Now I have seen everything...this is amazing
it shows you also how wet your ground can be!!!!!
Floating vineyards
Thailand
Thailand started their adventure with the production of wine very recently, at the end of the eighties of last century. Initially, they were rather drink coolers based on grape juice , wine production as such, only started about 10 years later. Most Thai vineyard is located fairly high in the mountains, which allows cultivation in moderate temperatures, despite the fact that it is an area between the fourteenth and eighteenth parallel (Most wineries in the world is located between thirty and fifty). The most fameous, however, became lowlands, exotic floating vineyards., which can be found at the thirteenth parallel. (Exactly 13.2 N), about five metres above sea level.
Floating it's a bit of exaggeration really. It's true they get flooded regularly, but their floating, is anly illusion. Samut Sakorn Vineyards are located in the Chao Phraya Delta, between the rivers Tacheen and Meklong a mere 60 kilometres from the Bankok. It is the oldest and largest wine region in Thailand. Nearly 10 000 hectares of vineyards is grown here in a very unusual way. The grapevines are planted in rows on the oblong islands separated from each other with very narrow channels. Employees move between them on a long narrow boats. Vineyards are conducted(formed) in a pergola. To pick the grapes you have to stand up and pick the prapes hanging above your head. Since this is tropic, and the air temperature during the day is growing very rapidly (Average temperature is 28-35 ° C), the time of harvest is limited to early morning. Grapes are arranged in baskets, and these are transported by boats to Siam Winery, beeing the largest winery in south-east Asia. (In other vineyards throughout the country elephants remain the most popular way of transport) For this vineyard there were two table grape varieties chosen: Malaga Blanc and Pokdum ( the second one is a red grape variety traditionally grown in Thailand. I suspect it's not a nativ asiatic grape but a labrusca hybrid because in wine you can find a light foxy note), mainly due to their resistance to fungal diseases (both have very thick skin on fruit).
Grape picking is carried out twice a year, winter and summer. The plants grow without interruption and if they wouldn't be trimmed at a specific time, year-round they would have flowers and fruit at the same time, each bunch of grapes would ripe in different time and wine production would be impossible. After the harvest, all the leaves are pulled off by hand and plants get cut. Grapevines grow here in very humid conditions and on the extremely fertile soil, which forces very severe pruning. After four to six months leaves begin to appear again and the next growing season begins . Unlike in moderate climate,the first harvest in the young vineyard is possible already after a year, and it's life expectancy vary between 5 nd maximum of 8 years. The maintenance of dykes, it is cumbersome as well, they must be continually strengthened, since at the time of rain the soil is washed away.
Actually it seems that , all the rules of vinegrowing were put upside down here. But they manage to produce wine . OK, they wouldn't probably impress too much someone coming from the western world, but the goal is not to compete with the most famous world's cru but to make wine that goes well with the local cuisine. And this, as it comes to the pairing with wine, is not the easiest. Filling, aromatic, usually very hot. Lots of fish, seafood, coconut milk, nuts, basil, coriander, lemon grass, galanga, limes and chili. And chili again. That's why the are light, dry and not too acidic on European standards. They must be like that, because the higher acidity would put an accent on sharpness of chili. The local wine softens it, while developing a pleasant aromas of peaches, apricots and water melon. This when it comes to white wine. (Wines made from Pok Dum variety have additionally that foxy note characteristic for the vitis labruska's hybrids , which unfortunately despite my best efforts I am not able to get to like.) Recently in sales the 2547 vintage come out. Yes, it's not a mistake. Buddhist calendar, in force in the kingdom of Thailand counts time since Buddha's birth, and he was born in 543 BC. That is vintage 2547 corresponds to our 2006.
Siam winery produces as well wine more close to what the Europeans do like. That's why the series of wines Monsoon Valley was created. To produce they are using besides mentioned already grape varieties, Syrah , Muscat and Colombard grown in the mountains of the province of Nakhon Ratchasima, which are located north of the Bankok. Contrary to appearances, this is actually very important as over 70% of production is destined for export. Thai wine can be found in Asian restaurants around the world. This is caused by little demand for wine in Thailand. It's not surprising , earnings are very low, and the price of alcohol astronomical. Even tourists rarely buy wine here. The reason is taxes: approximately 200% for the localy produced alcohol, almost twice as high for drinks imported.Probably the highest in the world.
The idea of floating vineyard is far from new though. People tryied to grow grapes in the least favourable conditions already in antiquity. Strabo (63 BC-24 ne) described the vineyards that existed in Euphrates river area. Because the river has systematically caused flooding throughout the region, smart locals planted their grapevines on giant rafts woven from cane and covered with earth. Changes of water's level in the river no longer had any influence on the vineyard, which floated on its surface. Rafts were attached with the ropes tied to stilts stuck in the bottom of the river , in order to prevent flating vineyards into the sea.
