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Family Money: Get real about real estate - Part
4
By Leslie
Wright,
Managing director of Westminster Portfolio Services (Thailand) Ltd.
Fees & Taxes
Whenever a property in Thailand is bought or sold three
taxes have to be paid. Many buyers (especially foreigners) fail to take
these into account. It should be decided beforehand whether the buyer or
seller will be responsible for paying these.
Because of the peculiar local system of taxing property
on an arbitrary assessed value as determined by the Land Department rather
than true market value, these taxes could amount to a considerable
percentage of the purchase price.
First there is a property sales tax of 0.11% of
assessed value or the sale price whichever is higher, as well as a
transfer fee of 0.01% of the assessed value of the land. Also a stamp fee
of 0.5% of the assessed value or the sale price - again, whichever is
higher.
However, there is no property sales tax if:
* The seller has owned the property for at least five
years.
* The seller has used the property as his primary
residence for at least one year prior to the sale.
* The seller received the property as an inheritance.
If you haven’t determined during the negotiations
that the seller will pay the taxes upon transfer, you could get a nasty
shock when a tax bill arrives - often some two or three months after the
sale is completed - since the seller often neglects to mention this
liability. (And after all, why should they tell you if you don’t already
know or ask? As in all business transactions anywhere, caveat emptor is
the rule: Let the buyer beware).
Once you have acquired property, you must pay property
taxes on it. If you rent out the property, the tax is 12.5% per year on
the annual rental revenue. (Which is why so many local rentors want the
lessee to pay tax for them, as they don’t want to lose 12.5% of their
revenue).
There is also a tax on non-rental property. This
depends on location and land classification, and varies from 0.025% to
0.095% a year.
In addition, if the house is purchased through a
company, one has to bear in mind that corporate tax is higher than
personal tax, and the cost of setting up the company has to be considered
as part of the initial investment outlay, even if this is a relatively
modest additional cost - perhaps around US$1,000 all told.
Then, when you want to sell the property, it is simply
a matter of transferring the shares of the holding company to the buyer,
without the necessity of re-registering the land titles. There are of
course costs and fees involved in this exercise, but typically only a few
thousand baht all told. Again, get a professional business representative
or lawyer to do it all for you.
Selling a property ‘naked’ (i.e., without a company
‘wrapper’), you may be liable for all of the fees that were applicable
at the time of purchase (see above). You would also have to pay income tax
on the sale amount.
Deductions are calculated using a table from the Land
Department, which is based on how long you have held the property. If you
(or your local wife/girlfriend) received the land from an inheritance,
there is a standard deduction of 50%.
Otherwise, the deductions are as follows: 92% if you
have held the property for one year, 84% for two years, 77% for three
years, 71% for four years, 65% for five years, 60% for six years, 55% for
seven years, and finally reaching 50% for eight years or more.
For example, if you have held the land for four years,
the deduction is 71%. Therefore, if you sold the property for 1.25 million
baht, you would be liable for tax on 362,500 baht. This taxable income is
then divided by the number of years you held the property (divide 362,500
by 4 to get 90,625).
The tax owed is then calculated from the standard
personal income tax brackets (see the table at the end of this article).
From the tax brackets, 90,625 baht is liable to tax of 531.25 baht. You
then have to multiply by the number of years you held the property. Take
531.25 and multiply by 4 to get the final tax figure of 2,125 baht.
It may seem a bit silly to divide, and then multiply by
the number of years you held the property. However, this means that in the
end you pay less tax, because a lower base is used for the tax bracket
calculation. If this division and multiplication did not occur, in the
example above you would have had to pay 27,250 baht in income tax at
current rates.
There are two further requirements:
* For sale of inherited, non-commercial or
non-investment property, the final tax figure must be no more than 20% of
the sale price.
* No matter how long you have held the property, the
number of years you use in the division and multiplication process for the
tax calculation cannot exceed 10.
There are also certain special cases where the income
tax does not apply:
* The property is inherited or is an unsolicited gift,
and is in a rural area, and the sale price is no more than 200,000 baht.
* The property is given to your children, or is
appropriated by the government.
Buying and selling property can be a complex matter,
and you should ask a lawyer for complete advice.
