Chaitanya Rathi Rejoins Sula Vineyards Board

Sula Vineyards Limited, India’s leading wine producer, has announced the appointment of Chaitanya Rathi as an Additional Non-Executive Non-Independent Director. This significant move, effective August 6, 2026, marks Rathi’s return to the company’s board.

Rathi previously held leadership roles at Sula for over a decade, playing a crucial part in the company’s trajectory, including its successful market debut.

Rathi’s Operational Impact & IPO Role

From 2019 to 2023, Rathi served as Chief Operating Officer, overseeing diverse business functions and leading a team of over 400 individuals. His tenure was particularly marked by his pivotal role in Sula’s successful Initial Public Offering (IPO) in 2022.

• His initial stint from 2006 to 2013 saw him instrumental in establishing Sula’s hospitality and wine tourism business.
• Currently, Sula’s wine tourism operations attract over 400,000 visitors annually.

Rajeev Samant, CEO of Sula Vineyards, expressed enthusiasm for Rathi’s return, highlighting his deep understanding of the business and culture. Samant is confident that Rathi’s entrepreneurial mindset and diverse experience will provide valuable insights for future growth.

Chaitanya Rathi also shared his excitement for rejoining Sula in this new capacity. He committed to leveraging his extensive experience from various consumer businesses and investments to support the company’s growth and create long-term value for stakeholders.

Broader Experience & Current Ventures

Beyond his roles at Sula, Rathi has held senior operating and investment positions in high-growth businesses. He has also served as a board member and strategic advisor to several companies.

• He is currently the Founder of Searchlight ETA, an Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition (ETA) and Search Fund platform in India.
• His experience spans over two decades in consumer businesses, alcobev, hospitality, investments, and entrepreneurship.

Sula Vineyards is recognized as India’s largest wine company, holding over 50% of the domestic premium wine market. The company boasts a portfolio of more than 50 labels.

Sula’s Market Leadership & Innovation

A pioneer in Indian wine tourism, Sula’s Nashik campus is a globally visited vineyard destination. The company operates five wineries across Maharashtra and Karnataka.

• Sula produces over 1 million cases of wine annually.
• Key innovations include India’s first winery tasting room in 2005.
• They also introduced the first vineyard resort in 2010.
• India’s first wine-in-a-can was launched by Sula in 2020.

Rathi’s return to the board is poised to inject a broad strategic and commercial perspective, supporting Sula Vineyards as it continues to innovate and expand its dominant position in the Indian wine market.