Malaysia Best Sommelier Championship 2023

The Sommelier Association of Malaysia is pleased to announce the upcoming  Malaysia Best Sommelier Championship 2023.

This year will see 16 candidates competing for  the title of Malaysia Best Sommelier Champion. With the encouraging support from our industry peers, candidates will also be in the running for three additional titles  Best In Service Award, Best Taster Award and Cepas de Chile (Best in Chilean Wines)

Registration Information

Registration Link: https://forms.gle/eSPPymPbrZSfj3TA7

* We do not entertain walk-ins. Admission is strictly by registration only.

* The committee reserves the right to decline registration and/or entry at our discretion.

Official Venue

Competition Program

23rd August 2023

GRAND FINALS

Time:        2:00pm to 5:30pm

Venue:     Garden Ballroom, Level 2

Price:        Free admission

 

WINE + SAKÉ FAIR (25 Exhibitors)

Time:        5:00pm to 7:30pm

Venue:     Ballroom Foyer, Level 2

 

AWARDS DINNER

Time:         7:30pm – Pre Dinner

                     8:00pm – Dinner

Venue:     Collection Ballroom, Level 2

Price:        RM 250.00 nett (SOMLAY Member)

                     RM 300.00 nett (Non Member) (

The Candidates

CHIN DIBIN

Group Head Sommelier

Lavo Gallery

EASON CHO

Head of R&D Chef

Hide Restaurant

EUGENE CHEN

Retail Executive

Boozeit Wine & Spirit 

EZRA TAN

Sommelier

Lavo Gallery 

HAN YEW KONG

Chief Sommelier

Galaxy Macau

HAPPY GAN

Bar Manager

D’s Wine Bar

JACKIE TAN

Head of Operations

Chateau Dionne

JUSTIN HO

F&B Lecturer

Berjaya University College

KATHRYN LIM

Sommelier / Assistant Manager 

Potager

MARVIN TEOW

Sommelier 

ML Global Marketing

MICHAEL WONG

Manager 

Cellar 12 Wine Merchant

SHIRLEY TAN

Jr Assistant Head Sommelier

67 Pall Mall

SITHA FLORENCE

Sommelier

Shangri-La Singapore

TEE SIH HUAH

Consultant

RS Wines & Spirits

YAP CZE YING

Sommelier / Manager

Hide Restaurant

YONG YI YING

Sommelier 

67 Pall Mall

Panel of Judges

Roderick Wong

Technical Director / Honorary President

  • Founder of the Sommelier Association of Malaysia 
  • Honorary Diploma by Associazione della Sommellerie Professionale Italiana (ASPI) 
  • Honorary Ambassador of Wines of Spain
  • HAPA Wine Personality of the Year 2007 / 2008
  • Panel Judge in wine & spirits competition in Hong Kong,  Singapore, Switzerland etc.
  • Technical Director / Judge in Sommelier Competition in China, Indonesia, Singapore, Macau & Hong Kong

Wong Yin How

Managing Director of Vintry Group

  • Founder of the Vintry Group of Restaurants
  • Committee Member of the International Wine & Food Society (IW&FS) 
  • First Asian recipient of AXA Millésimes Scholarship
  • Founding Secretary of the Sommelier Association of Malaysia
  • Panel Judge at the Decanter Asia Wine Awards since 2014
  • Panel Judge at the Malaysia Best Sommelier Championship 2021 & 2022
  • Currently studying for the Master of Wine Program

Saiko Tamura-Soga

A.S.I. Vice President of Asia Pacific

  • Vice President of Asia Pacific with the Association de la Sommelier Internationale (A.S.I)
  • Former Deputy Secretary General of A.S.I.
  • Member of the Competition and Examination Committee
  • Executive Officer of the Japan Sommelier Association

Adolphus Foo

President of  Macau Sommelier Association

  • Founder and President of the Macau Sommelier Association
  • Former Wine Director of MGM Macau
  • Recipient of the Wine Spectator Grand Award
  • Recipient of the World Best Wine List – Three Star
  • Top Honours – Australia Wine Competition
  • Panel Judge at the China Best Sommelier Competition
  • Accredited lecturer of L’École du Vin de Bordeaux (Bordeaux Wine School)

Shawn Chong

Founder of Mizukami  Collective

  • Founder of Mizukami Collective
  • Champion of Diageo World Class Malaysia – 2009, 2011 & 2015
  • Regional Champion of Diageo World Class 2015
  • Bartender of The Year 2018 by Bar Awards
  • First Bar in Malaysia ranked in the Asia 50 Best Award 2016 – Rank #10
  • Panel Judge at the Malaysia Best Sommelier Championship 2021 & 2022

Yap Lip Seng

Chief Executive Officer Riyaz Hotels & Resorts

  • Chief Executive Officer of Riyaz Hotels & Resorts
  • Former Chief Executive Officer of Malaysia Association of Hotels (MAH)
  • Executive Certificate with École Hôtelière de Lausanne, Switzerland
  • Certified Hotel Administrator (CHA) and Hospitality Trainer (CHT) with American Hotel & Lodging Educational institute (AHLEI)
  • Panel Judge at the Malaysia Best Sommelier Championship 2021

Official Partners & Sponsors

Prizes & Awards

Special Thanks