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Registrations for 2026 now Open! Asia’s Only Wine, Beer & Spirits competition judged by retail buyers! By

03/09/2026

For a long time, choosing not to drink, or simply drinking less, came with a compromise.

You either had to settle for a soft drink or explain why you were skipping alcohol.

That is slowly changing.

Across Asia, a new kind of drinking culture is taking shape, one where the choice to moderate does not mean stepping away from the table, the bar or the occasion. People still want something interesting in their glass. They still want flavour, discovery and a drink that feels like part of the moment.

And perhaps that is what makes this shift more interesting than a simple health trend. It is changing the question from “Why aren’t you drinking?” to “What do you feel like drinking instead?”

The answer is becoming far more exciting.

(Non Alcoholic Drinks, Low Alcohol, Drinking Trends, Asia Beverage Market, Mindful Drinking, Moderation)

31/08/2026

What happens when a spirits founder decides gin doesn’t have to tell a British story?

You get a bottle that takes a very different route.

Michel Lu looked across Asia, its ingredients, trade routes and drinking cultures, and built a gin around that perspective. Not Asian-inspired packaging wrapped around a conventional product, but a brand with a clear point of view about where its identity comes from.

That matters in a market where buyers and consumers are constantly looking for something they haven’t seen ten times before.

The Orientalist Gunpowder Gin is a good example of how provenance can become part of a product’s commercial story. A strong concept gives the trade something to talk about. And when the story behind the bottle is distinctive enough, it can help the bottle stand out too.

Swipe through to see how Michel Lu turned an idea into The Orientalist Gunpowder Gin.

[Asian Spirits Ratings, Gin Industry, Spirits Brands, Premium Gin, Brand Storytelling, Gunpowder Gin]

27/08/2026

Some wine careers are built around the cellar. Others are built around the dining room.

Sara Checchi’s has taken her from Italy’s fine dining scene to leading wine programmes across international hospitality. Before her current role as Director of Wine and Beverage at Rosewood Hong Kong, Sara worked as Head Sommelier at the three Michelin starred Piazza Duomo in Alba and later held senior wine roles across the Middle East and Hong Kong.

That journey has meant working with wine in very different settings, from the precision of Michelin starred dining to building and managing wine programmes for some of the world’s leading hospitality venues.

Sara now brings that experience to the 2026 Asia Wine Ratings judging panel, where wines will be assessed by professionals who understand not only quality, but how a bottle performs in the real world.

Think your wine deserves a place on the judging table? Enter the Asia Wine Ratings through the link in bio.

[Asia Wine Ratings, Sara Checchi, Rosewood Hong Kong, Fine Dining, Wine Programmes, Wine Trade]

25/08/2026

A good wine buyer knows that a wine has to work beyond the bottle.

Kevin Suen, Senior Sales Manager at EMW Fine Wines, brings that perspective to the 2026 Asia Wine Ratings judging panel. With a focus on wine buying, portfolio development, fine wines and sourcing, Kevin works closely with the wines that make their way into the market.

His experience gives him a practical understanding of what makes a wine worth backing, both for its quality and its place in a portfolio.

We are pleased to have Kevin join us as a judge this year and look forward to his perspective at the table.

Think your wine belongs in front of Asia’s wine professionals? Enter the Asia Wine Ratings through the link in bio.

[Asia Wine Ratings, Kevin Suen, Wine Buying, Fine Wine, Wine Sourcing, Wine Trade]

24/08/2026

Arnaud Bardary MS brings a perspective to wine that goes well beyond the tasting glass.

A Master Sommelier who has worked across Michelin starred restaurants, built wine programmes in Hong Kong and now leads wholesale sales at Watson’s Wine, Arnaud understands what makes a wine work from both a quality and commercial point of view.

We are pleased to have Arnaud join the judging panel for the 2026 Asia Wine Ratings. His experience across wine buying, sales, education and hospitality will bring a valuable perspective to the wines on the table.

We look forward to having Arnaud’s experience and perspective at the table this year.

Think your wine belongs in front of Asia’s wine professionals? Enter the Asia Wine Ratings through the link in bio.

[Asia Wine Ratings, Master Sommelier, Wine Buying, Hong Kong Wine, Wine Trade, Wine Judging]

21/08/2026

Soju has long been part of everyday drinking culture in South Korea, but its story is no longer confined to the Korean market.

As Korean food, entertainment and pop culture continue to travel across Asia and beyond, soju is finding new drinkers in markets such as Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and India. At the same time, a new generation of producers is expanding what the category can look and taste like.

The category is expanding beyond its familiar image, with producers exploring new styles, formats and ways to enjoy soju.

What was once known primarily as Korea’s everyday spirit is increasingly becoming part of the wider Asian drinking conversation.

[Soju, Korean Spirits, Korea Drinks, Asian Spirits, Spirits Trends, Asia Drinks, Premium Soju]

19/08/2026

A good beer festival can tell you a lot about a market.

Look at the breweries being featured, the styles getting attention, the brands travelling across borders and the conversations happening around the taps. Together, these details offer a snapshot of where consumer interest and commercial opportunity may be moving.

Across Asia, the festival landscape is becoming increasingly interesting for anyone following the business of beer.

We have picked five events that offer a useful starting point for understanding the region’s craft beer scene.

Swipe through 👉🏼

PS: The tagged accounts are the correct Instagram handles of the respective beer festivals.

(Beer Trade, Craft Beer, Beer Business, Asia Beer, Brewing Industry, Beer Market, Asia Beer Ratings)

18/08/2026

A good beer festival can tell you a lot about a market.

Look at the breweries being featured, the styles getting attention, the brands travelling across borders and the conversations happening around the taps. Together, these details offer a snapshot of where consumer interest and commercial opportunity may be moving.

Across Asia, the festival landscape is becoming increasingly interesting for anyone following the business of beer.

We have picked five events that offer a useful starting point for understanding the region’s craft beer scene.

Swipe through 👉🏼

(Beer Trade, Craft Beer, Beer Business, Asia Beer, Brewing Industry, Beer Market, Asia Beer Ratings)

13/08/2026

Baijiu has never been a small category. It is one of the defining spirits of China, deeply rooted in local drinking culture and produced across regions with distinct styles, aromas and traditions.

What is changing is how the category is showing up on the modern shelf.

Traditional labels are increasingly being joined by contemporary packaging, premium expressions and brands built with younger drinkers and international markets in mind. The result is a category that still carries its heritage, but is becoming easier to discover beyond the banquet table.

Rooted in centuries of tradition, baijiu is now appearing in more contemporary formats, from modern labels to cocktail menus.

Baijiu is not just a traditional spirit finding a global audience. It is a category being reshaped for the next generation of drinkers.

[Baijiu, Chinese Spirits, Asia Drinks, Spirits Trends, Premium Spirits, Asian Beverage Market, Asia Spirits Ratings]

10/08/2026

What happens after your brewery wins a medal?

The result can become more than an award on your website. It can support your conversations with buyers, give distributors another selling point and help establish your beer in markets where credibility matters.

But turning recognition into commercial momentum requires a plan.

Join Kenneth Ho on 14 August for a practical look at how breweries can get more from competition success and use their results as part of a wider growth strategy.

14 August | 5:00 PM HKT

If you work in the beer industry, this is a session you won’t want to sit out. Register through the link in bio.

(Asia Beer Ratings, Beer Awards, Brewery Growth, Trade Buyers, Distributor Relations, Beer Marketing, Market Expansion)

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https://asiawineratings.com/, https://asiaspiritsratings.com/, https://asiabeerratings.com/

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