Poging GOUD - Vrij
Thailand A wine lover's guide
Decanter
|August 2024
Tropical Thailand may not seem like the obvious destination for wine buffs, but the local wines are starting to win awards and Bangkok’s burgeoning wine scene is also accruing accolades

By day, visitors to GranMonte winery in the Asoke valley in central Thailand can stroll past 12 wine grape varieties, cycle to a Michelin-rated restaurant, or sample a zingy Viognier; at night, elephants have been known to trample through the estate’s 14ha of vines. Further south, near some of Thailand’s popular golden beaches, sits Monsoon Valley winery, where swooping hornbills nest in empty oak barrels hung from ficus trees near rows of Shiraz vines. Welcome to wine tasting, Thai-style.
Now is a particularly good time for travelling wine lovers to visit Thailand, as in January the Thai government removed or reduced all of the taxes and excises on wine until the end of the year (although there’s hope the cuts will be extended into next year), including the swingeing 54%-60% tax on imported wine, in the hope of stimulating the tourism industry.
Thailand’s wine industry effectively began in the 1980s as a royal project aimed at weaning rural growers off opium production. Word around the wineries is that, thanks to constant innovation and deep pockets (the Red Bull and Singha beverage families are big investors), this sun-kissed nation now produces about a million bottles of wine per year.

TROPICAL TRAITS
Dit verhaal komt uit de August 2024-editie van Decanter.
Abonneer u op Magzter GOLD voor toegang tot duizenden zorgvuldig samengestelde premiumverhalen en meer dan 9000 tijdschriften en kranten.
Bent u al abonnee? Aanmelden
MEER VERHALEN VAN Decanter

Decanter
ANOTHER CAMPANIA
In a region shaped by its volcanic heritage, a few big names dominate the wine scene, but Campania has so much more to offer in terms of grapes and wine styles that can only be found here
8 mins
October 2025
Decanter
'The set of possibilities grouped under "Chenin" can dazzle'
Familiar friends, landmarks in the wine world, gateways to pleasure: that’s how we think of grape varieties. Varietal thinking is treacherous... but it seems to be conceptually necessary for us.How else can we keep the worrisome chaos of the wine world at bay?
2 mins
October 2025

Decanter
A drink with... Augusto & Alberto Gherardi
Born in a village near Perugia in Umbria, twin brothers Augusto and Alberto Gherardi head up the prestigious education program at the Gordon Ramsay Restaurants group, and run their own wine communication business, The Wine Jokers, studying for the Master of Wine qualification in their spare time. Winners of the 2025 Sommelier Edit Excellence in Education award, the unstoppable pair took time out to speak to Decanter about their own journey and what's hot on the Umbrian wine scene.
3 mins
October 2025

Decanter
Memorable matches
Sommeliers, winery owners, writers and importers share their favourite Italian food and wine pairings – some classic, others more surprising – and the stories that lie behind them...
4 mins
October 2025

Decanter
Books etc
Our regular reviewer finds Assouline's latest coffee-table offering heavy on style but light on substance
2 mins
October 2025

Decanter
Ribera del Duero latest releases
A tasting of more than 300 wines, covering vintages of marked and contrasting identities, revealed an array of different profiles united by their approachability and ageworthiness
15 mins
October 2025

Decanter
Modern MARSALA
From solera-aged classics to savoury new still wines, Marsala is finding fresh momentum. Emerging new expressions span cocktails, cuisine and culture, bursting with freshness, finesse and plenty of attitude
12 mins
October 2025

Decanter
The age of age Hyper-aged whiskies make their mark
With record-breaking releases and remarkable stories, whiskies matured for 40 years and beyond are rewriting expectations
2 mins
October 2025
Decanter
Wines on the edge: how Etna is redefining Italian elegance
In a nation with a longstanding reputation for warmth, generosity and, at times, opulence in its wines, Etna emerges as a distinctive entity, offering a wine style that is more incisive, cooler and more structured. But is DOC Etna in Sicily genuinely leading the way in the shift towards elegance in Italian fine wines? Or is it merely the most appealing manifestation of a more extensive transformation that is already in progress?
2 mins
October 2025

Decanter
How to navigate a restaurant wine list
Intimidated by the wine list when dining out? Here are some tips from a pro
2 mins
October 2025
Listen
Translate
Change font size