James Suckling Great Wines World Asia Tour 2025 Wraps with 8,000+ Attendees

Thursday, Nov 13, 2025

The 2025 edition of Great Wines World Asia – the flagship tasting tour organized by James Suckling and his team – concluded in spectacular style after stops to four of the region’s most influential cities: Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul and Tokyo. The tour brought together top-tier producers, sommeliers, trade professionals and wine lovers from across Asia, underscoring the region’s growing importance as a powerhouse of wine culture, trade and consumer engagement.

The tour kicked off in Bangkok on Oct. 29, where another sell-out crowd of 2,200 attendees gathered at the Grand Hyatt Bangkok. More than 120 producers poured their wines in one of Asia’s most energetic wine markets. Bangkok – and Thailand overall – is a fast-growing, hospitality-driven market fueled by booming luxury hotels, a strong bar and restaurant scene and rising interest in premium wines. 

Wine highlights included: 

We were thrilled to return to a place where many fans have supported us over the years. Next year’s Bangkok event will take place on Oct. 28, 2026.

The next stop was Hong Kong on Oct. 31, shifting the focus to the heart of Asia’s wine business. Importers, sommeliers, restaurateurs and collectors filled the tasting’s new home at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. Attendees came not only from the city but from across the Greater Bay Area – including Macau, Shenzhen and Guangdong – with the wine trade making up 55 percent of total guests.  

A star-studded awards dinner at Dynasty Club followed the tasting with winery owners and winemakers in attendance, marking the release of the Top 100 World Wines 2025, which named the Château d’Issan Margaux 2022 as JamesSuckling.com’s Wine of the Year for 2025. Emmanuel Cruse, the co-owner of Château d’Issan, was on hand to accept the award in person. Hong Kong holds a special place in James’ heart – he is, after all, a Hong Kong permanent resident – and Great Wines World will continue to return to Asia’s wine capital. Next year’s event is scheduled for Oct. 30, 2026. 

  • Emmanuel Cruse (left), co-owner of Château d'Issan, producer of the Wine of the Year 2025, and Jacopo Bacci, family owner of Bacci Wines (Renieri and Castello di Bossi)

The tour continued to Seoul on Nov. 3 at the Grand Intercontinental Parnas, where the event welcomed an especially young and enthusiastic crowd. More than 2,000 guests attended, joining 140 wineries from 34 wine regions, including a record nine 100-point wines available to taste – which producers enthusiastically poured for one of Asia’s most vibrant wine communities: 

South Korea continues to stand out as one of the world’s most dynamic wine markets, with an audience that is both knowledgeable and passionate. Seoul also holds a special meaning for James, as his wife is Korean. James is treated like a local celebrity. Next year’s event will take place on Nov. 2, 2026. 

The grand finale took place in Tokyo on Nov. 5 at the Grand Hyatt Roppongi. This was the second Great Wines World event held in Japan’s capital, and turnout was once again spectacular: more than 2,000 guests explored wines from over 150 leading producers. Many of the world’s most respected winery owners and winemakers attended, engaging directly with Japan’s thoughtful and curious wine audience. The city again proved itself as Asia’s most sophisticated wine market. 

In an unforgettable moment, guests were treated to a surprise live performance by Yoshiki, the globally renowned Japanese recording artist and leader of the legendary rock band X Japan. He presented his California collaboration with Rob Mondavi Jr., Y by Yoshiki, to great excitement from the crowd. We look forward to returning to Tokyo on Nov. 4, 2026. 

James Suckling, who personally attends and hosts these events, emphasized the importance of seeing beyond market challenges. 

“People keep saying the global wine market is struggling, and consumption is declining,” he said. “But gatherings like this prove otherwise. The room was packed, and guests of every generation were tasting and talking about wine.” 

A notably young audience approached James throughout the tour, often seeking personal recommendations. Their engagement marks a generational shift in wine appreciation, giving producers direct access to the next wave of consumers. 

Surahn Sidhu, the Australian singer-songwriter and Great Wines World’s musical curator, provided the soundtrack to each show, setting the tone for a vibrant atmosphere while letting the producers, their wines and the audience shine. 

See you in 2026

Mark your calendars – we’ll see you again in 2026, when Great Wines World returns to the United States with tastings scheduled for

  • New York (March 2-3, 2026),
  • Miami (March 5-6, 2026) and
  • San Francisco (March 8, 2026). 

Stay tuned!