Selasa, 07 April 2009

Hatten Wines Bali’s Surprise Vinery



Hidden away in a Sanur sidestreet is a lowkey sign that simply says “Hatten Wines.” Enter through the portals if you dare and you will find the production centre for Bali’s best homegrown wine products.


The day I visited the truck was in bringing in a few tonnes of grapes from the island’s dry grape producing areas of the north. A dozen boys in red teeshirts were standing around unloading the grapes into the grape cleaner that separates the seeds and stems from the fruit. We watched as they squished their way down to the next process - one of many that end up, a few weeks later as very drinkable reds, whites and roses. In the next room sixteen tall stainless steel vats held gallons of alcoholic beverages in various stages of fermentation.

IB Rai Budarsa the owner, comes from a family of vintners and it was his family who started producing the first commercial quantities of Bali Brem back in the sixties when it was a very popular drink with tourists. Times were more innocent and certainly less sophisticated back then and for many visitors this was the taste of Bali. For some it probably still is. I have many fond memories of happy nights sitting around sipping on the sweet and syrupy beverages.

Now tastes have become more sophisticated and Hatten Wines was created in 1994 to develop better products. Techniques too have developed and wine production is in the hands of Vincent Despat who studied in France and spent some twelve years wine making in Western Australia.

The winery produces a range of drinking and sparkling wines not to mention the marvelous red and white aperitif Pinots, known as Pino Red and Pinot White - which go marvelously well with a selection of good cheeses or as a dessert wine. Their award winning Alexandria is a semi sweet made with grapes from the Muscat family and is another good aperitif wine.

One of the most interesting things about Bali grapes is that there is no down time in the growing season as there is in cooler climates. The varieties used thrive in hot climates and produce grapes continuously in 120 day cycles. This means there are no vintage years, but it also means every year is good and the quality is consistent.

The winery has a capacity of bottling 3000 bottles a day. Grapes are grown on the Hatten Wines Estate in North Bali and local farmers supply more grapes from their own crops. Most of the white grapes are specialty grown, using natural pesticides so they are an almost organic grape while many of the more available red varieties are bought in from outside farms, providing a great source of income for the local farmers.

Anyone wishing to avail themselves of free tastings and a winery tour can go to the Cellar Door in Sanur which is open Monday to Saturday from 8.30am-6pm. Needless to say, you can also buy wine there either in single bottles or in quantity.
Phone: +62 361 286 298.

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