Château Aarav

Château Aarav

Welcome to

Château Aarav

Pedong · Kalimpong · Eastern Himalayas

Enter the estate
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Salim Aarav, Founder of Château Aarav on the estate land

Our Story

We did not begin with a winery.

Every great wine begins with a dream. Ours began thousands of kilometres from home. After years of learning about fine wine and viticulture in Germany and France—including working alongside Maître Sommelier Christophe Meyer and at Weingut Kopp in Baden-Baden—the founder returned to India with a vision: to create a small, terroir-driven wine estate rooted in the unique character of the Eastern Himalayan foothills.

Inspired by family, shaped by European winemaking traditions, and guided by patience and respect for the land, Château Aarav is the beginning of a new Indian wine story.

A journey from learning to legacy.

Panoramic view of the Château Aarav estate landscape in the Himalayan foothills

The Estate

A place where landscape becomes character.

Kalimpong's slopes, altitude, and Himalayan light shape everything about how Château Aarav grows — not as a backdrop, but as the reason this estate exists here at all.

The Land

Before the wine,comes the land.

Estate Location

Pedong Highlands · Kalimpong · West Bengal · India

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Sense of Place

Château Aarav is being shaped around its Himalayan environment.

Its slopes, changing seasons, mountain air, rainfall, soils and the individual behaviour of each vineyard block are becoming part of the estate's story.

The coming years will be a period of observation — understanding how each variety responds to the site before defining the wines the land is capable of producing.

Our approach

Observe first. Understand slowly.
Let the land speak.

Detailed site measurements and soil analysis will be added as our understanding of the estate develops.

The Vineyard

Four varieties. One young vineyard.

We chose to begin small — a handful of varieties, planted block by block, so every row could be understood on its own terms.

Riesling vines at Château Aarav

Riesling

Shaped by cool mountain air and a long, gentle ripening season. This block is dedicated to expressing purity, minerality, and graceful complexity, with the potential to evolve beautifully over time.

Young vines, established

Pinot Noir vines at Château Aarav

Pinot Noir

The heart of Château Aarav. Planted with Pinot Noir for the estate’s flagship red wine. A block that embodies our beginnings, our ambition, and the character of the land.

Young vines, established

Sauvignon Blanc vines at Château Aarav

Sauvignon Blanc

Named for the cool mountain mornings of the eastern Himalayas. This parcel is dedicated to wines of freshness, elegance, and vibrant aromatics, shaped by the unique rhythm of the mountain climate.

Trial block, early growth

Cabernet Franc vines at Château Aarav

Cabernet Franc

Planted as the Legacy Block of Château Aarav, this parcel represents patience, structure, and our commitment to building an estate that will continue for generations.

Young vines, establishing roots

Current Chapter

2026

The beginning of a vineyard, a place, and a long story still being written.

The vineyard is young.

Our first vines were planted on 1 March 2026. Four varieties now begin their first seasons in the Eastern Himalayan foothills while the future Château Aarav estate continues to take shape.

There is no wine to release yet. For now, our work is to observe, learn and give the vines time.

Estate Status

Young vines · First season

Château Aarav · Kalimpong

Nothing rushed. Nothing assumed.

Our Journey

A timeline still being written.

Some stories are measured in years. Ours is measured in seasons — from the first idea to the first harvest.

Chapter 01

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2026

The First Planting

Four varieties. Four blocks. The beginning of Château Aarav.

Current Chapter
The story continues

The Future

We are building toward something.

A Future Vision

The Winery

A home for the wine, envisioned to match the care given to the vines that fill it.

A Future Vision

The Wines

From vine to bottle — a philosophy taking shape long before any wine exists.

A Future Vision

Visit Us

One day, the gates will open to visits, tastings, and quiet time among the vines.

Questions

A few things people ask.

Château Aarav is located on Upper Cart Road, Pedong, Kalimpong, West Bengal, India, 734301, in the Eastern Himalayan foothills. The estate sits at approximately 1,240 metres above sea level, surrounded by mountain landscapes, forests, fresh mountain air, and changing seasons.

Contact

Let's begin a conversation.

Whether you're curious about the estate, the vineyard, or simply want to follow along, we'd be glad to hear from you.

info@chateauaarav.com

Château Aarav

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Château Aarav

Pedong · Kalimpong · Eastern Himalayas