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Published on March 24, 2008

But even though he's only 28, Joolpeera Saitrakul makes as much as many men who've been slaving for 15 or 20 years.

Can you guess why? Because he's a winemaking expert, and only the country's second.

Joolpeera is now working as the assistant winery manager and winemaker at PB Valley's Khao Yai Winery. Joolpeera's boss was the first winemaker and has been the wine manager of the company for 12 years.

Dreaming of becoming an engineer, Joolpeera entered the University of Canterbury in Christchurch, New Zealand, but dropped out after two years.

"I realised that being an engineer did not fit my character as it was too intense and required a lot of memorisation. After studying for a while, I changed to the winemaker course, as the programme attracted my interest as soon as I studied its details," he says.

Joolpeera is one of only three Asian students who have graduated with a bachelor's in viticulture and oenology at New Zealand's Lincoln University. The other two are from Japan and South Korea.

A total of 76 students applied for the course when he took it, but only 26 finished it. Joolpeera is the first Thai to take it.

The programme was quite complicated, but challenging. Students not only studied the theory of being a good winemaker from textbooks, but also learned in practice from planting grapes, cleaning wine tanks and tasting wine.

While studying, he also worked at the Pegasus Bay Winery Vineyard, one of the world's most famous wineries.

"I feel that the programme fulfilled my interest and fit with my character. I like to taste new recipes and hang out with many people to learn their ideas and different attitudes. This work can serve my needs," he says.

Later when the energetic winemaker finished his studies, he decided to head back to his homeland, as he wanted to know more senior people in the country.

Joolpeera applied to be a winemaker at PB Valley, and had the chance to be interviewed by Piya Bhirombhakdi, the great visionary pioneer of this vineyard, who promised to produce wine with a world-class taste for Thais and people throughout the world to recognise.

With great appreciation for the finest things in life and bursting with confidence, Joolpeera won the job and became the second winemaker of the Kingdom at a very tender age.

Joolpeera now controls the whole winemaking process from planting, tasting to packaging in bottles with PB's labels - Sawasdee, PB and Pirom. The wine was selected and served at the gala dinner for the Apec Leaders Summit in 2003.

Each day, Joolpeera has to "taste" seven to eight litres of wine, which he spits out so he won't get drunk before finishing his work.

"I love drinking, but only for a good occasion when meeting a good friend," he says.

He is very happy with his career, as he can enjoy his work as long as he's doing what he likes.

His interests are wine, cuisine, travel and partying. He is now surrounded by the beautiful scenery of more than 320 hectares of grapevines.

With the urge to introduce something of interest to readers and young students, Joolpeera suggests they figure out what they are happy to learn and live with.

He says that working life can be wonderful if we can grasp when we are still studying what is it we like to do.

"Luckily, I know what kind of career matches my desires. I chose to study it in-depth, so I have a happy work life," he says.

This year, Joolpeera will create his own wine as a full winemaker.

"You have to go for studying and doing what you're comfortable with, then you'll feel happy and can achieve what you aspire for," he says with a smile.

Petchanet Pratruangkrai

The Nation