Hua Hin Hills Vineyard Uncorks Festival of Fun

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Food, Harvest Festival, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Wine, Wine Tasting | On 17-02-2012
Hua Hin Hills jazz band

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard has set the stage for live jazz and other activities through March 18.

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is honoring grape harvest season with a month-long celebration of the finer things in life.

Every weekend from now through March 17-18, the estate responsible for some of the world’s best ‘New Latitude’ wines — varietals produced between the 14th and 18th parallels — will roll out a special harvest-themed food menu; serve as a stage for live jazz performances by popular local musicians; and offer visitors the opportunity to book group grape picking and stomping experiences.

Among the gourmet items guests can expect to enjoy during the festival are Grape and Yellowfin Tuna Salad; Spicy Deep-Fried Prawn and Green Mango Salad; and Dark Chocolate Marquise.

The annual event culminates — for all intents and purposes — Saturday, March 17, when the vineyard and esteemed viticulture consultant Hans-Peter Höhnen host an exclusive, multi-course, already-sold-out dinner.

Hua Hin Hills Vineyard is located two-and-a-half hours south of Bangkok by car, along a country road that winds through pineapple fields and quintessential Thai farming villages.

Set on a former elephant corral, the estate is owned by Siam Winery and renowned for its panoramic views of lush hillsides and a bistro whose wine menu features vintages such as Monsoon Valley Cuvée de Siam, a gold-medal winner at the 2010 AWC International Wine Challenge in Austria.

For more information about the harvest festival or Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, visit www.huahinhillsvineyard.com.

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5 ‘Best’ Lists Hua Hin Would Figure Into

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Beach, Elephant Polo, Film, Food, Golf, Hotels & Resorts, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Wine, Wine Tasting | On 10-02-2012
Several of the finest Thai spas are here in Hua Hin, including The Barai at Hyatt Regency.

Several of the finest Thai spas are here in Hua Hin, including The Barai at Hyatt Regency.

A blog post we recently stumbled upon about Thailand’s best beaches — a rather exclusive list that included Hua Hin — got us wondering: What else in Hua Hin is worthy of a ‘best’ label?

So we started brainstorming. And before long we had a rather substantial list of ‘best’ categories with candidates from Hua Hin. In fact, the list of categories was so long, we decided to cut it to 5, to make reading this entry a little more manageable.

But, if you’ve got suggestions for categories you don’t see below (but would like to), feel free to weigh in through the ‘Comments’ field. We’d love to see a conversation evolve from this fun exercise …

BEST SPAS: When it comes to spa, few countries hold a candle to Thailand. If you don’t believe it, just ask AsiaSpa, which in 2009 went so far as to call Thailand the spa capital of Asia, considered by at least one writer at CNN as “ground zero for spa.”

Several of the finest spas are right here in Hua Hin, including two of our very own ‘It’s in Hua Hin’ members — Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa and The Barai at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. The former has been hailed twice by readers of Conde Nast Traveller (UK), while the latter has made just about every prestigious list out there.

BEST GOLF COURSES: There’s a reason Thailand was named ‘Golf Destination of the Year’ for Asia & Australasia by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) in November 2009 — there are a lot of courses (260 is the number thrown around most), and there are a lot of good ones.

Among them: ‘It’s in Hua Hin’ member Banyan Golf Club, which in 2009 was named ‘Best New Course in Asia-Pacific’ by readers of Asian Golf Monthly magazine. It hasn’t lost its luster, either; just a few months ago, European PGA Tour star Nicolas Colsaerts warmed up at Banyan GC ahead of the Omega Mission Hills World Cup in China.

BEST ROOFTOP RESTAURANTS: Certainly Bangkok’s got its share of high-end restos in a high rise. But how many of those offer aerial views of the Gulf of Thailand? To our knowledge, not a single one.

It’s a different story though in Hua Hin, where guests of White Lotus — on the top floor of the 17-story Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa — feast on some of the best Chinese food in the kingdom while savoring unimpeded panoramas of the sea.

BEST SPOTS TO SIP FINE WINE: When it comes to great vino, there probably isn’t a bad place to tip back a glass. But let’s be honest: Some locales are better than others. And the terrace at Hua Hin Hills Vineyard could very well be the best in Thailand.

Here’s why: Its views — of lush mountain ranges and rows and rows of grape vines — are reminiscent of any you’ll find in the more renowned winemaking regions of the world; and it’s just a few steps from the wine tasting counter, where experts stand at the ready to pour any of Siam Winery‘s award-winning vintages.

BEST CITIES FOR CELEBS: Last month’s Hua Hin Film Festival lured the likes of Hollywood actor Ryan Gosling. World No. 1 tennis player Caroline Wozniacki spent this past New Year’s here with her boyfriend, reigning U.S. Open golf champion Rory McIlroy. And ESPN funnyman Kenny Mayne paid a visit in September 2011 to film the Kings Cup for an episode of his online show ‘Wider World of Sports’.

