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76 FSB
december 2008/january 2009
looking back, dominic rivard has to admit that starting
a business in Thailand within weeks of a military coup might not
have been the best idea. It took more than six months to nd aninvestor willing to take a risk on his proposal to build an exoticfruit winery in Southeast Asia. And then, with the government’s
ministries in some confusion, it took twice as long as expected toregister the company.
“Maybe it was stupid,” says Rivard, but Thailand, with its abundant fruit
harvests to supply the winery and itsmillions of tourists to buy the wines,seemed an ideal location. Two years
later, Apsara Valley Wines, located 30 miles north of Bangkok, is
distributing its rst batch of pineapple, passion-fruit, mangosteen
and lychee wines to high-end restaurants and resorts in the area.Rivard’s next goal: to bring these libations to the U.S. market.
 A 36-year-old Canadian who has served as head winemaker for
more than 10 producers in Canada and China, Rivard has spent
most of his life in the business. At age 17 he made his rst batch of 
 wine from dandelions and concord grapes in his backyard. Later he
took sommelier classes. After a brief stint working in a wine labo-ratory, he launched his own business as an enological consultant,advising companies on both sides of the Pacic.
In 2002 Rivard was offered a joint venture with a provincial
agriculture ministry in China, which gave him a minority stake inthe rm and second billing in the company, Tianjin Kernel Rivard
 Wines. Two years later the business was struggling. Investmentin equipment had been heavy, but Rivard believed that essential
A cosmopolitan vintnergambles that Thai fruit winewill please U.S. palates.
 
By Malika Zouhali-Worrall
PhotograPhy by ChristoPher Wise
tnsucc
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