Nikki Lohitnavy

Nikki (Visootha) Lohitnavy

B. of Oenology
Hons. in Viticulture
Oenologist and Winemaker

Nikki is the first and only fully-qualified winemaker of Thailand. She is the General Manager and Oenologist and Winemaker of her family property, GranMonte, Asoke Valley since 2008. Graduated from the University of Adelaide in December 2008, she is the only scholar in history of University of Adelaide who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Oenology together with Honours in Viticulture. Her research was published in two respected scientific journals, Journal of Food Quality and Preference (UK) and Vitis (USA).

She returned home to the non-traditional grape-growing region of the ‘tropics’, the newest and most exciting wine region of the world. New winemaking innovations and techniques are adapted by Nikki on her vineyard and wines to further accelerate GranMonte and Thai wines to the highest international quality.

For her accomplishments, Nikki has recently been listed in Forbes’ Inaugural 30 Under 30 Asia alongside other “top promising young leaders, daring entrepreneurs and game changers” in the manufacturing and energy sector.

Nikki Lohitnavy does not only have winemaking experience in Thailand. She has worked and consulted in various wine regions around the globe bringing her tropical wine growing knowledge to the world.

  • In 2007, she was a visiting winemaker at Brown Brothers Winery in Victoria, Australia during her 3rd year of studies at the University of Adelaide
  • While in her 4th year of the bachelor’s degree, she was awarded the prestigious ‘Wolf Blass Foster’s Wine Prize for Excellence in Winemaking’ and was invited to be the vintage winemaker at Wolf Blass Winery, Barossa Valley, South Australia in 2008
  • In 2009, after establishing GranMonte’s Asoke Winery right after her graduation from the University of Adelaide, she traveled to France to join the winemaking team at La Fleur de Bouard (Lalande de Pomerol) and Chateau Angelus (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé A) for the historic 2009 harvest
  • After her venture in France, the same year, she went to South Africa as visiting winemaker at Anwilka (Stellenbosch) and Klein Constantia (Constantia)
  • Since April 2010, she has been proudly representing GranMonte and pouring her wines to negociants and wine critics from around the globe at the world-famous wine tasting event, ‘En Primeur’ in Bordeaux. GranMonte is the only Thai winery that has the honour of being invited to participate at the annual event.
  • In May 2010, she represented Thailand as a plenary speaker at the 2nd International Symposium of Tropical Wines in Petrolina, Brazil where the participants were convinced that Thai wines have the most premium quality in the tropical wine producing regions
  • Her first consultancy was at Quinta de Roriz (Douro Valley, Portugal), a renowned estate owned by Prats & Symington where she was the consulting winemaker in 2010 and 2011. The 2011 CHRYSEIA was named No. 3 of the Top 10 wines of 2014 by Wine Spectator.
  • In November 2011, Nikki was a member of the organizing committee, bringing the 3rd International Symposium of Tropical Wines to Chiang Mai, Thailand
  • In Septermber 2012, she began Thailand’s first exchange program with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation and GranMonte in technical exchange of tropical viticulture and winemaking knowledge at Fazenda Ouro Verde (Miolo Wine Group) and Rio Sol (ViniBrasil group) in São Francisco Valley, Brazil
  • She returned for a French harvest in 2013 where she was a visiting winemaker at Domaine Maison (Cheverny, Loire Valley) and Domaine Alain Graillot and Equis (Crozes-Hermitage)
  • Nikki did her first judging gig in March 2014 at the Wine and Spirits Asia competition in Singapore as a member of the judging panel and was selected to be Trophy and Best in Show judge
  • In June 2014, Nikki held the first ever practical wine program in Thailand. The GranMonte Practical Wine Education Program held over three days focuses on practical aspects of viticulture and winemaking
  • In September 2014, Nikki ventured once again into exciting new regions of winemaking. She was a visiting winemaker at Monte Xanic, leading boutique winery in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico
  • Nikki travelled to Venezuela in October 2014 to visit the only vineyard and winery in the country, Bodegas Pomar in Estado Lara
  • At the Asian Wine Producers Association meeting in Hong Kong 2014, Nikki was appointed as the Viticulture and Winemaking Coordinator of the association
  • In July 2015, Nikki was invited to be one of the four judges at the Thailand’s Best Sommelier Competition 2015 in Bangkok, Thailand
  • October 2016, she was invited as a key note speaker at the 5th International Symposium on Tropical Wines in Petrolina, Brazil
  • In 2016 and 2017, she was on a judging panel of the Thailand’s Best Sommelier in French and Thai Wine
  • In August 2017, Nikki returned to Brazil as a visiting winemaker at a renowned sub-tropical winery, Vinicola Guaspari in São Paulo state

