Wine Train: a ride through vine-laden valleys of Napa

This is both a holiday suggestion and a hope! While channel surfing earlier this week, I chanced upon a rather nifty documentary on the ‘Wine 

Train’ — a ride through the vine-laden valleys of Napa in California. The carriages looked like a cross between the Orient Express and a modern first class bogey and the kitchens appeared to be fabulous. 

The star attraction, of course, was wine. Much of Napa’s best was there on offer for tasting and buying. The sight of miles and miles of green and serene vineyards stretching onto the Californian horizon only increased the temptation to taste and buy apparently! That made me wonder where else such train rides were available. 

Delving into the net I found a few others in the same mould as the Napa train, notably in the happening South American wine destination of Chile. According to what I could gather, after a short bus ride to the railhead at San Fernandez, the guests board a train whose vintage carriages are named after the grapes that have catapulted Chile to the near-top of the New World wine list — Carmenere, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot. 

The route is not long — just 42 km to Santa Cruz — through the vineyard-lined Colchagua Valley. On board are sommeliers and wines by the glass and there is an option to dine as well on a menu crafted to complement the wines of the region. 

Napa’s wine train is arguably the most successful, having run for 20-odd years. And for us Indians it affords an opportunity to see vast tracts of vineyards (and taste their produce!) without straining our feet. That’s something I learnt the hard way when tromping through countless chateaux in Bordeaux some years ago! Besides, if the weather doesn’t hold up, the trip still continues, so we get our money’s worth. 

Of course, not all wine trains area surefire success. One in Australia called the Barossa Wine Train, has had a patchy history, being called off in the middle, then shakily revived. Still the idea of covering distances in style cannot be disregarded. Especially by us Indians, who are not generally known for our enthusiasm to hoof it through miles of countryside! 

Now comes the second part of my contention. Considering that many New World wine countries have tried the wine train experiment — even cautious Canada — either as a seasonal or permanent attraction, isn’t it time to consider it in India too? That would be an option that I can see many urban dwellers taking to. 

Nashik is not far from Mumbai and the route is scenic. There are trains galore already running between the two places. A day trip to and fro, 

with wine and wine-related food on board and a dekko of the vineyards (maybe a couple of wineries) would be ideal! 

That would bring tourism to the area, popularise a growing industry in Maharashtra (viticulture) and also offer yet another international style travek option right here in India. In fact, even Karnataka can consider it! The stumbling block is glaringly obvious: how can liquor be allowed to be served (legally) on board trains? Well designate the train as a hotel, whatever. The idea deserves at least a thought!