Sitting on the veranda of The Sala Wine Bar & Bistro at Hua Hins Hills Vineyard, one could be forgiven for thinking they were actually somewhere other than Thailand. Say, South Africa. Or Australia's Barossa Valley. Or any other acclaimed wine region, really.

Below the contemporary, open-air dining pavilion - built masterfully into the side of a hill - rows of grape vines canvas a relatively flat piece of terrain, hedged on three sides by a lush range. The panoramic views from this perch - of the vineyard, of visitors touring the property by elephant, of more hills in the distance - are rivaled only by what's on the menu: a refreshing Colombard, a smoky Shiraz. Pair with the right gourmet dish and revel in the fact this isn't your average wine-tasting experience. It's better.