PEAKLIFE

By Abhya Adlakha

In the sun-drenched vineyards of Nashik, India’s burgeoning wine region, Kaushal Khairnar is crafting a legacy that transcends borders. As the Oenologist at Chandon India, the 33-year-old visionary is redefining India’s place on the global wine map.

With a master’s degree in Viticulture and Oenology from prestigious institutions in France and Portugal, Khairnar brings a blend of international expertise and local insight to his role. His crowning achievement, the creation of CHANDON Aurva, a premium Shiraz-based still wine, exemplifies his commitment to showcasing India’s terroir on the world stage.

In an exclusive interview with PEAKLIFE, Kaushal discusses his journey, the future for CHANDON India, and what makes Aurva so special.

From introductory wine course to becoming an oenologist at Chandon — how has the journey been?

The journey has been exhilarating, particularly the early years spent in the field. Growing up in Nashik, I was surrounded by grape growers and wine producers, instilling a deep appreciation for wine from an early age. After a wine-making course in India and an internship, I earned a Master’s in Viticulture and Oenology from universities in France and Portugal.

In 2015, I joined Chandon’s Early Career Winemaker Program, gaining experience in India and Brazil. After three years, I was promoted to my current role at Chandon India in 2018. Today, I oversee every aspect of winemaking and shape the brand’s overall strategy.

How do you balance tradition and innovation in your winemaking process at Chandon India?

At Chandon, we balance our 60-year legacy with innovation. Our philosophy is that technique should follow style, respecting traditional methods while exploring new possibilities.

In India, we honour century-old sparkling winemaking practices but differentiate ourselves by using unique grape varieties like Chenin Blanc and Shiraz, which are uncommon in our sister maisons. This approach allows us to push boundaries in vineyard management and grape processing.

Our recent releases, Aurva and Delice, exemplify how we incorporate diverse influences into our winemaking. We continuously innovate while respecting our heritage, creating high-quality sparkling wines that reflect both our global community and local terroir.

How do you foresee the Indian wine industry evolving over the next decade? How does this perception influence your winemaking decisions?

The Indian wine industry is entering an exciting phase. Consumers are evolving, showing a lot of curiosity and enthusiasm for wine. Over the past few years, quality has improved significantly, and the future will likely focus on premium, sustainably made wines.

We’ve also seen remarkable growth in the luxury wine market, with a 26 percent increase. Consumer preferences are shifting towards unique, purpose-driven, drier, and more complex wines. As India’s affluent population grows, the country is poised to become a major luxury market in the next decade.

There’s also rising pride in locally crafted luxury products, which influenced our decision to launch CHANDON Aurva. This appreciation for high-quality, homegrown wines drives our winemaking decisions and pushes us to innovate.

What makes Aurva special?

CHANDON Aurva was born from inspiration, innovation, and collaborative expertise. After our sparkling Rosé won Best Indian sparkling wine in 2020, we aimed to create an exceptional still wine using Shiraz grapes.

We combined the noble Shiraz grape thriving in its ideal terroir, our global winemaking legacy, and collaboration with Australian Shiraz expert Dan Buckle. The result is CHANDON Aurva, a world-class red wine crafted with 100 percent Indian-grown Shiraz grapes.

Aurva embodies a deep connection to the land and pays tribute to Nashik. It draws inspiration from the region’s beauty, setting it apart as a wine that honours its Indian roots.

What unique opportunities in Indian terroir could distinguish Indian wines globally?

India’s tropical climate offers unique winemaking opportunities. In Nashik, monsoons bring substantial rainfall to fertile soil. The climate necessitates twice-yearly pruning. As harvest approaches, diurnal temperature ranges create cool nights, preserving acidity alongside ripeness.

Mild winters result in significant day-night temperature differences during grape ripening, maintaining freshness and acidity. The region’s red soil has moderate water-holding capacity, balancing canopy and fruit levels.
These distinctive conditions allow us to produce wines with unique characteristics reflecting our terroir. By leveraging these natural advantages and our global expertise, we create wines that stand out internationally.

Do share initiatives that Chandon India is working on.

As a winemaker, you are always working on innovation and new product development. One of my previous bosses always used to tell me, “You don’t start developing a product when you need it; you start before anyone asks for it.” That’s where the creativity, innovation, and foresight of winemakers come into play.

I am always exploring different options—ranging from grape varieties to specific terroirs. However, for now, my focus is on our CHANDON sparkling wines created in India and the recently launched Aurva.

What’s your vision for Chandon India?

As part of Chandon’s worldwide family spanning four continents, we share knowledge and inspiration while producing distinct sparkling wines due to local climates and grape varieties.

As a winemaker, my priority is safeguarding product quality, which my team and I emphasize. Our vision of crafting experiences and exploring possibilities through our wines remains as relevant today as it was in 1959 when Robert Jean Vogue left Champagne to explore new terroirs for Chandon. We aim to continue this legacy, producing unique, high-quality sparkling wines that reflect our global heritage and local Indian terroir.