GranMonte wines under Nikki’s direction since 2008 has gain international recognition and won over a hundred medals and trophies from international wine competitions in France, Austria, England, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Just to name a few…

  • GranMonte has won: Best National Producer of Thailand, AWC Vienna 2015 & 2016
  • 2009 Asoke Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah has won: Gold AWC Vienna 2011, Gold Wine Style Asia Award 2011, Trophy & Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2012, Silver Decanter 2011, Silver AWC Vienna 2010
  • 2010 Asoke Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2014, Silver AWC Vienna 2012
  • 2011 Asoke Cabernet Sauvignon Syrah has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2013
  • 2009 The Orient Syrah Reserve has won: Gold AWC Vienna 2011, Silver Syrah du Monde 2011
  • 2009 The Orient Syrah has won: Gold AWC Vienna 2012, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013, Silver Syrah du Monde 2010, Silver International Wine Challenge 2011, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2010
  • 2010 The Orient Syrah has won: Best Thai Wine Japan Wine Challenge 2012, Silver Japan Wine Challenge 2012
  • 2011 The Orient Syrah has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2013, Gold AWC Vienna 2014, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013
  • 2012 The Orient Syrah has won: Trophy Best Wine with Gaeng Massaman HKIWSC 2015, Gold Best Wine with Gaeng Massaman HKIWSC 2015, Silver AWC Vienna 2015
  • 2009 Heritage Syrah has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2011, Silver AWC Vienna 2010, Silver Decanter 2011, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2010
  • 2010 Heritage Syrah has won: Silver Syrah du Monde 2012
  • 2011 Heritage Syrah has won: Gold AWC Vienna 2013, Silver AWC Vienna 2012, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013
  • 2012 Heritage Syrah has won: Best Thai Wine Japan Wine Challenge 2013, Gold Japan Wine Challenge 2013, Silver AWC Vienna 2013, Silver Syrah du Monde 2014
  • 2010 Heritage Syrah Viognier has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2011, Silver AWC Vienna 2013
  • 2012 Heritage Syrah Viognier has won: Silver Decanter Asia 2013, Silver Syrah du Monde 2012, Highly-commended Sydney International Wine Competition
  • 2013 Heritage Syrah Viognier has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2014
  • 2013 Spring Syrah has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2014
  • 2011 Viognier has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2011, Gold FBAT Wine Challenge 2011, Silver AWC Vienna 2011
  • 2013 Viognier has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2014, Trophy FBAT International Wine Challenge 2013, Trophy FBAT Thai Wine Challenge 2013
  • 2014 Viognier has won: Silver Best Wine with Chicken Tikka HKIWSC 2014
  • 2013 Verdelho has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2014
  • 2014 Verdelho has won: Gold AWC Vienna 2015
  • 2015 Verdelho has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2015
  • 2009 Sole Chenin Blanc has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2009, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2009
  • 2011 Sole Chenin Blanc Viognier has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2011, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2011
  • 2009 Spring Chenin Blanc has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2009, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2009, Silver AWC Vienna 2009
  • 2010 Spring Chenin Blanc has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2011
  • 2011 Spring Chenin Blanc has won: Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2011
  • 2013 Spring Chenin Blanc has won: Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013
  • 2014 Spring Chenin Blanc has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2014, Silver Best Wine with Tempura Shrimp HKIWSC 2014
  • 2013 Bussaba Natural Sweet Wine has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2013, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013
  • 2009 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2009, Silver Wine Style Asia 2009
  • 2010 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Silver AWC Vienna 2010
  • 2011 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2011, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2011, Highly Commended SIWC Sydney 2012, Silver Wine Style Asia Award 2011
  • 2012 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2012
  • 2013 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Blue-Gold Sydney International Wine Competition 2014, Trophy FBAT Wine Challenge 2013, Silver FBAT Wine Challenge 2013, Silver Syrah du Monde 2014, Silver AWC Vienna 2014
  • 2014 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Trophy Best Wine with Kung Pao Chicken HKIWSC 2014, Gold Best Wine with Kung Pao Chicken HKIWSC 2014
  • 2015 Sakuna Syrah Rosé has won: Trophy Best Wine with Unagi HKIWSC 2015, Gold Best Wine with Unagi HKIWSC 2015
  • 2012 Crémant Methode Traditionelle Chenin Blanc Extra Brut has won: Bronze HKIWSC 2014, Bronze Decanter Awards 2014, Bronze Decanter Asia 2014