Sababay Winery: Redefining Indonesian Wine with Innovation & Excellence!
Leading the charge at Sababay Winery is Guillaume Quéron, a winemaker with deep roots in Bordeaux. Having trained under the legendary Jean-Luc Thunevin, Guillaume joined Sababay in 2022, bringing his wealth of expertise to Bali and embracing the exciting challenge of new latitude winemaking. Bali’s tropical climate and fertile volcanic soil provides a unique opportunity to explore wine production in a region outside of traditional wine-growing areas. This new latitude, paired with Guillaume’s vision, is helping put Indonesian wine on the map.
Bali’s climate offers both challenges and opportunities for grape cultivation, and Guillaume has embraced these conditions by fostering sustainable practices and supporting local agriculture. Under his leadership, Sababay cultivates Alphonse-Lavallée, Muscat, Shiraz, and Cabernet Sauvignon, proving that Indonesia can produce world-class wines. His innovative techniques have transformed Sababay into a leader in sustainability, earning prestigious awards at The International Wine Spirit Competition 2024.
Guillaume’s vision for Sababay is clear: to elevate the winery to an internationally recognized brand representing the finest Indonesian winemaking. His passion for quality, sustainability, and creativity drives Sababay forward and positions Indonesian wine on the global stage.
“I have always been very interested in Bali,” says Guillaume. “I was already planning to do something here, though I didn’t know what exactly. The funny thing is that I got to join Sababay just after returning from Bali.”
Sababay is a young, dynamic winery that stands out for its creative approach. Unlike many established vineyards, particularly in Europe, Sababay operates in an environment with fewer constraints. In Europe, strict laws and appellation systems often limit winemakers to specific varieties, methods, and styles. In contrast, Sababay enjoys the freedom to experiment and push boundaries, which allows for more exploration of innovative winemaking techniques.
In 2024, Sababay Winery won a prestigious bronze medal at The International Wine Spirit Competition (IWSC), joining the ranks of some of the world’s most celebrated high-end wine brands. Only half of about 4,000 wines in the competition were awarded medals, making the bronze recognition remarkable. This honor underscores the excellence of Sababay’s Wines and offers Indonesia a sense of pride, showing that the nation’s wine production can compete globally. With 63 accolades, Sababay continues to enhance its reputation on the international wine scene.
Sababay’s latest creation, Sababay SANGRIA, blends bold, refreshing tropical fruit flavors with exotic spices. “The idea behind Sababay SANGRIA is to craft a wine-based drink that is more accessible to a broader audience, appealing to all palates, whether local or International,” says Guillaume.
“It’s a wine you can enjoy without overthinking it. It’s an instant pleasure—perfect for relaxing at the beach, by the pool, or with friends. We’ve removed the intellectual aspect of wine tasting; it’s all about simple enjoyment. It’s a great drink to share.”
Guillaume also highlights a significant change: “We’ve reduced the sulfite content in all our wines. Living in a tropical environment, sometimes wine can cause headaches. Many people don’t tolerate sulfites well, so we’ve worked to minimize them. Now, we use the lowest possible levels. We are constantly working to develop fresher, more flavorful, and fruit-forward wines—innovating with every batch to ensure they are even more enjoyable.”
After the successful re-launch of the Sababay Rose Series in October last year, which saw significant improvements in quality by using Bali Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon (after 8 years of research to achieve the proper vine maturity), Sababay introduced a new category: SANGRIA, in July 2024. Now, in time for the festive season, Sababay unveils its sparkling wine series. This launch celebrates the season and commemorates Sababay’s recent recognition as “Winery of the Year 2024” by the Tourism & Hospitality Awards. The new sparkling series features a refined formula, classic cork and wire closure, and a sleek new label design—ideal for marking this exciting achievement. Stay tuned for more to come!
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