Mumbai-born Ashwin Rodrigues never planned to become a winemaker. He was a busy finance professional in Sydney but grew restless after two years. When a friend suggested he start a winery in India, it sparked a thought that soon turned into action. He spent 18 months in the Barossa Valley, South Australia, before heading straight to Maharashtra, his home state, to build what seemed like an unlikely dream. That was in the early 2000s.
Today, as the founder of Good Drop Wine Cellars and Secretary of the Wine Growers Association of India (WineGAI), he’s on a mission to put Indian wines on the world map. One bottle at a time.
Reflecting on the journey, Rodrigues recalls, “My time in the Barossa was very challenging. I knew nothing about wine. I never intended to become a winemaker, but along the way, I got really interested in the craft.”
What stayed with him most from that experience was the spirit of collaboration among winemakers. “People help each other. That’s the Aussie way, and it’s something I took back to India.”
In 2010, Rodrigues set up his winery in Nashik, Maharashtra’s wine capital, which produces 80 per cent of the country’s grapes. Over six years, he built Good Drop Wine Cellars from the ground up working closely with local grape farmers, building a solar-powered winery, and even planting a 5.5-acre Miyawaki forest to offset carbon emissions.
His early breakthrough came with Rio, a playful sparkling wine in a pint bottle. “It broke all traditions packaged in a pint bottle with a pull-off cap, a playful label, and a slightly sweet sparkle. It was a pioneering effort in India, and it’s still our flagship brand,” he says.
But Rodrigues isn’t just focused on his own wines. Frustrated by India’s restrictive wine laws such as interstate trade barriers that block brands from entering states like Karnataka, he founded WineGAI in 2022.
The association now represents over 20 wineries, advocating for research, sustainability, and global partnerships. “We’re 25 years behind because of red tape,” he admits. “But look at Israel or Lebanon, they built thriving industries in less time.”
“Wine is sustainable, supports farmers, and is healthier in moderation. But first, we need to prove India can compete globally.”
— Ashwin Rodrigues, founder—Good Drop Wine Cellars
This month, Rodrigues is in Australia leading a delegation of eight Indian wineries including producers of fruit wines and mead (honey wine) for a landmark buyer-seller meet under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which reduces tariffs and promotes easier trade between the two countries.
He sees ECTA as a valuable opportunity to take Indian wines global. “This buyer-seller meet is just the beginning,” he says. “Beyond awareness, we need concrete partnerships to showcase Indian wine’s potential.”
He hopes to connect with importers, distributors, sommeliers, and restaurants. “Each plays a vital role: from creating demand to getting bottles on tables.”
Rodrigues knows the road ahead is long. “First, we need to establish Indian wine as a serious global category. Honestly, I’d celebrate any Indian wine breaking through, even if it’s not mine. If others succeed first, it opens the door for all of us.”
His goals are ambitious: grow India’s wine industry to ₹3,000 crore (about AUD 540 million) by 2030, establish a research lab in Nashik, and make wine a mainstream choice alongside spirits and beer. “Wine is sustainable, supports farmers, and is healthier in moderation,” he says. “But first, we need to prove India can compete globally.”
“The quality of Indian wines is improving,” he adds. “We’re seeing promising wines that show India’s potential to be a serious player in the global wine scene.”
As he prepares to showcase Indian wines in Sydney, Rodrigues laughs, “Australians don’t even know India makes wine. But India can produce high-quality, drinkable wine at competitive prices with a distinct ‘Indianness’. Our Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon offers unique flavours compared to Australian variants. Plus, Indian wines pair perfectly with Indian cuisine.”
He is hopeful. “This is just the start. Every bottle we sell abroad opens doors for the next generation of winemakers back home.”
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