But Hua Hin‘s appeal among popular public figures isn’t a recent phenomenon. Chiva-Som wellness resort has attracted dozens of A-listers over the years, including Jude Law, the Beckhams and Naomi Campbell. And the most revered man in Thailand — His Majesty the King — has called Hua Hin home for years.

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6 Questions with … Wine Wiz Kathrin Puff

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Uncategorized, Wine, Wine Tasting | On 07-02-2012
Kathrin Puff

Siam Winery vintner Kathrin Puff established a taste for wine in Germany.

When it comes to tropical wines of Asia, few folks — if any — know them better than Kathrin Puff. That’s because as vintner for Siam Winery — creators of the popular Monsoon Valley line — her job is to know vino. And she knows it because she’s been plying her trade for some time now, both in her native country and in her adopted one … and in others in between.

I recently had a chance to chat with the grape guru. Among the topics of conversation: Her road to Thailand, what comes out of the ground at Hua Hin Hills Vineyard and why early March is a big deal …

Q: Tell me a little about yourself.

A: Well, I’m 33 years old, and I’m from Germany, which is where I began studying wines for Siam Winery. I’ve also studied in Italy and New Zealand. In fact, before coming to Thailand, I was in Tuscany, crafting Chianti.

Q: How did Siam Winery start?

A: It started in 1986 with Spy Cooler, a fruity, wine-based, carbonated drink suited to the Asian palate. In 1999, the first wines were crafted out of local table grapes from a floating vineyard. Then, in 2004, Siam Winery built Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, where we crush about 300 tons of Shiraz, Colombard, Chenin Blanc and other varietals every year.

Q: Where are the wines produced and stored?

A: We produce Spy Cooler in Samut Sakhorn, about 60 kilometres west of Bangkok. The wine cellar is there as well. Hua Hin Hills Vineyard produces the grapes, which get transported in cooling trucks to the winery every day during harvest. Harvest season is right around the corner actually. It goes from late February through to mid March.

Q: What types of grapes do you grow at Hua Hin Hills?

A: Shiraz, Colombard and Chenin Blanc are our main varietals, but we also grow Tempranillo, Viognier, Muscat, Sangiovese and Dornfelder.

Q: Your wines have received some serious recognition, no?

A: Yes, nearly all of our premium wines have medaled at international wine competitions. The Blended Rose and Blended Red were ‘Commended’ at last year’s IWC in London. The Chenin Blanc Late Harvest and Colombard won the same distinction the previous year.

Q: And do you export your wines?

A: We do. The UK is our main export market, followed by Japan, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany, the US, Sweden, Singapore and others. Of course, our biggest market is Thailand, with resorts and restaurants buying up a lot of it. We also sell it and serve it at the vineyard, where people come daily to tour the plantation by elephant, lunch at The Sala Bistro overlooking the property and, of course, taste the wines.

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Why Hua Hin Deserves Place in TripAdvisor Story

Posted by Anantara's Naowarat Arunkong | In Activities, Beach, Film, Food, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Hua Hin Night Market, Wine | On 20-01-2012
Hua Hin Train Station Couple

"Hua Hin is a classic old town, where life is peaceful," says Anantara GM Naowarat Arunkong. (PHOTO: Aidan Dockery)

It’s been an eventful past few weeks for Hua Hin. First came the announcement that our storied seaside town would be hosting its first international film festival, starting Jan. 26. Then we learned TripAdvisor named Hua Hin one of the world’s ’15 Destinations on the Rise’ for 2012.

As someone who has lived in Hua Hin for four years now, I was surprised by the latter piece of news … in that it took so long for such recognition to come! In my opinion, Hua Hin has always been deserving of high praise. It’s a place I’ve loved from the moment I arrived.

Why? It’s a small, classic old town. The people are friendly, life is peaceful and you can always find good music. In fact, you can find just about everything in Hua Hin, from shopping centers and restaurants to an airport and hospital.

Speaking of restaurants, I think it’s time to squash the rumor that Hua Hin is all about seafood. You’re just as likely to taste some of the best Scandinavian, German, Indian and Mexican food you’ve ever had.

I also love that Hua Hin caters to a variety of moods. The town’s got the laid-back vibe of a beach resort and the hustle and bustle of a big city. And the recreational opportunities are endless. My favorites activities are the rides — horseback, elephant and ATV.

Last but not least there’s the physical diversity. Long stretches of beach. Mangrove forests. Beautiful waterfalls. Sunbathe one day; go up the mountain the next. On your way, stop and taste some wine at Hua Hin Hills Vineyard. At the end of the day, have a walk around town, exploring things like the Hua Hin Night Market. I never tire of that routine.

