Khao Yai

Khao Yai's mountains bring cooler conditions to a tropical part of Thailand. December and January can be dry and windy, with temperatures below 10°C. Nights may stay cold from October to February, while March to May is cooler than in much of the country. Rain arrives with the monsoon. Vineyard sites include slopes at 350 to 380 metres above sea level. GranMonte's Asoke Valley estate sits at 350 metres and closely monitors local conditions as part of its pest-management programme. Chenin Blanc is an important white grape, grown alongside the reds Merlot, Malbec and Barbera and the whites Marsanne and Roussanne. PB Valley dates one of the region's first large-scale professional wineries to 1989 and harvests grapes from late January to mid-March.