Bali’s original winery, Hatten Wines, unveils Avara, a new premium wine collection produced from internationally recognised noble grape varieties cultivated in the soils of North Bali.
Founded in 1994 by Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa, Hatten Wines is Bali’s first wine company and produces wines from locally-grown grapes. Gus Rai wanted to offer visitors a taste of Bali, a wine that reflected the island’s tropical terroir.
This marked a beginning, and over the past 32 years that pioneering spirit has driven the development of Bali’s vineyards, introducing new viticultural practices, winemaking techniques and, significantly, new grapes. Avara, this new premium collection from Hatten Wines, is the result of that accumulated knowledge across the decades, ready to reshape perspectives on Balinese wine and Indonesian winemaking.
“When we started Hatten Wines in 1994, we wanted to prove that Bali could make its own wine. Thirty-two years later, we want to show the world that Indonesia can produce wines with their own identity, character and sense of place,” shares Ida Bagus Rai Budarsa, Founder & President Director, PT Hatten Bali Tbk.
The Avara collection consists of five new expressions, including Chenin Blanc, Syrah, a sparkling Prestige Cuvée, Grand Solera fortified wine and XO (brandy). From grape to bottle, the new Avara creations are born of an entirely different process from the regular Hatten Wines range, representing the pinnacle of the winery’s tropical winemaking expertise.
Firstly, the grapes. After decades of research and development, Hatten Wines was able to cultivate the widely recognised Chenin Blanc and Syrah grapes in Bali. Taking this further, these grapes are grown in a Vertical Shoot Positioning (VSP) system, with a single annual harvest instead of the traditional three. All of these are groundbreaking innovations in Indonesian winemaking.
The winemaking process is also elevated by introducing tailored, artisanal methods, from selective pressing, hand plunging, barrel fermentation and extended ageing. The Prestige Cuvée undergoes a minimum of two years on lees with manual riddling and disgorgement; for the Syrah, 18 months of maturation and further bottle ageing; whilst the Grand Solera and XO are the result of a patient ten-year ageing.
Significantly, Avara brings the unique Balinese terroir to an international palate. The mountainous peaks, ocean breezes, and tropical climate now have their own identity through the Chenin Blanc and Syrah varieties, putting North Bali on the global wine map.
“Avara gave us the opportunity to explore certain varieties, vineyard sites and winemaking techniques in greater depth, while still staying true to the character of this tropical environment,” says James Kalleske, Head Winemaker of Hatten. “For me, Avara is about expressing another side of what Bali can produce.”
Avara has already received international recognition, with five medals at the China Wine & Spirits Awards (CWSA) 2025, with Grand Solera receiving a Double Gold, and gold for the Chenin Blanc 2023. At AWC Vienna 2026, the Avara Grand Solera earned a Gold Medal and was awarded the Trophy for best fortified wine of the show. At the Asia World Spirits Competition 2026, Avara XO received a Silver Medal.
From the vineyards of North Bali to wine enthusiasts in Indonesia and beyond, Avara represents the next chapter in Hatten Wines’ ongoing pursuit of innovation, discovery and tropical winemaking.
Avara is now available at The Cellardoor Bali, The Cellardoor Jakarta and selected outlets across Indonesia.
The Cellardoor Bali
Hatten Wines Building
Jl. Bypass Ngurah Rai No.393, Sanur
+62 361 472 1377
@hattenwines
hattenwines.com