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Hua Hin Turns Spotlight on World Film in January

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Film, Hua Hin & Cha Am | On 23-12-2011
Hua Hin International Film Festival

Hua Hin's first film festival gets underway Jan. 26.

Almost a century after it served as a filming location for ‘Miss Suwanna of Siam’, one of Thailand’s first motion pictures, this storied seaside resort is getting set to draw the curtains back on the inaugural Hua Hin International Film Festival.

From Jan. 26-29, venues in Hua Hin will screen more than 50 movies from around the world as part of an event aimed at showcasing “the best of cinema and the best of Hua Hin,” said Dr. Sorajak Kasemsuvan, the festival’s director.

“Hua Hin has a great history and has always been a favorite spot of the Thai royal family,” added Suwat Liptapanlop, the festival’s chairman. “The town will offer all of our guests a taste of true Thai hospitality.”

Organized by the National Federation of Thai Film Associations (NFTFA), Hua Hin Municipality and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), the Hua Hin International Film Festival will bring together artists from all walks of the movie industry, including actors So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo of the critically acclaimed Korean melodrama ‘Always’.

Other films slated to show are:

* ’360′, starring Jude Law and Academy Award winners Anthony Hopkins and Rachel Weisz;
* ‘Magic to Win’, a fantasy adventure from veteran Hong Kong producer Raymond Wong;
* ‘Warriors of the Rainbow’, the most expensive film ever made in Taiwan;
* ‘The Lady’, a biopic of Burmese democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi;
* ‘Fool for Love’, a romantic comedy set in Vietnam; and
* ‘KL Gangster’, a box-office hit in Malaysia;

Like all international film festivals, Hua Hin‘s will spotlight more than movies. Seminars by leading academics and film industry professionals, nightly activities at Centennial Park, live music performances and a closing ceremony featuring an awards presentation are part of the festival mix, too.

Organizers also plan to display an exhibition of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej‘s photographs, which “capture the town of Hua Hin during his frequent stays, and celebrate not only his creativity, but his many contributions to the people of Hua Hin and Thailand,” said Kasemsuvan.

To preview some of the festival’s films, visit the event’s official Youtube channel.

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4 Questions with … Banyan GC’s Joe Morrissey

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Beach, Golf, Hua Hin & Cha Am | On 22-12-2011
Banyan GC's Joe Morrissey

SWEET SWING: Banyan GC's Joe Morrissey sends another drive sailing down the fairway.

For the latest installment of ’4 Questions with …’, I sat down with Banyan Golf Club‘s director of golf, Joe Morrissey.

Actually, we didn’t sit. We were on our feet, playing a round of golf on the track Asian Golf Monthly readers voted the ‘Best New Course in Asia-Pacific’ in 2009.

During our time together, I learned the affable Brit of Thai descent first came to Hua Hin five years ago to help his parents get a restaurant off the ground, met his wife soon thereafter and has spent all but four days in the area since first setting foot in Hua Hin.

“I went back to the UK for a visit once,” he said, “but I cut the trip short because I realized it wasn’t for me anymore.”

I also found out the lad is a plus-3 handicap(!), knows how to both punish and finesse a golf ball, and has more than a few opinions on the place he now calls home …

Q: There are more than a few good holes here at Banyan Golf Club. In fact, I like them all — and it’s rare that I say that about a golf course. But the par-3 15th is probably the most talked about and photographed. Is it the best?

A: It’s definitely a stunner. The tees are elevated, so you’re looking down at the green with the sea and Koh Sai in the background to the left. But personally, I think the holes just before that — Nos. 13 and 14 — are best. Both are short par 4s. Both make you think. I like that.

Q: It’s warm out here and an ice cold beer at the turn sounds good. Singha?

A: It’s my preference. A lot of people prefer Chang or Leo. But I stick with Singha. No rhyme or reason really. Just personal preference.

Q: Aside from the Mulligan’s Bar terrace (Banyan’s “19th hole”), where do you like to kick back with a Singha?

A: Anywhere really. With a bowl of noodles on a street corner is tough to beat. But I also like having a drink once in a while at Putahracsa resort, on one of their outdoor sofas, right there on the beach. That’s a fantastic spot for a beer. So is Retro Bar, near the railroad tracks and just across the street from Hua Hin Night Market. Great place to people watch, too. And it’s just a couple doors down from Margaritas, which serves up the best Mexican food in Hua Hin. One of the guys there is Mexican, so you know the food is legit.

Q: Sounds good. What about to get away from the crowd? Where would you go?

A: Sai Noi Beach, just past Pak Nam Pran. It’s the best beach by far. The beach is only about 100 yards long, but there are no tourists, and it’s in this secluded little cove, with rocks on one end and jungle on the other. I like to climb up on the rocks. No one can see you up there, and the view is spectacular.

