Once upon... Floating vineyards!
What do you think is common between Thai wine & France?
Yes there is wine even in Thailand, and they even have their local grape varieties. If Chenin Blanc and Shiraz performed well here, it is the MALAGA BLANC that is mainly grown. The Malaga blanc can both produce excellent table grape that a soft white wine.
This grape variety is in fact originally from South France where it’s named “Panse de Provence”. It is believed that this grape was introduced to Thailand in 1685 by the 1st embassy of the King Louis XIV of France to King the Great of Siam. The grape indeed fits perfectly the high humidity of the country with its thick skin that helps it resist heavy rainfalls.
The Growing condition here are particular as there can be 3 harvests a year thanks the tropical climate. In order to make quality wines, the producer will have to control the tropical climate effect on the vines otherwise they would old twice as fast as European vines. Usually, the spring harvest yield is better quality grapes as it is a drier time of the year.
Have a look on this picture. You could encounter this in the large winery situated near Samut Sakorn, 50 KM southwest of Bangkok, called Siam Winery. It is a very nice facility and very modern. Their business is thriving in Thailand’s growing wine markets but most of the growth is attributed to exports to Europe. Actually, 80% of the production is exported and ends up at the table of Thai and other Asian restaurants in Europe and the USA.
What has made them popular here in Thailand is its line of coolers called “Spy” which are “drinkable”. Their line of wines is light, fruity and could match spicy Thai cuisine quite well. They certainly have an interesting story and have done a brilliant job of marketing it. For example, you could find yourself touring the vineyard on… an elephant!
The grapes used to make the wines are from these Thailand’s “floating vineyards”. A unique way to grow grapes hydroponically in the very wet flood lands in central Thailand.
I think Thai grape wine is an interesting and curious product for people outside of Thailand. As the quality increases, so will its popularity. However, in my opinion, the real future in Thai wines lays elsewhere. What is Thailand known for in terms of food and beverage? It is not grapes but its high quality and very abundant tropical fruits. I think making a high quality and well-presented tropical fruit wine is where Thailand can make some real headway in the “global wine world”.
If you see some Thai wines at your local Thai restaurant, give it a try! For example, you can fine a great collection in Paris at the Spice & Wine restaurants, near Montparnasse (see http://www.spiceandwine.fr/).