Wine and Gastronomy adventures at the Monsoon Valley Winery in Siam
This Wine Travel article /review article refreshed by A.Ritenis on 22 january 2025
Monsoon Valley is Thailand’s largest vineyard, boasting a diverse collection of over 10 grape varietals. Spanning approximately 300 rai (100 hectares) of plantation area, this picturesque vineyard produces and exports over 300,000 bottles of wine annually. The vineyard offers an exquisite dining experience at The Sala, where delicious cuisine and superb wines are complemented by breathtaking views of the vineyard. Additionally, visitors can enjoy a day of family fun, exploring the vineyard on bike rides, embarking on vineyard tours, and visiting the on-site elephant sanctuary, home to two majestic elephants.
On my arrival I was met by the restaurant manager, Angwara (Apple), who gave me a comprehensive tour of the vineyard, explaining in detail how Monsoon Valley vineyard started and how it has developed into the award winning vineyard it has become in less than 20 years. I would definitely recommend a tour of the vineyard regardless of season,.. as you can learn so much about the history and the operations of the vineyard.
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
Thailand is known for its hospitality but not generally known for their wines but thanks to hard work and innovation,.. The Monsoon Valley Vineyard near Hua Hin (on the coast of Thailand) has finally helped to put this country on the Global Wine Map.
One American tourist commented:
“We loved this place. It’s a Napa Valley remake just outside Hua Hin! Superb gallery architecture overlooking the vineyards, nice wine and excellent food. Great service too. Never imagined we would be drinking such great wine in Hua Hin,Thailand !”
On a personal note I have visited Thailand at least 6 times in the last 5 years,.. always hoping to visit this unique Vineyard ,.especially after a tasting their impressive wines at the London Wine Trade Fair some years ago,.. and in various Thai restaurants and hotels in Bangkok,.. where the wine is featured on some of the cities Top Hotel Wine Lists. As I was visiting Hua Hin to review one of Asia’s top Resort Hotels, (the magnificent Centara Grand Hua Hin Beach Resort & Villas ),..I finally had the opportunity to visit an Asian winery ,.. and found this a “world class experience”.. It is a beautiful property located around 45 minutes drive from Hua Hin. I was with a pleasant group of Australian tourists from Sydney and was given a guided tour of the vineyard and a personalized visit to the elephant sanctuary.This was followed by a tasting of the vineyards wines matched with some delicious Thai style Fusion foods developed by their artistic chef.
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
It is worth taking time your time to appreciate the scenery with the vineyards in a valley surrounded by lush green hills I was free to take a walk around the vines and watch the viticulturists do their work with commentary from Apple!
History of the Thai Wine industry
“The Thai wine industry began development in the late twentieth century.
As a tropical country, Thailand lies well outside the latitudes traditionally regarded as suitable for cultivating grapes for winemaking, though the development of adaptive viticulture techniques have allowed for some success, and Thai wines have become recognized among a growing range of new-latitude wines.
Grapes had been introduced to Thailand when the French embassy sent by Louis XIV presented specimens of White Malaga (Beba) to King Narai.
The grapes were used solely for fruit until well into the twentieth century, when a wine industry started to develop. The majority comes from two regions: Hua Hin on the northwest gulf of Thailand coast and the Khao Yai area in the foothills of the national park of the same name.
In Thailand the grapevines are forced by pruning,.. into bearing two crops a year; the Fine wines are those that ripen during the (relatively) dry season, while a vin de table is made from the wet season crop.
Monsoon Valley was founded in 2001 by Chalerm Yoovidhya, a wine-loving entrepreneur with a vision to create a Thai wine culture. Upon returning from his studies abroad, Chalerm saw potential in growing grapes in his beloved native Thailand and set out to show the world that great wines can be crafted even at the 13th latitude of the northern hemisphere.
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
It is worth taking time to appreciate the scenery with the vineyards in a valley surrounded by lush green hills. Visitors are free to take a walk around the vines and watch the viticulturists do their work.
