Tasting Of Thailand's Siam Winery's Recent Releases

In preparation for our Great Wines of Italy – Bangkok event last month, James and I were in Bangkok, and we were able to meet some of the main actors of the country’s wine trade.

One interesting encounter was with Kathrin Puff, head winemaker at Siam Winery, the leading wine producer in Thailand that cultivates 300 acres in two viticultural areas around Bangkok – Tab Kwang and Hua Hin Hills Vineyards. The latter, based on sandy and loamy soils, offers most premium and surprising wines, which James has tasted here. 

Kathrin is a young German-born winemaker with extensive experience in winemaking in New Zealand, Germany, Spain and Italy where she worked five years at the Chianti Classico winery Dieviole. In 2007, she took up the challenge to make quality wines in Thailand. It is impressive to see what she made out of those wines today with so much freshness, bright fruitiness and structure.

When asked about the differences of terroirs in Thailand, Kathrin says that the key is first to find parcels that have good climate conditions to sustain viticulture, e.g. a good amount of daily sunshine during the growing period and dry weather during the flowering and harvesting periods. Each year with her team she has to deal with a range of climatic challenges due the proximity of the vineyards with the equator. After eight years, Kathrin is still experimenting at each vintage, trying out new grapes and improving her knowledge of viticulture and winemaking in the area.  

Here are James’ tasting notes of some of the winery’s new releases. Click on the names for tasting notes and scores. 

Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Premium Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Colombard 2014

Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Premium Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2015

Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Cuvee de Siam Blanc 2011

Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Hua Hin Hills Vineyard White Shiraz Rose 2014

Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Cuvee de Siam Rouge 2011

Photos from top to bottom: Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Premium Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Late Harvest Chenin Blanc 2015 and Siam Winery Monsoon Valley Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Cuvee de Siam Blanc 2011

– Alexandre Centeleghe