Experience GOLF and WINE

The whistling train catches my attention as it chugs from over the Bridge of Kadwa River. However old you grow trains always fascinate you, and it did the same today, as I stood on the watchtower at The Riverside Golf Course at NIPHAD some 40 Km away from Nasik.

The river flowed gloriously taking serpentine turns.  Kadwa River embedded with White rocks and blue waters with the sun kissing, reflecting its sheen, She silently blushing and flowing from under the tall bridge making a picturesque setting.

Visiting the riverside Side Golf Course, a passionate endeavor by this Veteran Wing Commander from the Air force who dreamt about recreating history by bringing the Glory of the city back.

Daycations in vogue today I am on to some Exotic places around Nasik. The day is planned to try our hand at Golf and Wine.

GOLF CLUB NASIK

Nasik boasted of a Golf course in the Pre-independence ERA in the late nineties and early twenties. With the most pleasant climate, year-round the Britishers developed the golf course in Nasik under the name of Royal Western India Club. It was the biggest facility for golfing in Asia. Post-independence though this iconic landmark was left unattended and in due course, the place bears a deserted look, though called as Golf ground is used for other recreation activities.

THE RIVERSIDE GOLF COURSE

The game was on and the wing commander now a golfer is deeply concentrating on his shots. This nine-hole golf facility equipped with professional coaches, lodging, boarding facility, and tie-ups with many professional tournaments offers an excellent opportunity to golf enthusiasts.

A story of Dream Come True

As the wing commander takes a quick break for a meet and greet and quickly entrusts us with a few details about his story, and his vision to Nurture the local talent and orient people about the wrong Notion of Golf being the game for the Elite. He shows me the elegant equipment stacked at the golf course where anyone can try their hand.

Being a Passionate sports person right from a young age, Mr.Bagmar during his tenure in the forces got an opportunity to try his hand at golf, which shaped his passion. He decided to recreate history by developing a golf course on his land with the help of his dear Friend. This beautiful Golf course is the creation of two passionate sportspeople.

With manicured fast-growing Green spaces, water and sand bodies, and colorful flags fluttering denoting areas of play, and a caddy to guide me, I got my first lesson at this picturesque location

I am on to the field donning the Golf hat and attire, with caddy along I feel like   Tiger Woods. My coach is a local lad who is now a professional golfer and has won many tournaments in India. He gives me my first golfing lessons, explains me golfing terms, as we putt after trying out angles and positions for a perfect shot.

Many of the members of the club travel the distance to play a game every now and then and it’s a great place to spend a day for the family while the gofer is at the game. I have had a most wonderful, quiet yet enjoyable golfing day. For more details do visit the website http://www.riversidegolfcourse.in

“DIL Mange More” NIPHA WINERY

Story of Jothsana—-Jo and Ash…Ashok ….. Inspiration for a DIY project.

What stands today as NIPHA WINERY inside the bamboo hedge is a two-story simple whitewashed infrastructure which was once their residential quarters, the tanks, barrels, and the winery? With years of hard work stands NIPHA WINERY…with ash and JO all smiles

He is a graduate in Microbiology born into a family of farmers, native to this part of the state, who had been farming since childhood. Graduating from College to break from the barrier of family-run career options, Ashok went to Antarctica to study penguins.

Passionate about farming, the land, and the place where he belonged, the urge to experiment was still on… after finishing the Antarctica project with a decision made to do go back to farming.

With small cash crops, this passionate Journey began to take shape. The journey of farming, learning, and experimenting. Josthana his life partner complimented as his strongest pillar, both were back at the family homestead.

With meager finances and a complicated government system to commission the winery learning the art of winemaking, this microbiologist took the path untrodden. Today it’s a success Story.

WINE TASTING AND IT’S NUANCES

Tasting tours and visiting the winery and listening to the dedication of the couple to their Do it yourself project undoubtedly the wines produced have a fine lacing of sheer hard work and perseverance.

The Oak cellars are neatly stacked, some full with wines left for seasoning and others set as tasting tables. It’s time to hold the long stem glass with a meticulously instructed finger position. As the amber liquid of ROSE is poured, the aroma fills your nostrils.

JO goes on to explain to us the shape of Glass as it covers your nose to inhale the aromatic Brew made from the self-grown vineyards adjacent to the homestead. The grapes are just in the primary stage but the quality is identified to make a specific vine.

The Good Intoxication

Intoxicated with everything the passion, dedication, the product and the way the product is to be consumed you have a question are you intoxicated with the Brew or the story.

You are all ears as you twirl the glass and swirl the liquid, such a niche process to have the right feel, the minute you take a sip the taste buds tingle with the aromatic explosion.

 JO and ASH has 4 varieties of wine in their collection

MUSCAT BLANC/MUSCATO…With an Italian name the cold fermented wine with aid of selected yeast is hugely fragmented. As you twirl and take a sip your taste buds explode with tropical flowers.

CHARDONNAY…..This white wine is an aroma bomb of Green apples and lemon. It is sleek on your pallet and goes great with food and enjoyed it with cheese and crackers.

ROSE. Made from Shiraz grapes a variety grown in-house, it tantalizes your senses, by now with the 3 tastings, I am a bit heady and have to smell coffee before  I move on to the next one.

Shiraz – Cabernet Sauvignon. Oakwood aged for a year this mild red in color wine with a heady spicy aroma of black currant, raspberry is a delight. Do connect with them.  https://www.niphawinery.com

The raw fruit & the Ready Brew

Inspiration Boost

Words like passion, pause, creativity, simplicity, positivity immunity. Tried to find out a deep meaning of all these words as I set back home still trying to figure out aromas.

I found the meaning of passion and simplicity in two of these leaving ICONS. It takes time to find the meaning of both or most of these words. It needs digging in deep within.

Many factors like circumstances while growing up, meager resources, make you of what you understand of yourself than, but path-breakers are path makers. . To find a way out of these is perseverance

Daycation was fully enjoyed with some lifelong Acquaintances made and words imprinted once again with deep meaning. Spend a day around your city you sure are in for surprises. Stay tuned for Varsha Mahore Blogs. Enriching Lives through travel.

“Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”

– Harriet Tubman