Wine For Asia 2006 will return for its fourth edition in Singapore from November 2 to 4, according to a Singex Exhibitions media release. Over 450 exhibitors from 23 countries will spend three days schmoozing with buyers, importers and distributors, retail chain owners, F&B decision-makers and wine enthusiasts from across Asia.

As many as 15,000 visitors are expected to visit this event, including delegations from Korea , China , Mala ysia , Vietnam , Thailand , Hong Kong and India . The Indian Wine Academy is an official supporting association of the fair. The Singex release quotes Wine Importer Asia , a leading business publication in Asia, as reporting: "Wine imports across Asia have experienced an unprecedented growth rate of 17% over the last three years and forecasts are for further double-digit growth rates up until 2010."

More than 70% of the show has been booked and space is being snapped up every day, the release adds. Participating countries such as Argentina , Australia , France , Italy (with several of their key wine regions like Romagna , Sicily and Tuscany ), New Zealand and South Africa are all increasing the size of their participation. For the first time in the show, Hungary will have a national pavilion.

Wine For Asia 2006 is being endorsed by more trade organisations and they include International Enterprise Singapore, Government of South Australia, Austrade, WEPA Romania, Embassy of Romania, Embassy of Austria, US Department of Commerce, New Zealand Wine Growers' Association, Consejo Federal de Inversiones of Argentina, Camera di Commercio di Forli-Cesena and Camera di Commercio di Rimini from Italy, Mala ysia Hotel Association, Korea Wines and Spirits Importers Association and China Western Food Culture Association.

The organisers are planning a series of high-profile industry seminars and lectures, which will be conducted by industry experts, importers and wine professionals. They'll present insights on marketing and updates on the Asian wine and spirits market. James Halliday, widely regarded as the father of Australia 's emergence as a wine power, will organise a seminar titled "Old World vs New World : Convergence or Divergence."

The tasting time-table will feature award-winning wines from the 2006 Decanter Awards and Wine Style Asia Awards. MUNDUSvini and Bordeaux '03 wines will also be the other stars of the tasting schedule.