SARANG KAILAS KUDUPLE
Nashik
Summary
Winemaker with 13+ years of experience across the full winemaking process, from vineyard work through barrel aging. Expertise in grape variety selection, fermentation management, and aging strategy to preserve varietal and terroir characteristics. Focus on quality-driven production using both established methods and process improvements.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior winemaker
Indobevs pvt.ltd
Goa
07.2026 - Current
- Lead winemaking operations, technical execution, product development, and quality management across multi-facility network.
- Oversee end-to-end technical product lifecycle, from raw material and base wine selection through lab trials, fining, filtration, and commercial-scale bottling.
- Specialize in formulation, blending, flavor integration, stability testing, sensory evaluation, and commercial scaling for wine RTD products and IMFL portfolio brands.
- Coordinate production activity across 15 custom-crush facilities throughout Maharashtra and Karnataka, aligning output with defined brand and quality specifications.
- Supported production and technical execution to ensure delivery of over 2.0 million cases in 2025 across multiple brands.
- Drove operational capability improvements and process consistency, facilitating 2026 expansion target of 2.5+ million cases.
- Monitor critical wine quality parameters and analytical profiles; work with facility laboratories to implement corrective and preventive actions (CAPA).
- Acted as primary technical interface among central winemaking, quality assurance, procurement, custom-crush facility heads, and contract manufacturers.
- Provided technical leadership and on-site troubleshooting, enhancing cellar workflows and maintaining uniform RTD and wine manufacturing standards.
Winemaker
Australian Vintage
Mildura
03.2024 - 06.2024
- Process, blend and maintain each wine in the relevant allocated portfolio at the expected style and the highest quality level.
- Treated juices, ferments, and wines according to best practices and SOPs to maintain quality standards.
- Carry out oak, blending and fining trials on all portfolio wines and taste with the Lead and/or Head Winemaker.
- During harvest ensure (with comma after "harvest") intake runs smoothly and wine and juice styles are developed and maintained as determined by Head Winemaker and relevant Lead Winemakers.
- Maintained wine quality standards across all products in Winery.
- Collaborated with operations and production teams, including the lab, to ensure timely and efficient processing.
- Ensure the winery is run in the most efficient manner possible at all times and promote good cellar culture to ensure best practices are adopted at all times.
- Cross train with the other Winemakers to ensure all wines, products and styles are well understood.
- Maintain accurate records and documentation to comply with regulatory standards.
- Streamlined logistics and addressed issues promptly to enhance customer service.
- Enhance the material scheduling process to minimize inventory levels at the plant, reducing carrying costs.
- Contribute to engagement and wine culture across the wider winery team.
- Produce and maintain the specification and technical detail for relevant portfolio wines.
Winemaker (Grd: DGM)
Sula Vineyards
NASHIK
04.2023 - 01.2024
- Oversee all aspects of winemaking operations, including grape sourcing, fermentation, aging, blending, and bottling.
- Develop and execute winemaking strategies to ensure consistent quality and style.
- Achieved processing of 14,000 MT of fruit in 2023, utilizing reductive and oxidative winemaking techniques.
- Conducted regular tastings and sensory evaluations to enhance wine quality and implement necessary adjustments.
- Collaborate with vineyard managers and viticulturists to optimize grape quality and yield.
- Manage a team of cellar workers and provide guidance on production techniques and protocols.
- Implemented quality control measures, ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations to maintain product integrity.
Winemaker (Grd: Sr. Manager)
SULA Vineyards
NASHIK
04.2020 - 03.2023
- One million case winery specializing in bulk lot production & managing some custom crush services.
- Successfully met objectives processing 13000 MT of fruit in 2021. (reductive & oxidative winemaking)
- Conducted blending activities and tastings with master winemakers Kerry Denskey and Barend Jordaan to ensure quality and consistency of wine blends prior to bottling.
- Evaluated vineyards throughout the year to provide growers with actionable insights for watering schedules, nutrient management, and spray applications.
- Determined optimal pruning and sampling dates to improve grape quality and support harvest outcomes.
Associate Winemaker (Grd: Manager)
Sula Vineyards
NASHIK
04.2016 - 03.2020
- Selected appropriate yeast strains and M/L bacteria for inoculation along with nutrients and other cellar additions to enhance the fermentation process.
- Operated and maintained crusher, des t emer, and 14 bladder presses, performed punch downs and pump overs as needed, and monitored brix levels throughout fermentation to ensure optimal wine quality.
- Performed lab tests for M/L complication, pH, TA, and SO2 levels, and interpreted lab results from outside laboratories.
- Operated filtration devices including 03 cross flow and 02 centrifuge, electrodialysis, and ion exchange machine to stabilize wine.
- Delegated tasks to volunteers to streamline workflow and enhance operational efficiency.
- Participated in a biweekly tasting panel to evaluate the sensory characteristics of all tank and barrel lots for final blending.
