Balinese Wine To Be Intangible Cultural Heritage

DENPASAR - Balinese wine (arak) and eight other Balinese cultural heritages have been designated as Indonesian Intangible Cultural Heritage (WBTb) by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek).

The determination is stated in the Decree (SK) of the Minister of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia Number 414/P/2022 concerning the determination of Indonesia's WBTb in 2022.

The Governor of Bali, Wayan Koster appreciated the determination of nine Balinese cultural heritages to become WBTb Indonesia and asked the Balinese people to care for, preserve and develop this cultural heritage.

Koster also ordered the Heads of Culture Offices, both Provinces and Regencies, and Cities throughout Bali, to actively explore Bali's cultural heritage.

"To be submitted as WBTb so that everything is protected and gets state recognition," he said in a written statement, Thursday, November 3.

The Provincial Government of Bali has made various efforts to protect Balinese cultural heritage as an implementation of the vision of Nangun Sat Kerthi Loka Bali through a universal development pattern planning towards a new era of Bali.

According to him, previously Balinese wine tended to be unprotected and even the producers acted secretly for fear of being considered liquor dealers.

However, since the issuance of the Bali Governor's Regulation (Pergub) Number 1, 2020 concerning the management of Balinese fermented and/or distilled drinks, finally Balinese wine has received legal protection as well as a distribution permit.

"Arak farmers are happy and a variety of creativity grows, ranging from elegant and quality packaging to innovations in various aromas and flavors. This means that the Provincial Government of Bali is here to protect, care for, and promote ancestral heritage, namely the skills of traditional crafts to make arak drinks," he said.

His party will also continue to carry out promotions, coaching, development, and supervision, so that Balinese wine has entered the 7th category of spirit drinks in the world.

Koster explained that the drinks that fall into the world spirit category are group C drinks, with an alcohol content of 25 percent to 45 percent, which are made by a distillation process.

"The determination of Balinese wine as WBTb is a special gift in 2022 for Balinese artisans and business actors," he said.

Governor Koster also emphasized that by being designated as WBTb, the traditional distillation process for making Balinese arak must be preserved, it cannot be changed freely, its authenticity must be maintained.

"People are not allowed to make arak (from) sugar with a fermentation process, because it will damage the Balinese arak tradition, if they violate it, strict action will be taken," he said.

The trial for determining the intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia in 2022 resulted in recommendations for the determination of 200 proposals for the intangible cultural heritage of Indonesia from 32 provinces in Indonesia and nine of them are Balinese cultural heritage, including

1. Balinese Arak (Traditional craft skills).

2. Uyah Amed (Traditional craft skills).

3. Jaja Laklak (traditional craft skills).

4. Lontar Bali (Knowledge and behavioral habits regarding nature and the universe).

5. Sate Lilit (Traditional craft skills).

6. Ida Bhatara Sakti Ngerta Gumi's Pemijilan work (Community Customs, Rites, and Celebrations).

7. Berko (Performing Arts).

8. Mejaran-jaranan (Community Customs, Rites, and Celebrations).

9. Serombotan (Traditional craft skills).