Ashwin Rodrigues never imagined he’d become a winemaker. Born in Mumbai and working in finance in Sydney, life took a surprising turn when a friend casually suggested he start a winery in India. That one idea sparked a journey that led him from Australia’s Barossa Valley to the vineyards of Nashik, Maharashtra.
After spending 18 months learning the ropes in one of Australia’s top wine regions, Rodrigues returned to India and founded Good Drop Wine Cellars in 2010. Starting from scratch, he built a solar-powered winery in Nashik, India’s wine hub, and collaborated closely with local farmers. He even planted a dense, eco-friendly Miyawaki forest to offset carbon emissions.
His first major success was Rio—a fun, sparkling wine in a pint-sized bottle with a pull-off cap and a sweet twist. It broke away from traditional wine norms and became a hit, and today, it remains the flagship product of his company.
Rodrigues is also a passionate advocate for the broader Indian wine industry. Frustrated by complicated state laws and trade barriers that make it hard for Indian wineries to sell across state borders, he helped launch the Wine Growers Association of India (WineGAI) in 2022. The group now represents more than 20 wineries and pushes for reforms, sustainability, and international collaboration.
“India has a lot of potential,” Rodrigues says. “But we’re about 25 years behind due to bureaucracy. Countries like Israel and Lebanon built thriving wine industries in less time.”
Now, he’s back in Australia—but this time representing India. He’s leading a group of eight Indian wineries as part of a major wine showcase under the India-Australia Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which is designed to boost trade between the two countries.
His mission? To get Indian wines onto Australian tables. Rodrigues wants to connect with importers, sommeliers, and restaurants to build real partnerships—not just create buzz. He believes that once people try Indian wines, they’ll recognize their unique flavors and potential. “Our Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon taste different from Australian ones—and they go great with Indian food,” he says.
Looking ahead, Rodrigues has big dreams: expanding India’s wine industry to ₹3,000 crore (about AUD 540 million) by 2030, setting up a research center in Nashik, and making wine as mainstream in India as beer or spirits.
He’s also rooting for the entire Indian wine industry—not just his own brand. “Even if someone else breaks through first, it helps all of us,” he says. “Every bottle we sell overseas opens a door for the next generation.”
For now, he’s enjoying the challenge. “Most Australians don’t even know India makes wine,” he laughs. “But that’s about to change.”