Cellar Operator/ Lab assistant
Merry Edwards Winery
Sonoma
07.2018 - 10.2018
- Introduction: During the summer of 2018, I had the incredible opportunity to intern at Merry Edwards Winery in the picturesque wine country of California. As a Cellar Operator and Lab Assistant, my role was to support the winemaking and quality control processes, gaining hands-on experience in a renowned winery known for its exceptional Pinot Noir and Sauvignon Blanc.
- Cellar Operator Responsibilities: As a Cellar Operator, my primary responsibility was to assist in various stages of the winemaking process.
- Grape Processing: Sorted, destemmed, and crushed grapes during harvest season using state-of-the-art machinery, ensuring adherence to sanitation protocols that preserved grape integrity.
- Fermentation Management: Monitored fermentation tanks, conducted regular temperature and Brix measurements, and assisted in punch-downs and pump-overs to optimize flavor extraction and tannin development.
- Barrel Management: Participated in racking and topping-off barrels, maintained records, and ensured proper aging of wines to enhance quality and flavor profile. This allowed me to understand the impact of oak on wine and the importance of cellar hygiene.
- Wine Evaluation: Engaged in sensory evaluation sessions to identify and describe wine characteristics, contributing to blending decisions.
- Skills and Knowledge Gained: Gained valuable skills and knowledge during my internship at Merry Edwards Winery that will benefit my future career in the wine industry, including.
- Winemaking Techniques: I gained hands-on experience in various winemaking processes, understanding the importance of timing, temperature control, and hygiene in producing high-quality wines.
Assistant Winemaker (Grd: Asst. Manager)
Sula Vineyards
NASHIN
04.2014 - 03.2016
- Oversaw and executed all aspects of production, from fruit processing and fermentation to racking, blending, filtering, and bottling, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
- Managed cellar activities including transfers, inoculations, pump overs, and barrel tasks like racking and filling to ensure quality wine production.
- Managed 3 harvest independently (1100 T) at Venus Cellars (custom crush facility).
- Produced a variety of wines including Riesling, Sauvignon blanc, Chenin blanc, Viognier, Chardonnay, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Grenache, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot.
- Oversaw the transfer of wines between tanks and barrels to ensure proper aging. ( oak, from oak, racking of gross lees, oxidative transfer, transfer under inert gas)
- Plan and execute filtration activities according to the bottling schedule.
- Work with the best fruit in the state while working with native & engineered yeast.
- Participated in blending trials with the winemaking team to refine wine profiles and enhance final product quality.
Enologist (Grd: Senior Executive)
Sula Vineyards
NASHIK
04.2012 - 03.2014
- Collaborated with winemaker on tank and barrel tastings, providing sensory analysis evaluation to guide flavor development.
- Conducted lab analyses for free sulfur content, alcohol by ebulliometer, enzymatic analysis of juice panel, VA, malic acid, YAN, and brix pH and TA to ensure wine quality.
- Executed punch down technique and pump overs to optimize grape skin extraction during fermentation.
- Executed additions for must and juice during winemaking stages, including Dynastart, DAP, and Tartaric acid.
- Measured brix levels to assess sugar content during fermentation. & temperature of active fermentation.
- Operated crush pad to manage grape processing efficiently. & oversaw all crush operations & sorting crew.
- Operated & oversaw all white wine press activity.
- Oversaw bottling line.
Education
Master's - Chemical Technology (Specialization in Food Technology)
Laxminarayan Institute of Technology
NAGPUR, Maharashtra, INDIA05-2014
Bachelor's - Food Technology
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture university
AMRAVATI, Maharashtra, INDIA03-2009
Skills
- Wine formulation techniques
- Fermentation processes
- Yeast management
- Sensory evaluation
- Wine evaluation
- Blending processes
- Blending strategies
- Wine stabilization techniques
- Cellar management
- Harvest management
- Laboratory testing
- Process improvement
- Production planning
- Barrel management
Personal Information
- Date of Birth: 1986-10-03
- Nationality: INDIAN
LANGUAGES
- English
- Hindi
- Marathi
COURSES
- WSET Level 1, Wine & Spirit education trust, LONDON
- 2016-04
Timeline
Senior winemaker
Indobevs pvt.ltd
07.2026 - Current
Winemaker
Australian Vintage
03.2024 - 06.2024
Winemaker (Grd: DGM)
Sula Vineyards
04.2023 - 01.2024
Winemaker (Grd: Sr. Manager)
SULA Vineyards
04.2020 - 03.2023
Cellar Operator/ Lab assistant
Merry Edwards Winery
07.2018 - 10.2018
Associate Winemaker (Grd: Manager)
Sula Vineyards
04.2016 - 03.2020
Assistant Winemaker (Grd: Asst. Manager)
Sula Vineyards
04.2014 - 03.2016
Enologist (Grd: Senior Executive)
Sula Vineyards
04.2012 - 03.2014
Master's - Chemical Technology (Specialization in Food Technology)
Laxminarayan Institute of Technology
Bachelor's - Food Technology
Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Agriculture university