Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
NEW ATTITUDES TOWARDS WINE
Common wisdom would tell you that tasty wine grapes don't grow alongside coconut trees. But advances in
plant sciences and a global palate for wines has ushered in the geographic experiment dubbed New Latitude
Wines, produced from grapes grown outside the traditional 30- to 50-degree parallels.
The New Latitudes' main challenge is to replicate the wine-producing grapes' preferred climate as best as
possible. That means introducing a false dormancy or winter period through pruning, regulated irrigation and
companion planting of grasses to prevent soil loss during the rainy season. If you're familiar with viticulture in
the Old World, you'll be shocked to see all the cultivation rules Thai vineyards successfully break.
Wine experts have yet to crown a New Latitude that surpasses the grand dames, but they do fill a local niche.
Siam Winery, the parent company of Hua Hin Hills Vineyard (
Click here
), aims to produce wines that pair with
the complex flavours of Thai food. The vineyard grows columbard, chenin blanc, muscat, shiraz and sangiovese
grapes, among others, and typically the citrus-leaning whites are a refreshing complement to the fireworks of
most Thai dishes.
Because of the hot climate, a wine drinker's palate is often altered. The thinner wines produced in Thailand
tend to have a more satisfying effect than the bold chewy reds that pair well with a chilly spring day. Drinking
red wine in Thailand has always been a challenge because the heat turns otherwise leathery notes straight into
vinegar. To counteract the tropical factor, break yet another wine rule and chill reds in the refrigerator to replic-
ate 'cellar' temperature as close as possible.
Sleeping & Eating
It is mainly high-end here but not all of the beach resorts earn the price tag so be discern-
ing when making online reservations for places not listed below. That said, this area has
some of the best seaside boutique hotels in Thailand, making it a fine place to splash out.
Beach House
( 08 7164 6307; karl@beachhousepranburi.com; Pak Nam Pran; r 700-1200B; )
One of the
cheapest options around, this affable, English-run guesthouse has comfortable, decent-
sized rooms. It caters mainly to young kiteboarders; you can learn to kitesurf here and the
wind is as good, if not better, than Hua Hin.
GUESTHOUSE
$$
Palm Beach Resort & Hotel
( 0 3263 1304;
www.palmbeachpranburi.com
; Pak Nam Pran; r 1800-2500B; )
Right by the
beach. Although the spacious rooms are a little under-maintained, the staff are nice and
breakfast is included.
HOTEL
$$
Away Hua Hin
( 08 9144 6833;
www.away-huahin.com
; south of Khao Kalok; r 3500-4500B; )
A boutique re-
sort without pretence, and one of the more affordable in the area, seven antique teak
HOTEL
$$$