Tax Brackets - 2003
* Income of 0 to Bt.80,000: 0
* Bt.80,001 to 100,000: 5%
* Bt.100,001 to 500,000: 10%
* Bt.501,000 to 1,000,000: 20%
* Bt.1,000,001 to 4,000,000: 30%
* Bt.4,000,001 and above: 37%
Snap Shot: Good pictures -
For One Shilling!
by Harry Flashman
I discovered an old book the other day, which I had
written about a couple of years ago. It bears repeating. My old friend,
Jan Olav Aamlid had left it for me. Called “How to make good pictures -
a book for the amateur photographer” it had been published by Kodak in
London, and cost one shilling! For one shilling you could buy a 170 glossy
paged instruction book. Unfortunately there was no date in the book, but
looking at the photographs printed in it, I would put the date at around
1920. Horse-drawn hansom cabs and bi-planes are certainly from another
era.
Things have changed photographically too. Before the
world developed that wonderful little pop-up flash on your compact camera,
that “knows” it has to come up when the light levels are low, Kodak
were offering the Amateur Flashlight Outfit for those who would brave the
dark. I quote from our one shilling book, “The procedure is simple. The
powder is crushed and mixed as indicated, then the taper is fixed in
position at one end of the tray. When ready to make the exposure, the
taper is lit and the lamp slowly tilted until the powder falls on the
flame.” The book goes on a couple of pages later, “When more than one
flashlight picture is to be taken, the windows should be opened between
each flash to free the room thoroughly from smoke, otherwise all the
pictures after the first few are liable to have a slightly ‘foggy’
appearance.”
Further advice to the amateur with his flash powder and
taper include, “If the room is darkened the sudden flash of light so
strains the eyes of the sitters that it almost invariably gives them a
staring look, but if the room is already illuminated by gas or
electricity, the strain is not so great and the eyes will have a natural
expression.” I would imagine that sitting in a closed room with some
lunatic with crushed flash powder and a lit taper would make anyone stare
a little! Yes, we certainly get it easy these days.
There is one complete chapter on photographing
interiors, with exposure times quoted around the 10 minute mark. They do
caution, “The camera must be placed on a tripod or other rigid support
for making time exposures. If time exposures are made with the camera held
in the hands, the pictures will be blurred.” Now isn’t that the
understatement of the year. The mind boggles at a hand-held 10 minute time
exposure!
However, it does have some very pertinent facts, still
used today. With portrait photography, the book suggests, “As an
example, take a young man with too prominent ears; it is obvious in this
case that the full face would be displeasing, so turn the face slowly away
from the light until the ear nearest the light disappears from the line of
sight.” The book also says that if this still does not fix the problem,
get the young man to rest his head on his hand and hide the appendages
that way!
But for me, the best part of the book was in the first
few chapters where the basic principles of photography are explained in
detail, even showing the differences between the difference in manufacture
of lenses. Exposure control is well documented, and the amateur
photographer who followed this book through to the end would have no
longer been a true “amateur”.
In those halcyon days, the budding photographer was
also his own darkroom assistant and much of the book is devoted to D&P
(Developing and Printing) and how to avoid the traps and pitfalls
there-in. For those of you who have dabbled (or rather dipped and dunked)
you will agree that it does give another dimension to picture taking, one
that has all but disappeared these days, with the advent of the 1 hour
auto-processor.
No, it was a most interesting book, with some parts being decidedly
“quaint” but others still as salient today. Thank you, Jan Olav.
Modern Medicine: Sleep Apnoea and Snoring
by Dr Iain Corness, Consultant
Snoring affects around 50% of the population at some
stage in their lives, so you are not alone! What causes snoring? Simply,
it is the tissues in the back of your throat vibrating as you breathe.
Soft or loose tissue makes the possibility of snoring much more likely, as
does the depth of your sleep.
There are other factors involved in the snoring pattern
as well. Lying on your back is one, as is going to bed with a skinful
(nice non-medical term) of alcohol on board. Alcohol, as many men have
found out, is a muscle relaxant, not the other way round.
Unfortunately, as we get older, we are also more likely
to snore as the muscles in your throat and soft palate lose some tension.
