TRAVELLER ASEAN’S BOLD NEW WINE INDUSTRY In spite of climate and cultural challenges, grape growing and winemaking are getting roots down in Asean ine is one of the world’s oldest countries, contributing to the economies of the countries they are in and providing new tourist attractions. By agricultural products, dating back David Swartzentruber Wabout 10,000 years. Although wine can be produced from any fruit and for some defence from Thailand’s heat and 350 meters and it celebrated its 10th a number of other plants, the wine grape, humidity. The wineries are two to three anniversary this year. The winery is a and chief winemaker at the 3,000 square known as vitis vinifera, has developed as hours drive from Bangkok and are the project of Visooth Lohitnavy and his family meter winery. Khao Yai offers wine in three the prototypical wine. One reason for this Alcidini, Granmonte, Khao Yai and Village that includes wife Sakuna and daughter ranges in ascending order: Sawasdee, is that wine grapes have more juice than Farm Wineries. Nikki, who graduated in 2008 with a PB Reserve Range and Pirom Khao Yai all other fruits. Another is that the wine The Alcidini Winery was started in degree in enology and viticulture from Reserve. The winery has won international grape is a complex plant and often mimics 2001 by Supot Krikpitudh on a hillside 550 the University of Adelaide. The winery awards for its Tempranillo, Shiraz and the flavors of other fruits because of its meters above sea level. At first table grapes offers a complete package, with a guest Chenin Blanc wines. The Great Hornbill complex chemical composition. were grown but after 4 years wine grapes house and the VinCotto restaurant offering Grill Restaurant has a large menu of Wine grape plants were originally replaced the table grapes, and that is why “generous portions at reasonable prices.” international and Thai dishes and a resort moved from their native locations in the production is still small at the winery. Two Granmonte’s wines from the 2009 and 2010 is available for accommodation. The web Mideast, such as Afghanistan and Iran, to wines are made: a Syrah and a rose wine vintages have been released. The winery site is http://www.khaoyaiwinery.com. Greece, Italy and western Europe, but at are currently produced, with production has been winning a slew of medals not only The Village Farm winery is located on the end of the 20th century a return trip to expected to increase in the future. Visits in Thailand but in wine judgings in Japan, the “other side” of the Korat Plateau region Asia was made as wine lovers decided to are by appointment only. The web site is Vienna and the United Kingdom, for all of on Highway 304 in the Wang Nam Keow try their luck in the “new latitude,” as one www.alcidini.com its wines. Of particular interest are Asoke, subdistrict and is now 10 years old. The wine writer described it. The Granmonte Winery is located a Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend; Fiori Village Farm estate encompasses 80 acres Today, Thailand has eight wineries, in the Asoke Valley at an elevation of and Orient, unfiltered Syrah wines; and at an altitude of more than 500 meters. Myanmar (Burma) two, Indonesia one, and any of the Chenin Blanc and Rose Wines. The winery has a number of rooms for Vietnam two. The Sole wine, a blend of Chenin Blanc overnight stays, a restaurant and a spa. The cultural barriers that Asean and Viognier, is fine. The web site is www. The Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon wineries have to overcome are twofold. granmonte.com. Grape harvesting in Asean occurs during the months of February and March. and Chenin Blanc wines are produced in In Asia, generally, the concept of an The Khao Yai Winery was started in two ranges _ Chateau des Brumes and alcoholic drink is distilled spirits that can THAILAND These two grapes remain the mainstays of 1989 by Dr. Piya Bhirombhakdi, former Village Cellar. The web site is http://www. be consumed anytime with or without food. The history of the modern wine the Thai wine industry; however, individual president of Boonrawd Brewery Co., villagefarm.co.th/. Wine drinking is often viewed as a western industry in Thailand dates back to the wineries continue experimentation, and Ltd. (brewers of Singha Beer) on 320 Siam Winery was founded in 1982 by import, and the concept that wine is part early 1980s when researchers at the King wines from new grape cultivars such as hectares surrounded by the Dong Payayen Chalerm Yoovidhya as a producer of Spy of a meal and that it may actually enhance of Thailand’s Royal Project in northern Colombard, Pok Dum (a local grape), mountain range. It was the first winery in wine cooler. By 2003 the focus had moved the meal is still foreign to most Asians. Thailand began field testing the