Nayan Gowda - Winemaker & Consultant to Jardin Oculto
Regenerative agriculture through 200 year-old arboreal vines in Bolivia
While Bolivian vineyards were established by Spanish missionaries in the 1600s, this is a country little-known in export wine markets. Contemporary production is dominated by international (French) varieties, despite the local, old varieties still tended in rural communities. María José Granier created Jardín Oculto (Secret Garden) to recuperate unique old vines many of which are co-planted with native trees. (A practice that provides a natural trellising system, and protects against pests and diseases.) The culture and harvesting rely on local knowledge and farming communities, who were being paid a low price for unique grapes without a place in the conventional Bolivian wine scene. She retained flying winemaker Nayan Gowda to join the project, and make a range of wines from Muscat of Alexandria, Vischoqueña, and Negra Criolla. The first vintage is soon being exported to the USA, and the viability of these unique old vines has been reframed.
Jardín Oculto aims to help preserve the viticultural heritage of Bolivia by making the old vine plantings commercially viable; by working with the growers to improve their management of the vines; and by raising the profile of these vines amongst the international community.
Nayan Gowda is an itinerant winemaker of curiosity and open mind who has worked around the world, from Australia to Norway and Kazakhstan. He combines winemaking and viticultural expertise with business and marketing insight. Nayan’s clients have included large brand-driven wineries in Europe, Australia and South Africa with boutique producers at the new frontiers or overlooked corners of wine. His current project is making wine for Jardín Oculto in Bolivia.
