28 Balinese Arak Brands Are Now 5-Star Hotel Drinks

DOCUMENTATION/Governor of Bali Wayan Koster when giving a statement about the use of Balinese script in Balinese wine in Denpasar, Bali, Tuesday (2/8/2022). ANTARA/HO-Bali Provincial Government

DENPASAR - A total of 28 brands of Balinese wine (arak) from local artisans can now be categorized as drinks in five-star hotels after an agreement was made by the Governor of Bali Wayan Koster.

"This is a real step taken by hotel management with business actors of arak or products made from arak. This is only a small part of a number of arak products that have emerged since the enactment of the Bali Governor Regulation Number 1 of 2020 concerning the management of Balinese fermented and/or distilled beverages," said Koster reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, September 7th.

Officially 28 craftsmen whose products have been registered in customs have signed a cooperation agreement with the management of the Marriot Hotel and Kempinski Bali.

Iwak Arumery Balindo Balinese arak crafter Ida Ayu Puspa Eni who is also the Chair of the Bali Arak Cooperative Association said that this collaboration will have a good impact on all artisans and farmers from Karangasem and a number of other regencies.

"The impact is very positive, especially for craftsmen and farmers. Farmers are the most pitiful, because he is the one who creates the arak. Without any crafters they can't level up," said Puspa in Denpasar.

The types of Balinese wine sold in hotels and restaurants will consist of three groups based on the alcohol content in them. For group A there is less than 10 percent alcohol in it, group B under 20 percent, and group C under 40 percent.

Bali Governor Wayan Koster signing an agreement to sell Balinese wine belonging to artisans to five-star hotels in Denpasar, Wednesday (7/9/2022). ANTARA/Ni Putu Putri Muliantari

 

Regarding the absorption volume, Puspa hopes that in the future more requests will come in, where currently each crafter in one month absorbs 1,000 - 7,000 bottles.

For the readiness of Balinese wine farmers, Puspa said that currently more than 6,000 wine farmers have been spread, but no more than 10 percent have been absorbed so through this road it is hoped that more farmers will be given space.

"The demand has been met, we have a lot of wine and many farmers need their products raised. I think to raise the class of Balinese wine, we must support it, it can't be just a few people," said Puspa.