Yiying Yong, assistant head sommelier at 67 Pall Mall Singapore, emerged victorious in the highly competitive Asia Best Sommelier in French Wine contest, held Monday at the Regent Hotel in Taipei. The Malaysian-born sommelier outshone 10 other finalists during the rigorous four-hour competition, securing her first-place finish.
Yong’s polished and professional performance earned her top honors, with Carols Chen of Taiwan’s Bistro Le Jardin taking second place, and Bass Lin, a sommelier at Paris 1930 x Hideki Takayama in Taiwan, finishing in third. Xiaolong Li, the winner of China’s 2024 Best Sommelier Competition of French Wine, placed fourth.
Reflecting on her success, Yong credited her victory to the unwavering support of her colleagues, who helped her prepare through blind tastings and extensive research. “Seven years ago, I first competed in the Asia Finals here in Taiwan. Today, I owe this achievement to my team, who stood by me every step of the way,” she said.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Yong discovered her passion for wine as a teenager. After completing a master’s degree in atmospheric science, geography, and archaeology at a UK university in 2013, she pursued WSET courses, realizing how her academic background could complement her burgeoning interest in wine.
In 2014, Yong embarked on her sommelier career at Vintry, a wine bar in Malaysia, before joining the wine importer Vie du Vin, where she honed her skills and deepened her wine knowledge.
Now based in Singapore, Yong works at 67 Pall Mall, where her expertise has garnered significant recognition. She notably achieved the highest global score in the European Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Exam.
The Asia Best Sommelier in French Wine competition, organized by Taste France, has become a cornerstone event for promoting French wines and elevating the standard of sommeliers across Asia. Since its launch in 2015, the competition has hosted regional rounds in September, with the Asia Finals taking place in December.
This year’s event saw 11 competitors from six regions—mainland China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, and South Korea—battle for the prestigious title. The contest underscores the growing demand for wine expertise in Asia and highlights the rising prominence of Asian sommeliers in the global wine industry.
Looking to the future, Yong expressed her desire to inspire the next generation of sommeliers. “This is just the beginning,” she said. “I want to pass on my knowledge and encourage others to strive for excellence in the world of wine.”
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