Fratelli Wines

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Fratelli Wines
Location	Sholapur, Maharashtra, India
Founded	2007
First vintage	2007
Key people	Kapil Sekhri, Gaurav Sekhri
Varietals	J’NOON, TiLT, SETTE, NOI, JCB 47, MS ROSE
Other products	cheese
Website	fratelliwines.in

Fratelli - Italian for ‘brothers’ - started its operations in 2007 in Sholapur, Maharashtra. They introduced SETTE in their initial days, J’NOON in 2017, and TiLT in 2020.

In 2020, Fratelli created a paradigm shift in the wine industry with the introduction of the convenience of wine in a can with TiLT.

History

The Fratelli Vineyards in Sholapur, Maharashtra is India’s largest privately owned wine estate. It has a huge 240 acres combined with a conducive terroir and climate; several international grape varieties; and winemaker Piero Masi’s Tuscan wine expertise.

Fratelli stands for a ‘fellowship of the grape.’ The business is a joint venture between 6 brothers from 3 families -- the Seccis from Italy, the Sekhris from Delhi, and the Mohite-Patils from Maharashtra. Their growth rate over the past 5 years is at 37% against the average industry growth rate of 21%.. Kapil Sekhri died at the age of 45 in 2020 and his co-founder brother is carrying on his legacy.

Fratelli Vineyards in India

The Fratelli Vineyards is India’s largest privately owned wine estate.

Size: Spread across 240 acres, this estate lies just 6 hours from Mumbai, and 3 hours from Pune, in the town of Akluj, Sholapur district, Maharashtra.

Terroir: There’s a distinct minerality in their wines due to the unique terroir of Akluj - volcanic, with a harsh pH level of 8. This is toned down by affecting the water that is given to the crop.

Grape varietals: Fratelli was the first in India to plant different grape varietals. These include Chardonnay, Sangiovese, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, and Marselan. The vineyards also have the biggest plantation of Sangiovese in India and grow over 12 different grape varietals, imported from the 120-year-old French Grapevine nursery, Guillaume. Additionally, besides regular wine varietals like Chenin and Syrah, Fratelli has grape varieties such as the Thompson, Bangalore Blue, Sharad, Purple, and Dilkush eclecticism. Initially, Fratelli began with combining Italian winemaking traditions with Bordeaux grapes. Eventually, the repertoire was expanded when Burgundian winemaking techniques were also incorporated.

Capacity: The plantation is spread across 3 areas -- Motewadi, Garwad, and Nimgaon. The winery at Motewadi has an installed capacity of over 2 million liters.

The Winery and Wine Cellar

Fratelli’s 40,000-sq.ft. winery has winemaking equipment from Europe; including bottling and labeling lines from Gai, Italy; over 70 multi-capacity fermentation tanks imported from Velo, Italy; and the French oak barrels.

Fratelli and the Community

They are enabling women’s empowerment by providing job opportunities to women. At their vineyards, 70 percent of employment is of women workers on the fields.

Milestones

• The company’s growth rate over the past 5 years has been at 37% against the average industry growth rate of 21%.
• First winery in India to import the highest number of wine samplings from France
• Fratelli was the first in India to plant different grape varietals.
• It has the largest plantation for Sangiovese in India.
• Developed special yeast to do away with Nashik funk present in wines.
• Largest in India for training the grapevines in the Vertical Shoot Position (VSP) System
• First and only winery in Asia to make a white wine out of red grapes (Sangiovese Bianco)
• First to launch super-premium wine – Sette – in 2012, in the above Rs 1,000/- price segment.
• Collaborated with JCB (Jean Charles Boisset) to introduce the JCB range including – JCB 47
• Developed 100% barrel-fermented traditional method sparkling with JCB no 47
• Developed 100% Chenin Blanc, traditional method sparkling with zero dosage.
• MS Rose became the first Indian wine to win a gold medal at Sommelier Wine Awards, 2019 UK
• First to introduce wine in a can with TilT (four variants) and extension of its spritzer, Noi
• Fratelli Wines have been awarded with 58 international awards from International Wine Challenge, Decanter Asia Wine Awards, Sommelier Wine Awards
• Only Indian brand to be featured in the World Atlas of Wine by wine journalist Jancis Robinson
• First to introduce artisanal cheese in a collaboration with Kase, Chennai

