Leading Asian wine and spirits companies, including Rockland Distilleries (Sri Lanka), Siam Winery (Thailand) and Rachelle The Rabbit Meadery (Singapore) will be showcasing their latest offerings at ProWine Asia 2018, alongside some of the biggest names in the industry.

The rise in a small but growing number of Asian winemakers is due to Asian vintners, who have been trained overseas in countries like Australia and France, returning home and tapping on old winemaking styles they have mastered. By placing their own spin and incorporating new techniques for local markets, each has developed their own unique brand of wines and spirits. Despite the tropical climate, south east Asian wineries are producing much better wines than before, even hosting wine harvest festivals.

‘My work with the Asian Wine Review has exposed me to the fact that the excitement surrounding Asian wine production is not just a passing fad. Driven by a broader interest in a wine- lifestyle; domestic wine production has seen significant growth across Asia. There are currently 13 countries in East Asia producing commercial wines and each of those locations has created their own localised demand. I see the paradigm shifting daily from an elevated consumption level of imported brands towards those that are produced on the doorstep of Asia. This is an exciting era for the artisans of the region,’ says Eddie McDougall, speaker at ProWine Asia 2018.

The global wine market is set to grow by 25 per cent by 2022, the majority driven by Asian markets, according to the International Wine & Spirit Research (IWSR). In a 2015 World Health Organisation’s (WHO) Global Health Observatory Data Repository report, Vietnam is second to Korea in terms of alcohol consumption in Asia, at 8.7 litres a year. Thailand came up close at 8.3 litres of alcohol a year.

The median age of the population in Asia is below 30. With the region’s rising affluent middle class and millennials more likely to enjoy socialising over alcoholic drinks, the potential of the Asian market is no longer limited to China, but also includes the smaller south east Asian markets.

From 24 to 27 April 2018, visitors can learn more about the latest wine and spirits trends through specialised master classes and seminars, tasting sessions and workshops by renowned industry speakers at ProWine Asia 2018. For those keen on the burgeoning south east Asian tropical viticulture, McDougall, award–winning winemaker and wine critic, will be holding a variety of insightful sessions on the trends and wines in the region.

‘Asian producers are beginning to make a name for themselves as their wineries and breweries expand to meet with growing demand for their native beverages, especially from international exporters’ says Beattrice Ho, ProWine Asia project director, Messe Düsseldorf Asia.

‘South east Asian wine is still a rather new concept to the region, hence further wine education and knowledge transfer is needed so local wine producers can continue to upsize their production and selection. We are excited that ProWine Asia is able to provide a timely platform for industry experts and businesses to gather and share their insight on the upcoming opportunities for the region.’