyond the basics. With increasing access through platforms like Brew Whale, enjoying a well-crafted wheat beer at home is becoming more accessible.

Christian Zechmeister appointed Managing Director of the Austrian Wine Academy from 2027
After 36 years as head of the Weinakademie Österreich (Austrian Wine Academy), Josef “Pepi” Schuller will hand over the reins to Christian Zechmeister, who is currently Managing Director of Wein Burgenland, the Regional Wine Committee of Burgenland and the Authorized Signatory of Weintourismus Burgenland GmbH.
The Austrian Wine Academy is a 50% subsidiary of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine). Since the Academy was founded in 1991, more than half a million participants from around the world – from wine amateurs to Masters of Wine – have attended seminars at Europe’s largest wine school.
“The Austrian Wine Academy is testimony to the pioneering role that Austria plays in wine training. Since its founding, Pepi Schuller has ensured a strong intake of international students in Austria, gaining a solid grounding in both Austrian and international wines. I would like to thank him sincerely for this achievement. Schuller has a strong track record, yet I am certain that Christian Zechmeister will successfully follow in his footsteps. I am very much looking forward to working closely with him,” says Chris Yorke, CEO of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (Austrian Wine) and Chairman of the Board of the Wine Academy.
A strong international focus from the outset
The Austrian Wine Academy was founded as a subsidiary of Austrian Wine in 1991 with the aim of implementing a professional approach to training in the field of wine, in particular wine training for the hospitality industry, retail and consumers, as well as winegrowers.
Josef Schuller, who became Austria’s first Master of Wine, has been Managing Director since the Academy was founded. He developed the Wine Academy to Austria’s national school of wine focusing on Austrian wines and hosting seminars throughout the country.
Having worked and trained overseas himself, Schuller established the international focus of the Wine Academy right from the outset, not only in terms of the syllabus but also by forging links with international training institutions such as the Institute of Masters of Wine, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Geisenheim University in Germany and Zurich’s University of Applied Sciences in Wädenswil.
“I am proud that the new Managing Director is a Wine Academy graduate and is therefore already familiar with the spirit of the Wine Academy,” Schuller says. “I will be pleased to stay involved on the Academy’s Board of Directors and support Christian in his new role.”
Zechmeister came out on top
When Josef Schuller announced his retirement as Managing Director at the end of 2026, an international search was launched to find the most suitable successor for this executive position.
Christian Zechmeister, a native of Burgenland, was chosen as the successor from a large number of good applicants. Zechmeister has a strong foothold in the wine industry.
His latest roles have included Managing Director of Wein Burgenland, the Regional Wine Committee of Burgenland and Authorized Signatory of Weintourismus Burgenland GmbH.
The handover phase with Josef Schuller will start in August, with Zechmeister taking over the reins of the Academy completely from January 2027.
Zechmeister is a Wine Academy graduate and lecturer who knows the Academy and its structure very well.
“The Austrian Wine Academy has become one of the most well-known international wine institutions under the leadership of Josef Schuller. I am delighted about the professional challenge that lies ahead of me but am aware of the great responsibility that I will face. The goal will be to keep the successful Weinakademiker programme going while developing and putting in place new offers that are adapted to the current market situation. However, I firmly believe that I will achieve this, together with my future Wine Academy team and in association with the Austrian Wine Marketing Board. For me, it’s like coming back to my roots – after all, the Austrian Wine Academy was where I first started my career.”
(excerpt from a release)