Thai winery with an international outlook
- Published: 19/03/2010 at 12:00 AM
- Newspaper section: Realtime
Founded in 1986, Siam Winery is Southeast Asia's largest producer of wine and grape-based products, with popular brands such as Monsoon Valley Wines, Fresco Fruit Flavored Wines, Spy Wine Cooler and imported wines brands Mont Clair, Kookaburra's Head, Chateau Vendome and Peter Vella.
Making a strong team at Siam Winery are, from left, Kim Wachtveitl, director of Business Development, Daniel Schwalb, director of Marketing and Sales, and Hans- Peter Hoehnen, winemaker and viticulturist consultant.
"Part of our vision is to establish a strong wine culture in Thailand," said Kim Wachtveitl, director of Business Development of Siam Winery Trading Plus Co. "At the same time, we're working towards putting Thailand's name on the world wine map.
"Siam Winery launched Monsoon wines in 2003 in Thailand, the UK and USA, as a new experience for diners: a premium Thai wine that can be especially enjoyed with Thai food. We've found that the concept works very well, especially in the European market.
"The quality of Thai wine continues to get better and better, and this gives us more opportunities to find new markets overseas. We've won quite a few awards, which have brought us more recognition, and wine commentators from Australia, the UK and the USA have discovered us.
"Monsoon Valley has become an internationally recognised Thai wine and we'll begin our trade fair road show this year at ProWein in Germany, the world's most important international trade fair for the wine and spirits industry."
ProWein is held every year in Dusseldorf, and this year some 35,000 trade visitors and more than 3,000 exhibitors from around the world are expected to attend. The growing number of registered participants and exhibitors suggests a positive outlook for the industry, and ProWein has always been a good indication of world consumption trends both in terms of demand and preferences.
"At the fair, we'll be looking to recruit more international partners, and also building up the Thai wine name in the global market. ProWein is just the kind of venue for achieving these goals," said Kim.
"We'll also be talking about our Hua Hin Hills vineyard, the home of Monsoon Valley wine, a growing development that we are very pleased with. We feel our wines and vineyards will generate more interest and a positive outlook for the Thai wine industry, as well as Thai tourism."
Monsoon Valley has been growing rapidly in the international market, where the trend in wine consumption is favouring 'New Latitude' wines.
"We enjoyed a 40 percent sales increase in Japan last year," said Kim. "And we're very pleased to have added France's Carrefour supermarket to the 20 countries currently carrying our products."
Siam Winery products are widely available in leading retailers as well as most deluxe hotels and restaurants throughout Thailand, and are also exported to over 20 countries around the world.
SOME OF SIAM WINERY'S AWARD-WINNING WINES
The Thai-inspired labels of Siam Winery wines. Monsoon Valley White Shiraz 2007
Australia's World Wine Report 2009 Asia Chapter's tasting panel found this ''a more substantial offering than most other local rose wines and a first for shiraz. Its pleasant musky aromas with just the right amount of sweetness on the palate''.
It received a Gold Medal at the 2008 AWC International Wine Challenge in Vienna; Silver Medals at FBAT Wine Challenge, Bangkok 2008; Syrah du Monde, Ampuis, France 2008; and Mundus Vini, Germany 2008; and a Bronze Medal at the London Internaitonal Wine & Spirits Competition 2008.
White Shiraz 2008 received Bronze Medals from Japan Wine Challenge 2009 and FBAT Wine Challenge, Bangkok 2009, and a Commended Medal from London Internaitonal Wine & Spirits Competition 2009. Robert Parker awarded it 86 points in March 2009.
Monsoon Valley Colombard
Originating in southwestern France, the colombard grape when planted in Thailand creates a wine similar to sauvignon blanc _ clean and fresh with crisp acidity and lemon, pomelo and green apple flavours.
The 2007 vintage was voted a Best Bargain by the Australian World Wine Report 2009 Asia Chapter tasting panel, and named Best of Class for white wines under 600 baht, with a Silver Medal from the FBAT Wine Challenge, Bangkok 2008; Mundus Vini, Germany, October 2008 awarded it 82 points and Robert Parker gave it 87 points in March 2009. The latest release received a Commended Medal at the London International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009.
Monsoon Valley Blended White 2008
The wine is blended mainly from the indigenous malaga blanc and some colombard. It is a light, fruity wine with notes of citrus and a melony character. The light to medium bodied palate has crisp acidity balanced by a touch of residual sugar though still a dry style. This could go very well with Asian cuisines. Robert Parker awarded it 86 points in September 2008, and 84 points in March 2009.
Monsoon Valley Shiraz
Fully ripened grapes are hand-picked for this wine. Well-balanced and structured, it has aromas of ripe plum, sour cherries and subtle notes of spices and coffee.
Shiraz 2008 was awarded a Silver Medal the FBAT Wine Challenge, Bangkok 2009 and a Commended Medal at the London International Wine & Spirits Competition 2009.
Monsoon Valley Muscat
A fortified wine, 15 percent alcohol per volume, sold in half-bottles, this is rich, sweet and well balanced with aromas of roses and luscious lychee on the palate. It was awarded a Bronze Medal at August 2008 London International Wine & Spirits Competition, and a Commended Medal at the Decanter Wine Awards, London, September 2008. Robert Parker gave it 84 Points in March 2009.
Monsoon Valley Chenin Blanc Late Harvest 2009
The grapes were left to ripen on the vines for an additional 10 days to intensify the sugars for this sweet, aromatic wine with honeyed, peach and dried fruit flavours. It was awarded a Bronze Medal at the Japan Wine Challenge, Japan, July 2009.
No survey of Siam Winery products could be considered complete if it failed to mention the Mont Clair Reserve range, Bin 5 Cabernet Sauvignon, Bin 6 Chardonnay and Bin 9 Shiraz. The wine is imported from South African vineyards and blended and bottled at Siam Winery.
The wines are clean with well balanced fruit and acidity, and give a good account of themselves. At the retail price of 285 baht a bottle, they have the additional virtue of affordability, and are making the pleasure of drinking wine with food more widely accessible.
About the author
- Writer: Pamela Tan
- Position: Writer
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