Just outside of the colonial town of Battambang you’ll find an unusual sight; grape vines. Mrs Leng Chan Thol and her husband planted their first vines in 1999 amongst much derision from their fellow farmers – when they produced their first bottles of wine in 2004, that scorn was silenced. Now they produced several thousand bottles of wine, brandy and grape juice every year and have a steady trickle of tourists, foreign and local alike, popping in for tastings and tours.
Unlike to Europe, the tropical climate allows the winemakers to harvest their three hectares of vines two or even three times a year. The wine is made with no modern equipment or machinery so harvested grapes are crushed by hand, and after at least six months of aging, bottles are sealed and labelled by hand too. Wines produced include reportedly rich and deep reds such as shiraz and cabernet sauvignon, whilst the winery also makes brandy, grape juice and ginger nectar.
The wine here is not yet at a major producer’s standard, but the guts and innovation needed to start and run a vineyard in Cambodia is nothing short of fantastic – the sort of local industry that is both easy and potentially delicious to support. Located on the road to the hilltop temple of Phnom Banan, and close to Battambang’s bamboo train, it is very easy to pop in to visit the chatty and entertaining owners, willing to tell you all about the trials and tribulations of viticulture in Cambodia, and test the latest vintages.
Cambodia is not the only country in Southeast Asia that is finding its way into the wine world. Dalat in Vietnam is home to two large vineyards, whilst in Thailand, in the area around Bangkok, there are several – GranMonte, Hua Hin Hills and Silverlake, as well as more in the northeast of the country. The wines produced here are starting to be exported abroad and served in Thailand’s high end restaurants and wine tours are easily organised.
If you would like to add a wine tasting or two (or anything else slightly unique and unusual for that matter) to your tour of Southeast Asia, just let us know! To learn more about what to see and do in Cambodia just click. Call the Asia Inspirations tailormade specialists now so we can help you create the Asia holiday of your dreams.