His first vineyard was at Tab Kwang, in beautiful Khao Yai, a region known as the ‘traditional’ grape-growing region of Thailand. Surrounded by national parks and jungle, the choice for this area was perfect as the fertile red soil and convenient climate conditions created the best platform for making opulent and rich Shiraz. After initial success in Tab Kwang, he explored other areas of Thailand that would give birth to great wines.
A new opportunity arose in 2002, when Khun Chalerm was invited to plant grapes at the Huay Sai Royal Research project, a trial vineyard located in Petchaburi, which at that time was not viewed as a wine-growing region in Thailand. However, to his surprise, the quality of the grapes was very good, so he started searching for a plot of land large enough to grow grapes at a commercial level in the Hua Hin area.
He found the ideal spot in Baan Khork Chang, a pristine valley 35km away from sunny Hua Hin beach. The site was built on a former elephant corral, a sublime place where wild Asian elephants were once domesticated . This is where the now flagship vineyard, Monsoon Valley Vineyard, is located today.
Grape Varieties
Today varietals such as Colombard and Chenin Blanc, Sangiovese, Rondo and Shiraz are found to thrive here. Added later were Muscat, Dornfelder, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc varietals.
Being close to the coast and not far from the sea gives Hua Hin vineyards an advantage,.. as nights tend to be cooler with fresh breeze coming from the hills, whilst the sandy and loamy soil is enriched with shells and fossils giving minerality and freshness to the wines. The total area planted in Hua Hin is 700 RAI (110 hectare).
Climate and Terroir
The remaining land is home of many indigenous plants and animals that Khun Chalerm is keen to cherish and foster as he believes that the balance of nature is key to crafting great and unique wines.
The grapes for Monsoon Valley Wines are grown in 3 locations: Monsoon Valley Vineyard at Hua Hin, Tab Kwang Vineyard and Chiang Mai Vineyard.
Hin Vineyard, the largest of the three, spans over 700 Rai (about 110 Hectare) of uncultivated land which will never be used for farming purposes and serve as a retreat for the local wildlife. Only rain water is used to keep the grapevines growing during the dry season,… During the rainy or wet season, water gets collected in several ponds to irrigate the plants during the dry-season forming a natural circular cycle.
The ponds are also home to various fish and crustaceans . As in all of Thailand, the nature around the vineyards is very lively. Some of the animals who call the vineyards and surroundings home,.. are rabbits, different kinds of snakes, monkeys, various lizards and wild chickens. Apart from growing grapes, all 3 vineyards have other farming projects going on. Chiang Mai Vineyard also conducts some rice fields; Tab Kwang Vineyard has several kinds of poultry such as chicken, peacocks, bantams and turkeys.
Paddock to Plate Dining
Monsoon Valley Vineyard has two vegetable gardens to provide ingredients to the local restaurant, the Sala Wine Bar & Bistro, as well as several wild boars who feed on the leftovers of the restaurant. Furthermore many local and foreign trees and plants can be spotted in Monsoon Valley Vineyard, including banana, mango, papaya, olives, coffee, raspberries, baobab, roses, mulberry and various Thai and Italian herbs.
Environmentalism
Monsoon Valley Vineyard also participates in a project to preserve Hornbills. As part of this project, old wooden wine-barrels get modified and hung up high into trees to provide nesting sites for the birds. These barrels can not only be found in Monsoon Valley Vineyard but in several locations throughout Thailand.
World Wine Awards
Monsoon Valley now produces award-winning wines made from international grape varietals grown at Monsoon Valley Vineyard. These wines are often served by the glass at leading restaurants and five-star hotels or resorts in Thailand. The wines have garnered awards at numerous International wine shows and are actually sold in many export markets including the United kingdom.
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
Monsoon Valley are award-winning wines made from international grape varietals grown at Monsoon Valley Vineyard. Often served by the glass at leading restaurants and five-star hotels or resorts in Thailand.
