Singapore | In buzzing Ho Chi Minh City, a Yarra Valley pinot noir has become a favoured choice for ambitious Vietnamese women in their 20s, one of the demographics helping to drive demand in what has become one of the fastest growing markets for table wine.

Gone are the days when beer, whisky, cognac and dicey home brew were the only alcohol options in South-East Asia. Still mostly consumed on-premise, wine is becoming more common. Across the region, wine sales are expected to grow by a third from 2021 to reach $US2 billion ($3 billion) by 2026, according to global data group IWSR.