Enlarged tonsils (those strawberry shaped glands in the
back of your throat) can partially block the air passage and produce
snoring as well. A blocked nose from any cause will also force you to
sleep with your mouth open, and again you are more likely to snore.
Even your uvula (the thing that hangs down like the
clapper on a bell in the back of your throat) if it is large can
predispose you towards snoring, so there’s lots of chances for you to
become a rip-roaring snorer.
Treatment? There’s no real specific medical
treatment. Obviously lose weight and getting generally fit helps, and
avoid the skinfuls! One old remedy was to sew a cotton reel on the back of
your pyjama jacket - this was to stop you sleeping on your back, however
there’s not too many people wearing PJ’s these days! I even read a
medical article about 6 months ago that suggested all that was needed was
for one’s bed partner to give you a kiss on the cheek. You can give this
a clinical trial if you wish!
Now while snoring can be a real pain for your bed
partner, there is another condition which is much more serious called
Sleep Apnoea (or Apnea if you are American). This is where you snort for a
few minutes and then stop breathing altogether for 15-30 seconds, then
restart breathing and snoring again in a repetitive cycle. Very often this
wakes the patient up and in the morning they feel dreadful, having had a
very poor night’s sleep.
What has happened here is that the air passage relaxes
so much that it closes over and stops the flow of oxygen and carbon
dioxide builds up in the blood. This raised level alerts the brain to
physically restart the breathing cycle, but unfortunately wakes the
patient as well.
So what can be done about this problem? Well first you
have to do all the items that are indicated for snoring, and if that fixes
the problem, that’s fine. However, the chances are that the problem will
still be there. The treatments now are more physical. There is a special
mask that can be worn, to push oxygen into the lungs. This is called
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP), and sufferers need to use the
CPAP machine and mask for a long time. You may have to continue it for
years!
After CPAP there are various types of surgery that can
be done to remove excess flabby tissue in the back of the throat. Again
these are not fun, but may be the last resort. The doctors to see are
respiratory physicians and be guided by them.
 Heart to Heart with Hillary
Dear Hillary,
I read all these long letters full of woe that you seem to
get every week from yet another farang who has had his heart (and wallet)
stolen by another girl of the night. They should just be more careful, that’s
all. I have found the most wonderful, tall and good looking, perfectly groomed
girl, her parents are both in good health and her grandparents are deceased.
She has no children, and no brothers or sisters and from all reports, the
buffalo is happily grazing. I am thinking of asking her to marry me. All it
takes is a little looking and you can find the girl of your dreams in Thailand.
Very Happy
Dear Very Happy,
Hillary is happy for you too, Petal. There’s only a
couple of points that worry me just a little. This girl of your dreams, did you
just dream her up, or is she real? And if she is, are you sure this is a
“girl”? Check her passport immediately. Finally, before getting down on
bended knee I would suggest getting the local vet to check the buffalo and
furnish a report, witnessed by the local policeman, as long as he is not
related.
Dear Hillary,
Is there an alternative to the unfriendly ‘song taew’
drivers in this city? I am so tired of their grunting when I ask them to take
me somewhere, and it really is off putting not just for me, but for my overseas
guests as well. What can be done, Hillary? It is not good for me at all.
Bussed Off
Dear Bussed Off,
Yes, there is an easy alternative. It’s called
“walking”.
Hello Hillary,
My name is Noy and I is the lady in the Caring Chris saga.
(To put this letter into correct perspective, here is a very condensed version
of Caring Chris’ letter published eight weeks ago ... “Dear Hillary, I’m
blessed with exceedingly good looks, great sense of humour, intelligent, highly
educated, kind hearted and a snappy dresser. On my first night out I was very
lucky to meet an attractive girl on her first night in the city. She came from
Udon Thani and her name was Noi. She fell for my looks and charm. She kept
blowing wind in my face and said many times, “I lub you too much.” She
bowled me over and within days we finished up in her Moo Bahn in Udon, and she
wanted to marry me. After a few days I began to get a little disappointed with
the whole affair and being woken in the middle of the night with the
cockle-doodle-do’s cockling, dogs barking, motorbikes revving up, sticky rice
and somtum daily, loud music, no hot water, creepie-crawlies and Noi’s mobile
phone constantly ringing. I then decided to call the whole thing off and went
to Pattaya. Noi said no matter what she still lubbed me too much and she would
follow me in a day or two. As I hadn’t heard from her after a week and I
still cared for her I decided to call her mobile. She said that her Mama was
“Mai sabai” and it may be a few more days before she would come. It was
just then that I got the shock of my life when this big Harley Davidson whizzed
by with my darling Noi astride the pillion with her arms tightly clutched
around the long haired driver. Needless to say, I was devastated and hurt and
for a while suffered from mild depression. To this day I don’t know why she
would associate with the looks of a man like that and give up a man of my
looks, charm and generosity. Caring Chris.”)
