The Wine delight

Friday afternoon, a working day but you have taken a day off from your chaotic office timetable to celebrate your birthday in peace. On one hand you have enchanting garden-fresh barbecued skewered vegetables and on other a glass filled with Heritage Cabernet Red Wine; perhaps a finest selection of an Indian Origin wine.

 

I am talking about the Heritage Winery located on Mysore Road. On Mysore – Bangalore highway you will encounter an uninterrupted display of red boards guaranteeing throughout the journey that you do not miss the turn to this estate

Just near Kadambam Hotel you will find a series of red boards indicating you to take left but don’t take a blind left as you might end up in a pit (Trust me there was one when this blog was written). Go a little ahead and then take your turn. It’s still 4 km inside; road is are great only till halfway; later half; not so much; still better than current Bangalore roads. Once you pass through flower farms; you will reach the entrance to Heritage Winery. They have done one hell of a job in showing the directions.

 

Once you are in, you will be asked if you would like to have a winery tour which includes an attention-grabbing video on wines, a wine factory excursion and 4-5 samples of wine for tasting. All this comes at a fee of 150/per person. Personally I did not find it worth for the money because the tour was ordinary; the point is that a factory visit cannot be an exceptional one unless it’s Charlie and his chocolate factory. 150 bucks in my opinion is for 4-5 samples you get to taste at the end of the tour. But this place is not only about wine tour; even if you do not go for the tour; you can still enjoy the Epulo Restaurant that serve fresh food with noble home brewed wine.

Above Menu Courtesy, Zomoto.com

The place is located 4 km inside the main highway surrounded with farmsteads and that gives the place a resort kind mood over other places. Here you can talk for hours, enjoy food and drink wine in tranquil countryside.

They claim that they do not keep things prepared but cook from scratch, hence anticipate a delay of up to 30 minutes which is worth. Since it’s surrounded by farms; you get a fresh flavour in the cooking.

 

Overall experience was not bad at all, with wine tour for 2, a three course meal and 3 bottle wine for home concluded with just 1300 bucks, which is quite economical considering prices at restaurants in Bangalore. But having said that, this is not a resort; we were told that they are forecasting a resort here and sadly; after that this place also will become swarming

My Report Card for The Heritage Winery based on my only visit,

Price – 8/10

Taste – 9/10

Service – 7/10

Ambience – 8/10

Value for money – 8/10

Will I go back – Of course

Kamath Lokaruchi

If you are fond of North Karnataka food which to some extent bears a resemblance to the mixture of north Indian and South Indian cuisine then “Kamat Lokaruchi” is the place for you. It’s away from City’s chaos and hence is just right place for a weekend retreat. It’s a kind of place where you would like to stay for hours. People travel from close by cities just to eat Breakfast, Lunch or dinner here. I have also heard that they serve buffet breakfast which is out of this world, will try it in the next visit. “Kamat Lokaruchi” is situated about 50 km from Bangalore city on Bangalore Mysore Highway.

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You will discover classic north Karnataka cuisine, Jawar Roti accompanied with aubergine curry and limitless butter milk is the prime attraction. Other than regular meal, they also serve mini meals which are good for kids and individuals who are not looking for unlimited food. You can also find fresh fruit juices, hot and cold beverages and freshly made sweets straight from the oven. Price tag is what makes this place extraordinary. Full meal is priced highest with a meagre 110/- rupees which is quiet remarkable.

The place has got an open kitchen at the centre, so you can park yourself and spot your food being cooked right in front of you and then comes to your plate right from the hot pan.

It has a lovely ambience which will make you feel like at home and hence you can hang around for long and as a result trip no longer remains just for the food.

Price – 9/10

Taste – 9/10

Service – 7/10

Ambience – 8/10

Value for money – 10/10

Will I go back – Definitely

It’s just a right weekend escape for 4-5 hours and can be extended up to the “Ranganthittu Bird Sanctuary” which is just 75-80 km ahead.

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At Ranganthittu sanctuary, don’t forget to purchase the tickets for the boat ride at the entrance itself because they do not put up the tickets for sale inside.

The boat trip in fact divulges the true magnificence of the sanctuary. The water is filled with over 100 crocodiles which will give you a chilling sense of an Australian outback. Do visit it.