High time for fine wine
Wine is now viewed as a more sophisticated option to hard alcohol among the well-educated, young crowds
- Published: 20 Apr 2012 at 00.00
- Newspaper section: Life
Wine is classified as a luxury in Thailand. As such, wine is subjected to heavy taxes. This makes Thailand one of the most expensive countries in the world to enjoy wine. But that doesn't deter the wine business here as more and more consumers are now following the global trend in treating wine as a more sophisticated option to hard alcohol.
Bangkok is now home to many trendy wine bars as young Thais are changing from whisky to wine.
"The Thai wine market is the best since 1996 at this point," said Ron Batori, president of Bangkok Beer and Beverages, a wine connoisseur and an acknowledged expert who knows wine and the wine business well. "It is growing dramatically as young Thais are changing from whisky to wine and we have many new wine bars where Thais are the majority customers now. The 25 to 40 year-old demographic is the major driver of this growth."
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