Now back to Noy’s response ... Now is the time for all us
Thai lady to stand up against the never ending whinging, bitching and moaning
the falangs sling at us, so let us look at the other side of the coins. We did
not put a gun to your head in coming here. Just because you give us a few baht
you own us? No way Jose. You say we get an Oscar for cheating and tell lie and
say Hello Handsome Man and butterfly and sweet talk. OK we no angels, but all
that is part of the package and if you don’t like it you lump it. Wise up
handsome old man. So next time you see a young beautiful Thai lady walk down
the soi’s with some old bald headed, pot bellied, technicolour rat tail with
the roots dyed grey, consider you lucky because back home that lady would more
likely be somebody’s grandmother. Finally all you ‘Goi’s’ in the sois,
and including Ireland’s Caring Chris, put up or shut up. And Hillary, as one
lady to another I hope you agree.
Noy (Udonthani)
Dear Noy (Udonthani),
I think you have very eloquently shown the “other side
of the coins” as you put it. The “Handsome old men” of this world should
all read and re-read your letter before coming over to Thailand and getting
involved in this situation. You have beautifully illustrated the old adage -
“You Get What You Pay For”. As Noy states, “OK we no angels” - you have
all been warned!
Personal Directions: Drop a pebble in the water...
by Christina Dodd
The simplest analogies, I find, have the most effective
results when it comes to trying to communicate. I found this poem recently
by James W Foley and I think it is a gem in demonstrating a very important
and fundamental part of our behaviour and it goes like this:
“Drop a pebble in the water; just a splash and it is
gone,
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on
and on.
Spreading, spreading from the center, flowing on out to
the sea,
And there is no way of telling where the end is going
to be.
Drop a careless unkind word, and in a minute it is
gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on
and on.
They keep spreading, spreading, spreading, from the
center as they go,
And there is no way to stop them, once you’ve started
them to flow.
Drop a word of cheer and kindness; just a flash and it
is gone;
But there’s half-a-hundred ripples circling on and on
and on.
Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing,
dashing wave,
Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind
word you gave.”
It is a fact and it is reality that even as adults, we
have to re-learn or re-think the basics from time to time. We get carried
away by the fact that we are all grown-up and begin to masquerade the part
of “being an adult”, rather than act and live the part. So many
parents are intent on ensuring that their children develop into good human
beings and in the process of doing this, forget themselves and their own
need to review their development. We don’t suddenly reach an age and
then stop learning. The learning process begins inside the womb and
continues until the day we die.
It is a rare opportunity we get to be able to take a
look inside and to do a bit of self-examination. Whenever I hold
self-development programs I remind the participants that they should look
at this opportunity as a well-deserved break away from the frantic chaos
of daily life, and a break that is going to provide them with the energy
to re-charge the batteries and clear the cob-webs! The first thing that
they learn to do is to empty their minds and to visualize the next few
days as a blank piece of paper that is going to be coloured-in using fresh
new crayons. An interesting and exciting thought and release for many, as
they begin the process of self-assessment and discovery of who they really
are and what they really want to get out of life.
If this kind of program is something you are personally
interested in and want to join, please let me know. The course runs for
two days and is very intensive in so far as it is full of activities that
provoke thought and action. It is highly interactive and requires everyone
to participate to their fullest ability. Most people end up doing this and
because they give it everything they’ve got - they gain so much benefit
from the program!
This form of program is a unique and powerful form of
personal development training that has been the catalyst for many people,
in many places, to strive for a much happier, more meaningful and more
productive (successful) life.
