BANGKOK, July 18 — Sisters Mimi and Nikki have battled Thailand’s tropical climate, chased off elephants from their vineyards and won over a sceptical public to their award-winning wine. Now they’re taking on the “unfair” booze laws critics say benefit the kingdom’s billionaire booze...
Employees planting new vines at GranMonte Vineyard and Winery in Nakhon Ratchasima, some 170 km north east of Bangkok. — AFP-Relaxnews pic
The elevated terrain, three hours outside of Bangkok, provides unexpectedly fertile ground for grapes and an escape from city life, complete with a rust-coloured guesthouse that could be pulled straight from a Tuscany tourism advert. Younger sister Mimi was not interested in the viticulture, but today, she heads the label’s marketing, calling it her “mission to put Thai wine into the market”.
Its proximity to a national park also poses an unusual pest control issue as hungry elephants occasionally trespass through their vineyard, prompting calls from the sisters to rangers for help.Despite the gains, the long term future of the GranMonte wines is clouded by the kingdom’s heavily restrictive booze laws.
It’s aimed at controlling consumption, but in effect clips the wings of small producers who do not possess the same reach to customers as established brands. Together with Boon Rawd Brewery — which produces Singha and Leo — the duopoly are unrivalled in reach and capital.Thailand’s booze laws are uncharacteristically responsive to changes in drinking culture.
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