Myanmar Wine Tasting: Inle Lake’s Red Mountain Estate Vineyard

When looking for what to do at Inle Lake I’m sure you’ve already been prepped on the basics. A traditional boat tour, sewing and silver workshops, and of course catching the beautiful sunset over the water…. But drinking wine in Myanmar? That’s something we didn’t expect! Red Mountain Estate is Myanmar’s only winery, and it just so happens to be a quick ride from Inle Lake. Here’s what to expect if you decide to stop in for a drink!

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History of the Red Mountain Estate Winery 

So now that you know there’s wine in Myanmar, how did it come to be in Inle Lake? Well as you might of assumed the Europeans played a part in bringing the delicious beverage to this part of Asia. Red Mountain Estate Winery started in 2002 by importing equipment from Italy and recruiting French Winemaker Francois Raynal.

The following year they planted the first crops, and by 2006 the first one thousand bottles were produced! Now the Red Mountain Winery in Myanmar proudly churns out hundreds of thousands of bottles per year, and has become a popular stop for tourists looking for what to do in Inle Lake.

Getting to the Inle Lake Winery

There’s a couple different ways to get to the Red Mountain Estate Winery from the main town of Nyaung Shwe. Many travelers visiting Inle Lake ride bicycles which takes about 30 minutes. We would have loved to do that, but were a little short on time.

For this reason, we had our hotel order us a tuk tuk so we could get to tasting some Myanmar wine! The tuk tuk taxi cost 12,000 MMK which is roughly $8 USD round trip. We gave the driver a time to pick us up at, and he was waiting there as soon as we were done at the Inle Lake Winery.

Red Mountain Estate Wine Tasting

Now that you know all about the Red Mountain Estate Winery it’s time for the best part! Walking in from the entrance there’s a restaurant and balcony area straight ahead, and to the left a tasting room is set up overlooking the vineyard. The left side is where the Myanmar wine tasting goes down and we wasted no time getting our order in.

A four glass tasting cost 5,000 MMK which is the equivalent of just $3.40 USD. We’ve been all around Europe and this was easily the cheapest wine tasting we’ve ever done. The sampling included two whites and two reds, and below we have listed the Red Mountain Estate Wine we tried. Our personal favorite was the light and refreshing Sauvignon Blanc!

• Sauvignon Blanc 2016
• Late Harvest 2016
• Pinot Noir 2013
• Syrah Reserve 2014

Is the Red Mountain Estate Winery Worth a Visit?

Yes, absolutely! Since this region is kind of trek to get to from other places in Myanmar you will likely be spending more than one day there. So once you’ve completed your boat tour you will probably be looking for what to do at Inle Lake. Red Mountain Estate Winery makes for the perfect afternoon bike ride from town. 

Also, if you have the time you can plan for a visit later in the day at it’s an amazing place to watch the sunset. We rarely ever drink wine in Asia because the quality often isn’t great, but we thought Myanmar wine was pretty good! Even if you’re not the biggest wine fan it’s still worth visiting to see the beautiful vineyard grounds.

→  Experiencing a Full Day Boat Tour on Inle Lake in Myanmar

Have any questions on our trip to the Red Mountain Estate Winery, or want to share your own tips for what to do in Inle Lake? Comment below!

Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake

Where in the world are we? Follow our daily adventures on Instagram @nothingfamiliar! 

Where To Stay in Inle Lake Myanmar

Ultra Luxury – Sofitel Inle Lake Myat Min – There’s numerous hotel options available on Inle Lake, but for real luxury you’ll need to go to Sofitel! This gorgeous resort features a lakeside infinity pool, full bar and restaurant, and all the amenities you’d expect in a luxury stay. Also, very close to the Red Mountain Winery in Myanmar.

Fun Vacation – ViewPoint Ecolodge – Viewpoint Ecolodge is set on a private part of the lake minutes away from Inle. Bungalows all have large beds and treated water that you can actually drink. The best part of the property is the scenic pool that stretches out over the waterfront.

Travel Couple – The Hotel Emperor-Inle – We stayed here in the center of Nyaung Shwe and it was a perfect headquarters for exploring Inle lake. The front desk can set up your Inle Lake Boat tour or trip to the Shwe Indein Pagoda. There’s also a glorious view from the 6th floor rooftop bar for sunset!

Hostel Life– Ostello Bello Nyaung Shwe – Ostello Bello has the reputation as the best hostel in Myanmar, and the same is true in Inle Lake! Here you can enjoy the rooftop, luggage storage, daily activities, and free Burmese cigars all day.

For more places to stay near Inle Lake Myanmar you can explore the latest prices here!

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Travel Planning 

 Flights: We always find our cheap flight deals using Skyscanner. That’s how we flew from Norway to Poland for under $20 USD, and Thailand to Vietnam for less than $50! 

 Transportation: 12Go is what we use to book ferries, trains, buses, and transfers while traveling through South East Asia! 

 Accommodation: Compare competitive sites for hotels such as Booking.com and Agoda. Also, Hostelworld should be your go-to source if you’re traveling on a budget. 

Tours: Check out Get Your Guide for thousands of activities around the world. From food tours to skip the line entry passes! 

 Travel Insurance: Never travel abroad without being covered. We’ve been using SafetyWing for the last few years on the road and they are there when we need them.

 Packing Lists: Find all the inspiration you need with our Amazon packing lists. Including our electronics and camera gear, must-have medical items, and long flight essentials! 

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