010.45 ha
The Founder Block
Riesling
Shaped by cool mountain air and long, gentle ripening, this parcel seeks purity, minerality, and graceful ageing potential.
Château Aarav · Pedong
The Vineyard
The Vineyard
Every vine. Every row. Every season.
The Vineyard Blocks
Four Blocks. One Estate.
A Distinct Sense of Place.
Our 2-hectare vineyard in Pedong, Kalimpong, is divided into four carefully considered blocks, each planted with a variety selected to explore the character of the Eastern Himalayan foothills.
We believe quality begins with attention. Rather than pursuing scale, we focus on understanding every row, every vine, and every season.
The Estate
Pedong, Kalimpong
Vineyard
2.00 ha
Blocks
04
020.40 ha
Morning Mist Block
Sauvignon Blanc
Inspired by Pedong’s cool mountain mornings, this block is dedicated to freshness, elegance, and vibrant aromatics.
Château Aarav · Pedong
030.30 ha
Mountain Breeze Block
Pinot Noir
The heart of the estate, planted for our future flagship red wine—elegant, expressive, and deeply connected to its origin.
Château Aarav · Pedong
040.20 ha
Legacy Block
Cabernet Franc
Planted with generations ahead in mind, this block represents structure, patience, and our long-term vision for the estate.
Château Aarav · Pedong
The Vineyard Today
A Vineyard Still Becoming.
Our vines are young and currently establishing their roots. The first harvest is expected around 2030— but we will release our first wine only when it truly represents our land, philosophy, and standards.
We do not measure the vineyard by its size,
but by the care given to every vine.
The First Vines
Where the Journey Begins
Every vineyard has a first chapter. At Château Aarav, ours began with four carefully chosen varieties—Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc—planted in the Eastern Himalayan foothills of Pedong, Kalimpong. Today, these vines are young and quietly establishing their roots. We are giving them the time, attention, and care needed to grow into the foundation of the estate. The first harvest is expected around 2030. But we are not working towards a date on the calendar. Our first wine will be released only when the vines and the fruit are ready to express the character of this land. The first vines are in the ground. The story has begun.
Grape Varieties
What we planted, and why.
Riesling
Block
FOUNDER BLOCK
Area
0.45 ha
Planted
1 March 2026
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.
Why we chose it — Kalimpong's cool nights and filtered mountain light closely echo the conditions Riesling favours elsewhere in the world.
Young vines, established
Pinot Noir
Block
MOUNTAIN BREEZE BLOCK
Area
0.30 ha
Planted
1 March 2026
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.
Why we chose it — We wanted a variety that would tell us, honestly, what this particular slope of Himalayan land has to offer.
Young vines, established
Sauvignon Blanc
Block
MORNING MIST BLOCK
Area
0.40 ha
Planted
1 March 2026
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.
Why we chose it — As a variety still being trialled on a small block, it helps us learn how our different micro-sites compare.
Trial block, early growth
Cabernet Franc
Block
LEGACY BLOCK
Area
0.20 ha
Planted
1 March 2026
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.
Why we chose it — Cabernet Franc was selected for its potential to bring elegance, structure, and a distinctive character to the future wines of the estate.
Young vines, establishing roots
Exceptional wine is not created by planting more hectares. It begins by understanding every vine.
The Seasons
A year, four ways.
Growth
Spring
Budbreak, and the first anxious weeks of new growth after winter's rest.
Ripening
Summer
Long days of canopy work, sunlight, and watching each block find its rhythm.
Harvest
Autumn
For young vines, a season of preparation — the ground and vines readied for rest.
Rest
Winter
A deliberate pause, built into the calendar of every vineyard, young or old.
Vineyard Practices
How we tend the land.
Soil
Ongoing soil mapping and amendment, guided by what each block actually needs rather than a single estate-wide formula.
Water
Careful, targeted irrigation that respects the natural rainfall of the region rather than working against it.
Canopy
Hands-on canopy management to balance sun exposure and airflow across each row through the growing season.
Monitoring
Regular walking of every block — the simplest and, we believe, most reliable form of monitoring we practise.
Sustainability
Cultivation choices made with the long-term health of the soil and surrounding biodiversity in mind.
Gallery
Scenes from the vineyard.
The first harvest is not the end of the story.
It is the beginning of another.