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Southern Exposure: The Ride to Pak Nam Pran, in Pics

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Beach | On 10-12-2011

This afternoon I walked out the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, hung a right, wandered about a 100 metres and stumbled upon a joint that hires out motorbikes. So I decided to rent one for the asking price — 250 BHT for the day (roughly US $8). I had no destination in mind. I just knew I wanted to head south and explore whatever was within reasonable reach. I wound up in Pak Nam Pran, a fishing village about 25 kilometres down the coastline. Rather than try to describe some of what I saw and experienced, I’ll let the pictures — taken with my sometimes-useful Samsung Moment smartphone — do the talking …

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4 Questions with … Hua Hin Hills’ Hanna Oberauer

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Beach, Hotels & Resorts, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Wine | On 15-11-2011
4 Questions with ... Hua Hin Hills' Hanna Oberauer

For the latest edition of ’4 Questions with …’, I talked to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard‘s marketing project leader, Hanna Oberauer. Keep reading to find out what she likes most about living in Hua Hin and where she recommends taking that rented scooter  …

Q: What’s your favorite part about living in Hua Hin?

A: It definitely would have to be living by the ocean but having Bangkok “around the corner.”

Q: What’s your favorite way to enjoy the Hua Hin area?

A: I know this is going to sound biased, but I mean it when I say “hanging out at the vineyard.” It’s just so beautiful and peaceful out there. But I also love the resorts and spas by the beach. They all seem to offer amazing treatments, as well as yoga and tai chi classes, which I also enjoy.

Q: Describe your perfect Hua Hin — or Thailand — vacation.

A: Well, I’m not really sure where I’d start. But the holiday would probably include Chiang Mai for its art experience, Hua Hin for its beaches and proximity to places like Koh Samui, and Bangkok for its river hotels and the Chatuchak Market.

Q: What’s the one tip you always give to visitors?

A: Rent a scooter, take your bikini, towel and toothbrush and ride down the coast to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park (pictured) and Brassiere Beach. If you’d prefer to stay closer to downtown, spend a day in The Barai Spa at Hyatt Regency Hua Hin, take a stroll through the Cicada Market (if it’s a weekend) and go for dinner at Putahracsa Resort.

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Elephant Polo Featured on ESPN Program

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Elephant Polo, Hua Hin & Cha Am | On 11-11-2011
Elephant Polo Featured on ESPN Program

In September, ESPN funnyman Kenny Mayne visited Hua Hin to try his hand at elephant polo. His experience was recorded for a ‘Wider World of Sports’ episode, which aired online yesterday for the first time. Watch Kenny hurt his wrist … but recover to score his first (and last?) career goal. VIDEO

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Rhapsody in Brew: Oktoberfest Comes to Hua Hin

Posted by Mandarin Media's Scott Resch | In Activities, Hotels & Resorts, Hua Hin & Cha Am, Oktoberfest | On 09-11-2011
Rhapsody in Brew: Oktoberfest Comes to Hua Hin

It may be November, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to celebrate Oktoberfest.

At the Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa, the party is just getting started. From Nov. 9-12, Hua Hin’s tallest hotel is taking the annual German tradition to new heights, with everything from an authentic band to Paulaner’s famed Oktoberfest beer.

Hilton Hua Hin’s general manager Boris Blobel gave me the lowdown on how much the hotel poured into the effort, and what guests can expect to experience through the four-day bash’s conclusion on Saturday …

Q: Oktoberfest in Germany is typically celebrated in late September. Why celebrate in early November in Hua Hin?

A: The band we’ve brought in as an authentic Oktoberfest band. Therefore, they play first in Germany, and then come over to Thailand. They started at the Hilton Pattaya, then moved to Hilton Bangkok, and now they’re here, at Hilton Hua Hin. So it’s those three Hiltons and Paulaner (German brewery) that have joined together to create this series of Oktoberfest events in Thailand.

Q: Do you celebrate Oktoberfest every year at Hilton Hua Hin? Or is this the first time?

A: This is the second year. Last night — the opening night of this year’s event — we got about 300 covers, or diners. We expect that the next couple of days — as we get closer and into the weekend — will be even busier.

Q: Is the Hua Hin Brewing Company brewing a special kind of beer for this event?

A: The entire event is sponsored by Paulaner. Therefore, we serve Paulaner Oktoberfest Marzen, which has this nutty malt flavor with a smooth, soft body. It’s fantastic.

Q: What kinds of German foods is the brewery serving up?

A: We’ve come up with quite the menu. Bavarian cheeses. Nurnberger with sauerkraut. Roast pork knuckle with cabbage salad. Bread dumplings. All sorts of stuff. Even redberry pudding. Our executive chef is German himself, so he’s loving this opportunity to cook traditional German foods.

Q: What else can guests of this event expect?

A: I think just a lot of fun. Dancing and laughing and enjoyment of the finer things in life — great food and drink.

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