A grand year for GranMonte

Thailand's most popular winemaker lands a glittering array of awards

For the GranMonte Vineyard and Winery, it's almost as though awards grow on trees - or at least on grapevines. Well known internationally, the vineyard brings plenty of plaudits home to Thailand - there were 43 awards this year alone.

One of which GranMonte is especially proud is the gold medal from Wine Style Asia 2011. The prestigious Singaporebased competition gave its GranMonte "Asoke" Cabernet Sauvignon / Syrah 2009 a second gold medal, adding to a long list of recognition for the wine.

Also consistently popular, Sakuna Rose Syrah 2011 came home with a silver medal and The Orient Syrah Reserve 2009 and Heritage Syrah / Viognier 2010 both claimed bronze.

GranMonte chief executive Visooth Lohitnavy also received a Southeast Asia Wine Pioneer award at the Singapore gathering in October.

And this year saw GranMonte pick up a pair of gold medals (again for Asoke and The Orient), four silver medals, three Seals of Approval and a Star Winery award in the AWC Vienna Wine Challenge 2011.

Here in Thailand it had three Class Winners, a gold medal, four silvers and three bronzes in the FBAT Wine Challenge 2011.

GranMonte2011 Viognier was named Best of White WineSuper Premium, GranMonte2011 Sole Chenin Blanc/Viognier was Best of White WinePremium and Sakuna was Best of Rose WinePremium.

Meanwhile four bronze medals from the Hong Kong IWSC in early November went to Asoke, Sakuna, The Orient and 2011 Spring Chenin Blanc.

GranMonte has achieved unprecedented status for 100percent Thaigrown and produced wines, and the slew of gold medals puts it among the world's top producers. Visooth credits a combination of knowledge, new technology and devotion to the cause.

"We're very pleased with these achievements," he says. "Our years of hard work, passions and dedication have finally been paid off.

"I am very proud of GranMonte and Nikki, our daughter, who is our oenologist and director of winemaking. I would like to thank everyone who is behind this success and, of course, our friends, wine lovers, supporters and my family."

Source : nationmultimedia.com