Visit Myanmar’s Premiere Vineyard

When people think of Myanmar, wine is probably the last thing that they will think of, but Bert Morsbach hopes to change that. Set among Buddhist monasteries in the Aythaya hills, Morsbach runs Myanmar’s premiere vineyard, Aythaya Wine.

Started in 1997, Bert Morsbach’s objective was to create a wine that could compete with the top vintners from the world’s classic wine-producing countries. As creating wines in hot climates differs greatly from doing so in his German homeland, Morsbach faced many challenges and obstacles. “Had I not been convinced that we could make a quality wine up in our mountains, I would not have started the project,” said Bert Morsbach. In 2004, after two failed crop seasons, Aythaya Wine was finally able to present its first wine at Yangon’s Le Planteur Restaurant in December 2004.

Aythaya’s wines are part of the “new latitude wines,” or wines created in places far from the traditional wine making centers of Europe, California, Australia and South America. In terms of wine-making, countries like Brazil, India and Thailand hope to someday stand in pride next to France, Australia and Chile.

In Thailand, Khao Yai is home to several vineyards. The family-owned Gran Monte Winery is set among 800 acres of Shiraz, Tempranillo, Chenin Blanc and Clombard grapes. Close to Khao Yai National Park, the Khao Yai Winery grows 200 acres of high-quality grapes, and produces 600,000 bottles of wine a year. In Samut Sakorn, just 60km from Bangkok, you will find the Monsoon Valley Winery, one of Asia’s largest wine producers.

In Vietnam, to cater to the locals, the vast majority of wine is made from table grapes from Phan Rang. Dalat, with its strong French heritage and cool central highland climate, is where most of the wine is made. Vietnamese wine, developed for local consumption, has a much different taste than what is expected by most Western palates.

Morsbach plans to eventually retire in Myanmar, and sees the Aythaya Vineyard as a labor of love. As part of developing this area, the vineyard has renovated a local Buddhist orphanage, earning the name the “orphanage vineyard.” They are in the process of expanding their tourist facilities, which already include five guest rooms, a restaurant and a swimming pool.

Why not add a visit to the Aythaya Vineyard to a tour of Myanmar? Exotissimo Myanmar makes stops at the Aythaya Vineyard on the way to Inle Lake, where you can indulge in some wine tasting and have a lunch in an intimate setting.