It covers issues such as trust and communication,
builds self-esteem, self-confidence and self-worth in each individual. It
focuses on inner strengths, qualities and abilities and explores
self-awareness, human behaviour and attitudes. It looks at change, the
need to change, and the way to make positive changes. It examines personal
values and ideals close-up.
It is a journey of discovery, of finding out about
yourself and who you really are. It is a journey that will make you
realize how important it is not to dwell in the past, but to move towards
the future and to get on with your life. It helps you to understand more
deeply why it is that you do the things that you do.
It helps you to understand the significance of goals
and why they are so essential to living life and wanting a better life. It
is an adventure that allows you to see that you have tremendous abilities
hidden inside you that you have not used and if you are able to bring them
out and use them - you can achieve so much more.
It is a profound experience that helps you feel the
deep value of relationships with those around you, with your family and
the ones you love. It helps you to understand the value and importance of
your very own life!
This program is for people of all ages, from all parts
of society, from all backgrounds. It is for people of all nationalities,
for people of all beliefs. It is for everyone who is looking for something
more - for a life filled with purpose, achievement and above all -
happiness.
In many ways it is a giant wake-up call! Much of the
content is familiar to all of us but we have, quite honestly, lost sight
of the real issues and become lost in the activities of daily life so much
so that it has not allowed us the breathing space we need - as human
beings - to continue to grow.
Many people who have participated in this style of
program with me over the years still write to me today, staying in touch
even with just a card to let me know how they are getting on with life. It
is an extremely fulfilling part of my work and I am so delighted at the
fact that they have made the effort. That speaks volumes!
If you’d like to know more and if you would like to
participate in one of our self-development programs, please contact me at
[email protected]
Until next time, have a wonderful week.
Social Commentary by Khai Khem
The tourists will be back
All tourist destinations have their trials and
tribulations. Outside events have temporarily thrown Pattaya’s tourism
industry into a bit of turmoil. But I have to take my hat off to the many
organizations which have joined hands to work together to keep Thailand in
the spotlight with some amazingly enterprising promotions and inventive
campaigns to keep the light burning in the window so that vacationers can
find their way back.
Socially and politically, Thailand’s traditional
mentality does not promote teamwork. A quick assessment of the country’s
development in many areas will reveal this lack of group cooperation which
results in a permanent state of chaos, or simply muddling through whatever
project or national goal is currently on the table.
The nation’s tourism industry seems to be an
exception. Since the first “Visit Thailand” campaign in the 1980s,
this sector has grown with admirable results. I remember when a government
target of 3 million foreign tourists was considered a courageous goal. It
is now not unthinkable to strive for 10-15 million tourists or special
event arrivals in any given year. That is an accomplishment to be proud
of.
Thailand has a lot to offer a visitor. Our small
kingdom has tremendous variety, a unique culture, geographical diversity,
distinctive cuisine, and a massive array of things to choose from for
shoppers. Thai’s are friendly, outgoing and eager to please. This basic
temperament makes them a very popular group in the South East Asian
population, and inherently qualified to shine in the service industry. Our
mild mannered tropical climate provides us with a year-round summer. We
are not cursed with ice storms, hurricanes, volcano eruptions or tidal
waves. Nor do we languish under political oppression, war, famine or
revolution. We even escaped the SARS epidemic due to quick action on the
part of our health workers.
The downturn in the world economy will affect all
tourist destinations. Money worries and job losses will definitely impact
international travelers. However, Thailand’s quick response to this
temporary setback has been to launch intense campaigns to keep us in the
public eye. Special summer discount offers are now so attractive they will
certainly tempt tourists to our city. Everyone loves a bargain. Pattaya is
not only improving its many attractions but adding new and better ones
every month, and at prices that can hardly be passed up.
Businesses that rely on tourists may be placed under a
hardship when lowering their prices, but this is a very effective way of
luring tourists. Sometimes price is everything, and no one loves a bargain
more than tourists. After all, a holiday is a luxury; a treat - something
that can be dispensed with when times are tough. In fact, when money is
short and hard to come by, the vacation is the first thing that gets the
ax. Dining out, frivolous shopping, hotel stays and unnecessary travel are
all things people sacrifice when funds are tight. The special promotions
and enticing deals now offered to tourists in Pattaya are great incentives
to those of us who still find it hard to give up our holidays and leisure
activities. Keep it cheap. They will come.
