Bhutan’s Inaugural Wine Release: Celebrating Its Status as the World’s Newest Wine-Producing Country Chris Lehoux, October 22, 2024 A 2023 blend from Bhutan Wine Company marks the inaugural wine from the Kingdom of Bhutan, with a 2024 Chenin Blanc set to follow. Bhutan Wine Company’s Paro Vineyard In 2017, a couple, Mike Juergens and Ann Cross, visited Bhutan to participate in the country’s international marathon. After finishing the race, Juergens asked about local vineyards in the South Asian nation, only to learn there were none, as Bhutan did not have a wine scene—until now. “It had the look and feel of a classic wine region, so we assumed there were vineyards there,” Juergens shared with Forbes. “We felt strongly that this was a missed opportunity not just for Bhutan but for the world of wine.” As of October 2024, the couple’s initiative, the Bhutan Wine Company, is unveiling the first-ever Bhutanese wine crafted from their 2023 vintage. This inaugural release features a special blend of six red and four white grapes sourced from four distinct vineyards, all under the label Ser Kem, which means ‘alcoholic gift for the gods.’ This name, as shared by British wine critic and advisory board member for Bhutan Wine Company, Jancis Robinson, was selected following consultations with monks who are experts in naming Bhutanese children. The wine will initially be available solely in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Looking ahead to 2025, a 2024 Chenin Blanc harvested in June will mark the introduction of their first commercial product. After returning to southern California in 2017, Juergens and Cross set out to create a 10-year business plan that laid the groundwork for wine regulations in a country without any viticultural tradition. They shared their proposals with the Bhutanese government, and following discussions with local agencies, they received approval to launch the nation’s very first winery and plant its inaugural vineyards. The first major step was to import vines. In 2019, Bhutan Wine Company collaborated with Sebastian Traviesa from Sunridge Nurseries to bring in the initial grapes and set up the first vineyards in Bhutan. Considering the “numerous unknowns” associated with the project, Juergens and his team—including international viticultural consultant Russell Moss, winemaker Matt Brain, and chief operating officer Karma Choeda—chose to cultivate grape varieties that have substantial knowledge regarding their optimal farming practices, as well as those proven to flourish in a variety of global climates. The 2024 harvest of Chenin Blanc from GorTshalu Vineyard marked Bhutan’s inaugural commercial harvest. In their quest for success, they cultivated 10 red varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Pinot Noir, and Tempranillo, along with six white varieties, including Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling, plus two hybrids. The vineyards, located at altitudes ranging from 500 feet to over 9,000 feet, were established to determine which varieties would thrive in these diverse conditions and authentically represent the Bhutanese terroir. “Whether our results yield blends, single varietals, or sweet wines, we are open to it,” expressed Juergens and Cross. “Cultivating world-class grapes in a country without prior experience will require time,” stated Brain, who came on board from Alpha Omega Winery in Napa Valley. “While it’s premature to pinpoint the best performing varieties, we’re already noticing several showing significant potential at this early juncture.” Bhutan’s natural environment holds great promise for the wine industry; Juergens and Cross highlight the country’s unique status as the only carbon-negative nation globally, featuring pristine, varied soils, microplastic-free water, and unpolluted air, all of which contribute to Bhutan’s capacity to grow exceptional crops. “If this terroir can produce the world’s finest guava, it’s not far-fetched to believe it can also yield some of the finest grapes.” “Additionally,” they elaborated, “the diverse range of elevations from 500 feet to over 25,000 feet allows us to experiment with various grape types rather than committing to a single variety.” Even with Bhutan’s alluring natural landscape, and the founders’ extensive expertise in the wine industry—Juergens, who leads Deloitte’s global Winery Solutions and Services consulting division and is a Master of Wine candidate, and Cross, who specializes in brand management and holds a WSET Diploma—numerous unknown variables remain in the equation. As there was (and still is) no history of wine production in Bhutan, Juergens and Cross plan to continually monitor, analyze, and understand how the microclimates, soil compositions, and varying altitudes across their ten vineyards influence each grape type. This ongoing journey highlights their clear intention: “to embody Bhutan through our wine rather than merely crafting another recipe.” As the Bhutan Wine Company gradually transforms experimentation into success with their initial commercial production, they have already achieved notable benefits for Bhutan through ancillary opportunities arising from their project. “We are educating a considerable number of individuals in viticulture; our team dedicated to this effort, comprising both full-time and part-time members, exceeds 50 individuals,” Juergens noted. As their production increases, the positive impact on the Bhutanese economy will be amplified through the creation of new job opportunities in agriculture, local cooperages, hospitality, and wine tourism. “This initiative will enhance one of their significant industries, which is tourism, by incorporating wine experiences into the overall offerings for tourists visiting Bhutan,” Juergens elaborated on the additional advantages of cultivating and expanding Bhutanese wine. Most importantly, he emphasized, “this project provides the Bhutanese people a chance to proudly present their remarkable country to the world, especially to those who may never have the opportunity to visit Bhutan.” The inaugural release marks a pivotal moment in what may shape the future of viticulture in Bhutan, as the Bhutan Wine Company team takes a considerable risk on this emerging wine region, which has been untouched for 150 years. “We believe that the last instance of a nation without wine grapes building an entire wine industry from the ground up was New Zealand in the 1800s,” Juergens stated. “Thus, there are many supporters rooting for our success, eager to see what the results will be.” One Community. Many Voices. Create a free account to express your opinions. Our community is dedicated to bringing people together through open and meaningful discussions. We encourage our readers to voice their thoughts and share ideas and facts in a secure environment. 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