The 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. Nikki contributes to the Thai and Asian wine industry by being the technical advisor of the Thai Wine Association (TWA) as well as the Viticulture and Winemaking Coordinator of Asian Wine Producers Association (AWPA). Nikki is also a member of the Subcommittee of the Thai Geographical Indication Category Rice, Silk, Wine and Spirit.
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 one of the most exciting wine regions 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.
Up to the present, Nikki has consulted and/or made wine in: Australia, France, Portugal, Mexico, South Africa, Brazil, Venezuela
Nikki Lohitnavy boasts extensive winemaking experience beyond Thailand, having consulted and worked in numerous esteemed wine regions worldwide, applying her tropical viticulture expertise on a global scale.
Under Nikki's leadership since 2008, GranMonte wines have gained international recognition, winning over a hundred medals and trophies from prestigious competitions across France, Austria, England, Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand.
In 2007, as a visiting winemaker at Brown Brothers Winery in Victoria, Australia, she enhanced her knowledge during her third year at the University of Adelaide.
In 2008, while in her fourth year of university, she was awarded the prestigious ‘Wolf Blass Foster’s Wine Prize for Excellence in Winemaking’ and was invited to work as the vintage winemaker at Wolf Blass Winery in Barossa Valley, South Australia.
In 2009, following her graduation, Nikki established GranMonte’s Asoke Winery and later joined the winemaking team for the historic 2009 harvest at La Fleur de Bouard (Lalande de Pomerol) and Chateau Angelus (Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé A) in France.
She also served as a visiting winemaker at Anwilka (Stellenbosch) and Klein Constantia (Constantia) in South Africa. From 2010 to 2015, she proudly showcased GranMonte wines to negociants and wine critics from around the globe at the prestigious ‘En Primeur’ wine tasting event in Bordeaux, making GranMonte the first Thai winery to be invited.
In May 2010, Nikki represented Thailand as a plenary speaker at the 2nd International Symposium of Tropical Wines in Petrolina, Brazil, where participants recognized the premium quality of Thai wines.
In 2010 and 2011, her consultancy work began at Quinta de Roriz, a renowned estate owned by Prats & Symington (Douro Valley, Portugal), where the 2011 CHRYSEIA was awarded No. 3 in Wine Spectator's Top 10 wines of 2014. In November 2011, she was part of the organizing committee for the 3rd International Symposium of Tropical Wines in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
In September 2012, she initiated Thailand’s first exchange program with the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, focusing on tropical viticulture and winemaking knowledge exchange in Brazil with Fazenda Ouro Verde (Miolo Wine Group) and Rio Sol (ViniBrasil group) in São Francisco Valley, Brazil
In 2013, she returned to France for another harvest as a visiting winemaker at Domaine Maison (Cheverny, Loire Valley) and Domaine Alain Graillot and Equis (Crozes-Hermitage).
In March 2014, Nikki made her judging debut at the Wine and Spirits Asia competition in Singapore, serving as a Trophy and Best in Show judge. In June 2014, she launched Thailand's first practical wine education program, emphasizing viticulture and winemaking techniques.
In September 2014, she explored new regions as a visiting winemaker at Monte Xanic, a boutique winery in Valle de Guadalupe, Baja California, Mexico.
In October 2014, Nikki travelled to Venezuela to visit the only vineyard and winery in the country, Bodegas Pomar in Estado Lara. In 2014, she was appointed as the Viticulture and Winemaking Coordinator for the Asian Wine Producers Association.
In July 2015, Nikki served as one of the judges at Thailand’s Best Sommelier Competition in Bangkok.
In October 2016, she was a keynote speaker at the 5th International Symposium on Tropical Wines in Brazil.
In 2016, 2017, 2018 she was on a judging panel of the Thailand’s Best Sommelier in French and Thai Wine
In August 2017, she returned to Brazil as a visiting winemaker at Vinicola Guaspari in São Paulo state.
In September 2017, she judged at the Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition.
In June 27, 2018, her efforts with the Thai Wine Association led to the registration of Khao Yai as a Geographical Indication for wine.
In May 2018, Nikki became founding member and Vice President of the Brazil- Thai Chamber of Commerce.
In July 2018, Nikki participated as an observer judge at the Indonesia Best Sommelier Competition In 2020, she was recognized in Tatler Thailand’s Future List and Tatler Asia Gen.T List.
In July and August of 2022 and 2023, Nikki return to Brazil as consulting winemaker at Vinícola Terra Nossa in Espírito Santo do Pinhal, São Paulo, Brazil.
In 2022, during the APEC summit, held in Bangkok, twenty-four labels of GranMonte Wines were chosen to be served at 36 events where many of world leaders enjoyed her wines.
Notably, in October 2024, her 2022 The Orient Viognier won the Trophy for Best Wine from Asia at the 2024 Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition, along with three Gold medals.
In December 2024, Nikki fulfilled her dream and founded the Paws of Khao Yai Foundation to improve the lives of stray dogs and cats in the region, benefiting local communities and visitors alike.
52 Moo 9 Phayayen, Pakchong,
Nakornrachasima, Thailand 30320
+66 94 831 0909
marketing@granmonte.com
092-806-7755
092-806-7744
094-831-0909