viability of Viognier and Tempranillo are now being the Khao Yai region. After extensive field to table wines with the introduction of In some Asian countries, religious views plants unknown to Thailand as part of their bottled. testing, four grape varieties were selected: the Monsoon Valley brand. Some of the prohibit the consumption of beverages High Altitude Research Project. The total annual production of all Thai Shiraz (Syrah), Tempranillo, Chenin grapes for the wines are grown in “floating containing alcohol. Disease-free grape varieties were wineries is usually around 84,000 cases of Blanc and Colombard. Prayut Piangbunta, vineyards” in the Chao Phraya delta where _ Despite these barriers, the brought in from the University of California wine 12 bottles per case. who once had dreams of becoming a Malaga and Pok Dum grapes are raised consumption of wine is growing, and at Davis and after about seven years in the The “heart” of Thailand’s wine brewmaster, was sent to Germany to and in the winery’s vineyard and at Pak international wine marketing companies field the researchers announced that the industry now is situated in the same region become a winemaker and is currently Chong and Hua Hin. The varieties include regard Asia as the fastest growing wine Syrah grape for red wine and Chenin Blanc as Thailand’s oldest national park, Khao Yai the director of PB Valley (B.B. Holding region. Here then is a brief description for white wine had fared the best under National Park. The region boasts elevations Co., Ltd., Pakchong Branch), manager of the wineries in each of the four Asean actual growing conditions in Thailand. between 400 and 1000 metres that allow Asoke is the name given by Gronmonte to countries that are their homes. the first Cabernet Sauvignon/Syrah blend in Thailand. The Granmonte Winery is nestled in the beautiful Asoke Valley. 8080 -AGAZINEs.OVE-A-AG-AGAGAZAZIZINE s .OOVVEMBEEMMBER $ECEMBERMMBBEER ERR $$EC$EECECEEMMMBBEERR TheTThhhee VVoVoiceoiiccece ofof SSoSoutheastouuttthheaeaseaassttA AsiaAsiasi .OVEMBER $ECEMBERs..OOOVVEEMMMBBER $$EC$EECECEMEMBMBER s-AGAZINE-AG--AAAGGAZIAAZZINENE TRAVELLER Colombard, Chenin Blanc, Mourvedre, Grenache Noir, and Shiraz. The wines have won international awards. The Siam Winery is the largest in Southeast Asia. Visitors may visit the Hua Hin vineyard by appointment. The web site is http://www. siamwinery.com. Silverlake Vineyard, 20 kilometers northeast of the resort town of Pattaya, was started by Surachai Tangjaitrong. It is most famous for being located adjacent to the Khao Chee Chan Buddha image. A wide variety of vines were planted next to a reservoir called Silverlake in 2005 and the winery is experimenting with a Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah vines. A restaurant Chief Khao Yai winemaker Prayut Piangbutra checks the clarity of a barrel sample. has received enthusiastic reviews, and a full-scale resort is a project in progress. overnight stays. The web site is http://www. VIETNAM Chateau de Loei was founded by maechanwinery.com. Vang Dalat the late Dr. Chaijudh Karnasuta, who Vang Dalat is usually the wine that discovered that the Phurua highlands of MYANMAR (BURMA) will be on the menu when tourists visit Northeastern Thailand in Loei province The Ayatha Winery was established Vietnam. Dalat Premium red wine is made could produce good wine-making grapes. in 1999 at an altitude of 1,300 meters near from the Cardinal grape which can be The wines first came to market in 1995 and the city of Taunggyi in Southern Shan State used as a table or wine grape with some are made from Syrah and Chenin Blanc by Bert Morsbach, a German businessman Dalat strawberry added. It is popular with grapes in a wide number of styles including who previously resided in Thailand. Three tourists. Two other red wines and two an excellent dessert wine and a sparkling wines and a grappa are produced there. white wines are also produced. The wine wine, both from the versatile Chenin Blanc The wines are a rose produced from an production center is in Dalat City and grape. Chateau de Loei was the first winery Italian Muscat variety, a white that is started in 1993 when the present company to export to Europe and China. The web entirely Sauvignon Blanc, and a red that is took over from a state-owned operation. site is http://www.chateaudeloei.com predominately Syrah with a little Cabernet The facility is not generally open to the Mae Chan Winery was founded by Sauvignon. The web site is http://www. public. Suphot Tangvitoontham, a Thai-Chinese myanmar-vineyard.com. Dalat Beco gem tycoon, who fell in love with the Mae Red Mountain Winery is located on Together with the Dalat Beverage Chan valley near Chiang Rai and started the the shore of Inle Lake in southern Shan Company (Dalat Beco), French viticulturist winery in 1997.