Product Category

Reserves

• SETTE: SETTE is a barrel-aged red wine, matured in French oak for 12 months.
• M/S: A collaboration between two wine entities, Fratelli’s Tuscan winemaker Piero Masi and Steven Spurrier.
• J’NOON: Jean-Charles Boisset, proprietor of Boisset Collection, and Kapil Sekhri, proprietor of Fratelli Vineyards in collaboration created wine from the Indian terroir. Limited edition collection: 2,400 bottles of red, white, and sparkling wines.

Varietals

• Sparkling:

1. Gran Cuvée Brut: 100% Chenin Blanc. India’s first zero dosage sparkling wine. Made to the Traditional Method, with long ageing for upwards of 18 months.
2. Gran Cuvée Brut Rose: Made from 100% Bush Vine Shiraz from the Fratelli Garwad vineyard, according to the Traditional Method; and with long aging up to 15 months.
3. Noí: From our Baramati-Deccan plateau vineyards. A flavor of fruit, crisp and clean, with tangy bubbles. Vegan and gluten-free.
4. JCB No.47 BRUT: 100% Chardonnay. Part of the Fratelli collaboration with Jean-Charles Boisset.

• White/Rosé:

1. Shiraz Rosé: 2020 Vintage. Garwar vineyard. Fruity notes, strawberries, oranges, and lemon flowers.
2. Classic Chenin: Variety - Chenin Blanc, Müller Thurgau. Chenin Blanc 80% Sauvignon Blanc 20% Motewadi vineyard.
3. Chenin Blanc: 2019 Vintage. Motewadi vineyard.
4. Chardonnay: 2019 Vintage. Motewadi and Garwar vineyards. Citrus of orange and lemon with subtle notes of white flowers.

• Red:

1. Cabernet Franc-Shiraz: India’s only Cabernet Franc-based wine. Variety - Cabernet Franc 50% Shiraz 50%. 2019 Vintage. Nimgaon and Garwar vineyards. Flavor of black currant, wild blueberry, raspberry, dark cherry, red plum, clove, and mint; with layers of toasted oak, baking chocolate, cedar, and sage; and hints of leather, pepper, and vanilla aromatic notes.
2. Merlot: 2019 Vintage. Nimgaon and Garwar vineyards. Plum and dark chocolate in wine.
3. Classic Shiraz: Variety: Shiraz 80% Cabernet Franc 20%. Garwar vineyard.
4. Sangiovese: 2019 Vintage. Nimgaon vineyard. Light oaky nose, combined with acidity on the palate (characteristic of Sangiovese) and a sweetness and tannins.
5. Cabernet Sauvignon: 2020 Vintage. Motewadi and Garwar vineyards. Distinctive notes of tobacco and plum on the nose. Subtle nuances of black olives, pepper, and dark plum.
6. Classic Merlot: Variety: Merlot 80% Cabernet Franc 20%. Garwar vineyard. Merlot-based red blend, with notes of plum, chocolate, and coffee, along with a hint of spice. Medium-bodied.

International

The Fratelli International selection offers a wide range of wines.

• TiLT - Wine in a Can: Launched in October 2020. Crushed, Fermented, and Blended at Fratelli Vineyards. TiLT comes in red, white, bubbly rosé, and bubbly variety. Vegan and Gluten-free, they are packed in aluminum cans.

• Fratelli Cheese: Fratelli Wines has collaborated with Artisanal Cheesemaker Käse to introduce in December 2020, a locally produced variety made with raw A2 milk. At Kase, their cheeses are made by specially-abled women.

Accolades

• M/S Rose won Gold in UK Sommelier (2019)
• JCB 47 got silver sparkling competition in 2019
• The New York edition of the Robb Report 2020 mentions both J’NOON and JCB as part of the new wine regions to watch out for.
• Available at Harrods, and Selfridges, London
• M/S Red and M/S White are listed at Raffles Singapore as their house wines.
• Noí is the only sparkling wine available at Jalesh Cruises, India’s first multi-destination cruise-line service.

References

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