The whole world is now at our fingertips. Airlines are
offering cheap fares; first class hotels in world class venues such as New
York City, Arizona and Florida are also offering deals that up to recently
would have been unheard of; some as cheap as US$147 per night with lots of
extras. This is going to be very hard to compete with.
Thailand is not the only country which is promoting
tourism within its own country and targeting the local population.
A word of advice is warranted. A lot of tourists have
made it quite plain through the years that they object to the two-tier
pricing system long established in the country and sanctioned by the
government. They feel cheated and discriminated against. If the present
bargains being promoted in Thailand are for everyone, well and good. But
the message seems garbled at present. The wording in many of the campaigns
regarding special discounts and enticing offers seems to be directed only
to Thai nationals. If I misinterpreted this, I stand corrected.
There is an enormous pool of people and their money to
be tapped in Pattaya, and indeed around the nation. Expats who live and
work here and the foreign retirement community total a significant number
of people with money to spend. They do not usually sign up for packaged
tours. Since they live here full-time they are mobile, independent and
plan their own holidays and leisure activities. They make their own
decisions and will expect to be included in these special discount offers
which have so effectively saturated the advertising sector.
Hopefully Pattaya’s tourist venues will welcome this
group. After all, their baht is as good as the baht spent by Thai
citizens. Money is money, and fair practices in the tourist industry
always contribute to good will.
There was a recent incident at one of Pattaya’s
world-famous cabarets that provoked a scandalous report in the news
regarding a Japanese family who objected to being charged more than locals
to enter the premises. To the venue’s credit, not only did the
management agree to drop the surcharge for the foreign tourists upon
request, but held a press conference to back up the integrity of its
policy and intention of good will toward foreign visitors. This is the
kind of professionalism in Pattaya’s tourist industry sector that will
enhance our image and retain our good standing as a popular holiday
destination.
Woman's World: On the beach at the OK Beauty Salon
Part 1
by Lesley Warner
“Treat yourself to a complete beauty treatment at a price
anyone can afford.” What better way to recover from a day on the beach
than with a body scrub, manicure, pedicure, facial massage or complete new
hairdo. I have found the perfect place to do it, a great little beauty
salon hidden away down the Jomtien Beach Road next to Nang Nual Seafood
Restaurant, a little way after Chaiyaput crossroad. The OK Beauty Saloon
can cater for all your needs using every innovative technique there is now
in hairdressing. The cost is very reasonable and the service is excellent
with a nice waiting area for the men and a complimentary drink while they
sit overlooking the beautiful Jomtien Beach or, they too could enjoy a
sauna or facial massage.
Before
After
This small beauty salon offers all the services one can
find in the exclusive city salons from around the globe. The beauticians
and stylists are qualified from the Grace Siam School of Hair and Beauty
and the cost of these new innovative services is incredible, allowing you
to spoil yourself more often. After you have visited the OK salon 10 times
you qualify for a free manicure or shampoo and set and a 10% discount card
for your future trips to the salon.
This
fantastic new method for permanently straightening hair.
For years women with curly frizzy hair have been
begging for straight hair; now you don’t need brown paper and an iron,
you can get it done professionally and it will leave your hair looking
like an advert for L’Oreal. Thermal reconditioning straightening is
permanent, and can last up to 1 year. Only the grow-out needs to be
retouched it uses chemical straighteners and a flat iron to restructure
the hair. Treated hair will remain straight, but new growth will have to
be treated. How often will depend on the texture of the hair and how
quickly it grows. Thermal reconditioning is an exact and time-consuming
process, using powerful products. It’s not like a haircut which will
grow out in a few weeks, therefore it can take a long time if you have
particularly difficult hair.
You start of with a gentle massaging shampoo that makes
you feel really relaxed. The hair is then heavily conditioned with a
protein mixture to protect it from damage. Next, the straightening
chemical is applied, excluding the ends. The ends are done last because
they are the most porous and don’t need much processing.