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
“I was impressed by the gentleman looking after these majestic mammals and it was clear he had an emotional connection with them.”
Baan Khok Chang ELEPHANT SANCTUARY
You can Visit the beautiful elephants in their natural habitat at Baan Khok Chang Elephant Sanctuary on your visit to the vineyard and you can join them and their keeper,.. daily from 11am. to 5pm.
Visiting the elephant sanctuary may give you a close and personal experience as you feed them their favourite fruit,.. bananas or other foods.
I would echo the comments of another visitor who observed in reference to the Keeper : “I was impressed by the gentleman looking after these majestic mammals and it was clear he had an emotional connection with them.”
The Sala Wine Bar & Bistro
My trip was topped off with a wine tasting lunch, at the flagship SALA restaurant where one can indulge in Fine food and creative Fusion food as well as taking in the panoramic mountain valley and vineyard views. Fortunately I was able to “get a handle ” on the philosophy by meeting SALA’S creative Chef Pek , Watcharapak Kongdeeand experience first hand their delicious fusion type cuisine which of course ,..was matched with several of their premier wines.
The wine tasting was conducted by the long term (and well known internationally) Food and Beverage manager Guido Campigotto …(who once operated an Italian restaurant in London which was frequented by celebrities and the occasional Royal) The wine degustation was quite a revelation as many of the wines were more reminiscent of European wines and not New World in style as I had expected..The Shiraz is unique in its nose and flavour, due to the climate and atmosphere. Not surprisingly,.. it has won awards,.. but it is not of the the heavy and concentrated Australian style but more attuned to the hot climate. My favourite wine was their Signature White which a complex and refined CheninBlanc with Lees fermentation in the barrell (reminiscent of many great French whites )and their Signature Red a masterful blend of Sangiovese, Shiraz Dornfelder, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon .This had a power and structure that was similar in some way to the great red wines of Europe ,..
My gastronomic adventures at the Monsoon Valley Winery in Thailand ,..were concluded with some delightful desserts.I was treated to the magnifincent fortified Monsoon Valley Muscat Having said that I am not impartial to the wineries Monsoon Valley Colombard and drank it most days whilst in Huu Hin as an aperitif and with seafood.
In the words of Guido Campigotto “
“Our food concept I would say is a version of Authentic Thai meets Modern Fusion because the individual dishes makes innovative references to cuisines from around the world using various Local ingredients.and cullinary techniques.”
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
In the words of Guido Campigotto pictured above “Our food concept I would say is a version of Authentic Thai meets Modern Fusion because the individual dishes makes innovative references to cuisines from around the world using various Local ingredients.and cullinary techniques.”
LUNCH-Dining at the SALA RESTAURANT at the Monsoon Valley Winery
Starters
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
Maeng Kaam Grape Leaf
(Grape Leaf, Cashew Nut, Coconut Flake, Chili, Ginger, Lime and Grape Sauce)
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
Marinated Seared Tuna Lemongrass & Black Sesame
(Seared Tuna Served with Cucumber, Cherry Tomato, Cashew Nut, Coriander Leaf and Chili Paste Sauce)
Lunch
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
– Phad Thai Shiraz
(Phad Thai Rice Noodles, Homemade Shiraz Phad Thai Sauce, Chinese Chive, Tofu, Beans Sprout, River Prawns)
–Massaman Chicken with jasmine Rice
Massaman Curry with with chicken cashew nuts
Photo credit: Axel Ritenis
Chocolat Bavarese
Dark Chocolate /White chocolate layer served with almond cream,Pistachio and strawberry sorbet Served with Monsoon valley Chenin Blanc Late Harvest
Sydney Times Wine writer and Editor Axel Ritenis with the creative Thai Chef, Pek , Watcharapak Kongdee
Monsoon Valley Vineyard
Thailand
Pricing on Package deals
-VINEYARD TOUR WITH WINE TASTING
450 Baht
-VINEYARD TOUR ELEPHANT MEET & GREET
350 Baht
