Myanmar or Burma if you prefer has often been on the agenda of the mainstream media for all the wrong reasons. Among all the regular political turmoil, underdevelopment and stagnating (recently at least) tourism industry there are, however, reasons to smile about. One of them is Aythaya Vineyard in southern Shan State which I had a privilege to visit last week. Take a look:
Aythaya is Myanmar's first but not only vineyard. It all started with an idea of the founder of the company, Bert Morsbach, and his vision to produce a Western-style wine for the first time in Myanmar. It came to fruition in 1999 when he and friends, who shared their common love for the country and for winemaking, established today’s winery near Taunggyi in the southern Shan State.
From the outset the company focused its pioneering development work to produce premium wines with the whole country as its market. The slogan was and still is: “A better wine every year”. The chances were excellent: 150 days of sunshine, a warm climate and ideal soil conditions.
Why Aythaya? This question deserves comprehensive answers. Firstly, the vineyard is close to famous Inle Lake with a pleasant 30 minutes drive between the vineyard and Nyaung Shwe, the Northern shore of famous Inle Lake. More importantly, of course, is the location of Aythaya with its excellent terroire, its soil texture of calcareous origin, the ambient temperature. All this at an altitude of 1,200m (3,940ft) and without excessive rainfalls is absolutely ideal for producing excellent wines. It is even indispensable for the famous Aythaya white wines.
Geologically, the hilly slopes of Shan State are the Southern extension of the Himalayan Mountains. In fact, the highest point in Southeast Asia is not far. Last but not least, Aythaya vineyard has become a popular destination for international travelers who wish to learn more about wines, their terroires, of grape harvesting and the understanding of the taste differences of grape varieties - especially when paired together with local food. Touring the winemaking process in the 1st vineyard of Myanmar is not only educational and rewarding; it also comes with good fun!
"Aythaya Red" is a cuvée from Shiraz (Syrah), Dornfelder from Germany and Tempranillo grapes from the Rioja Valley in Spain. The original vines were imported in 1999 from France, the result of the intense research period. Another discovery was that from nearly 100 classic varieties only 6 cultivars withstood the challenges of the tropical environment.
A fruity red Moscato grape from Italy is the main grape variety of the famous "Aythaya Rose´".
The noble Sauvignon Blanc from the Bordeaux area and Loire Valley is the dominating grape variety of "Aythaya White".
Here are some more photos of the Aythaya Vineyeard for your hedonistic enjoyment! ;-)