After the chemical has straightened the hair, it is rinsed and
reconditioned. The hair is then carefully blown dry, blowing only
downward. Then the flattening iron is used to smooth very small sections
of hair until the whole head is done. Next, a neutralizing agent is
applied and you have a final rinse, then a shampoo, condition and style;
it’s a bit like a reverse perm. After the process is done, it’s
advised not to get the hair wet for three days or, put the hair in a
ponytail, wear hats or tuck hair behind the ears. This gives the hair
straightening time to set in.
Wine:
Sun continues to shine on California wines
California’s wines continue to enthral its share of
drinkers, especially the young, rich and uninitiated. The United States’
most populous state is a major proponent in the New World wine revolution
rivalled only by Australia in terms of production.
Domaine
St. George, California winemaker and Sonoma Wineries Association “2002,
Wine Person of the Year” Robert Fredson will be the guest speaker at an
exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner to be held on July 4th, 2003 at the Royal
Cliff Beach Resort, Pattaya.
In 2002 Californian wineries shipped a record 463 million
gallons of wine to domestic and international markets, an estimated 3
percent increase from the previous year according to the San Francisco-based
Wine Institute trade association.
This phenomenal growth is a testament to the world’s
steadily increasing awareness of the state’s constantly improving wine
quality. And if the trend continues, wine experts believe that more people
would be wishing that their next bottles would all be Californian wines.
Inspired by lifestyle changes of the past four decades,
raised income for many, and more worldly perspectives, California’s
diverse array of vintners has come from all walks of life, giving rise to a
heady spirit of optimism and experimentation.
The state’s modern winemaking era is perhaps best
marked by Robert Mondavi’s 1965 departure from his family’s Charles Krug
Winery to the Napa Valley. The charismatic winemaker helped America’s
palate to evolve with a combination of personal charm, dedication to wine
quality along with innovative marketing techniques.
California’s rise to stardom remains most startling in
its rapid evolution. Back in the ’60s the state was merely known as a
leading jug wine producer. Even in the mid-1980s, California was still
considered a promising but immature wine region by non-Californians.
Today, however, the state’s winemakers have caught up
to, and in some cases, surpassed their competitors from around the world.
Vineyards have been fine-tuned along with winemaking to the point that
hundreds of exceptional wines are released each year. Fact is, the once
lofty French and other Old World hegemony is now continually challenged by a
relatively young but tightly-forged New World wine industry.
Connoisseurs need look no farther than Napa Valley or
Sonoma County, for example, to find satisfaction with nearly every popular
variety. Positive reviews from Wine Spectator Magazine and from many other
organizations and individuals, including some from Europe, have established
that many California wines belong on the table with the best wines of
Europe.
In Sonoma County, several outstanding labels have had
their share of the limelight. Coupled with the attention given to fine
produce, their winemakers too have not gone unnoticed.
For his significant contribution to the local wine
industry, winemaker Robert Fredson was honoured as “Wine Person of the
Year” by the Sonoma Wineries Association in 2002. With more than thirty
years of hands-on experience cultivating Sonoma’s rich soil and
eco-climate, the fourth-generation winemaker has transformed Domaine St.
George from a rustic family operation to an internationally acclaimed
winery.
Domaine Saint George is a traditional winery located in
the hills above the Russian River Valley near Healdsburg, in the heart of
Sonoma County. Wine grapes were first planted here in 1928, and the winery
was founded in 1934.
On July 4th, 2003 the Royal Cliff Wine Club will offer
several Domaine St. George wines in an exclusive Winemaker’s Dinner (1500
baht net, inclusive of wines, pre-dinner canap้s, service charge and
VAT) in the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Cliff Grand. Six varieties in all,
the wines will also include other outstanding Californian labels. Coinciding
with American Independence Day, the event showcases a fabulous six-course
menu with a unique American theme from the resort’s executive chef, Walter
Thenisch and will have no less than Robert Fredson himself as guest speaker.
For reservations, please call the Wine Club at tel. nos.
038-250-421 ext. 2782 (from 09:00 to 18:00 hrs) or Guest Relations at ext.
2007 or 2037. Email us at wineclub@ royalcliff.com
The Royal Cliff Wine Club is still accepting members. Inquiries and
applications are accepted thru the previously mentioned contact details.
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