Our Vineyard: Four Blocks, One Estate

Château Aarav is a carefully managed vineyard in the Eastern Himalayan foothills of Pedong, Kalimpong. Our first vines are divided into four individual blocks, each planted with a carefully selected grape variety and given its own identity within the estate.

From the beginning, we chose to focus on understanding the vineyard rather than pursuing scale. Our philosophy is simple: understand every row, every vine and every season. By giving each block individual attention, we can learn how different varieties respond to our mountain environment.

The Founder Block is planted with Riesling across 0.45 hectares. The vines were planted on 1 March 2026. As the name suggests, this block represents the beginning of our estate journey. Riesling was chosen for its potential to express freshness, purity, minerality and the character of our Eastern Himalayan terroir.

The Morning Mist Block covers 0.40 hectares and is planted with Sauvignon Blanc, with the vines planted on 1 March 2026. Named after the cool mountain mornings of the Eastern Himalayas, this parcel is dedicated to exploring freshness, elegance and vibrant aromatics.

The Mountain Breeze Block is planted with Pinot Noir across 0.30 hectares. These vines were also planted on 1 March 2026. Pinot Noir is a demanding variety, but its elegance, perfume and ability to reflect its surroundings make it an important part of our vision. The block takes its name from the fresh mountain air that moves through the vineyard.

The Legacy Block is planted with Cabernet Franc across 0.20 hectares, with planting completed on 1 March 2026. Its name reflects our long-term ambition. Cabernet Franc brings the promise of structure and finesse, while the idea of legacy represents our hope to build an estate that can continue for generations.

Together, these four blocks form one young estate, but each gives us a different opportunity to understand our land.

“Four blocks. Four varieties. One estate. And a vineyard beginning to find its identity.”

The vines are still young and are currently establishing their roots. At this stage, our work is less about producing wine and more about understanding the vineyard. We are observing how each variety responds to the soil, climate, mountain air and changing seasons.

We believe a vineyard should never be managed only from a distance. Walking between the rows, observing individual vines and noticing the differences between our four blocks are all part of how we learn.

Each variety brings a different possibility to Château Aarav. Riesling offers the promise of freshness and minerality. Sauvignon Blanc brings vibrant aromatics and elegance. Pinot Noir gives us the opportunity to explore perfume, finesse and terroir. Cabernet Franc represents structure, patience and longevity.

Our first harvest is expected around 2030. But we are not working towards a bottle simply because there is a date on the calendar. We will allow the vines and the land to determine when they are ready.

In time, each block may give its name and character to a future Château Aarav wine. But before there can be a bottle, there must be years of careful vineyard work, observation and patience.

This is why we do not measure our vineyard by the size of any single block.

We measure it by the care given to every vine, the knowledge gained from every season and the character that one day may be expressed in every bottle.

Four blocks. Four varieties. One estate.

And a vineyard beginning to find its identity.