Meet the Judges

Wine with friends is one thing. Wine judging with friends is another level entirely. That’s what it feels like when the talented tasters gather at the Cathay Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition (HK IWSC).

At this year’s judging, 56 local and international experts met at The Arca Hotel Hong Kong to deliberate on the best beverages for Asian drink lists.

Some judges are regulars who return year after year. Then, each year the HK IWSC welcomes new judges who bring fresh perspectives and different ideas.

HKIWSC boosted the number of importers and sommeliers this year. Pierre Brunelli MS, from Roganic joined the judging panel for the first time and local importers and top management of Enoteca, Liquid Gold, Berry Bros. & Rudd and Ginsberg + Chan came on board.

Like friendships, judges don’t always see eye to eye. Their differing opinions make the competition’s rigorous double-blind judging process even more thorough and the winning wines so deserving. Read on to discover their recommendations.

Wine Judges

Billy Yeung, Head Sommelier, Grand Hyatt

Bojan Radulovic, Deputy General Manager, Links Concept

Camille Glass, Restaurant Owner, Brut!

Corinne Mui, Founder, CorVino Wine School

Cecilia Wong, Wine & Spirits TV Host/ Critic/Blogger, CC Wine Voyage

Danny Ng, Beverage Manager, The American Club Hong Kong

Cherish Ho, Director of Wine, AUOR

Davy Leung, Director, Aquaseason Professionals

Derek Li, Beverage Manager, HKGTA Townclub

Debra Meiburg MW, Director, HK IWSC & Meiburg Wine Media

Jacky Luk, Chief Sommelier, Forum Restaurant 1977

Jean-Benoît Isselé, Chief Sommelier, Swire Hotels

Johann Kwon, Executive Head Sommelier, Black Sheep Restaurants

Jose Lau, Head of Sales, Berry Bros & Rudd

Jeremy Stockman, Managing Director, Watson’s Wine

Justin Chen, Wine Educator, MWM Wine School

Juwan Kim, Head Sommelier, LPM Restaurant & Bar

Kevin Ma, Sommelier, Rùn, St. Regis Hong Kong

Ling Cheong, Business Development Manager - China, WSET Asia Pacific

Mabel Lai, Principal Lecturer, Hong Kong Wine Academy

Matt Hui, Principal Educator, Sommelier Wine & Sake Education Centre

Mandy Chan, Director, Ginsberg + Chan

Micky Chan, Principal Lecturer, Hong Kong Wine Academy

Natalie Wang, Editor, Vino Joy News

Phenol Mak, Head Sommelier, Black Sheep Restaurants

Philip Wong, Wine Consultant, Wine Matters

Nick Chan, CEO/ Director, Enoteca Hong Kong

Rebecca Leung, Wine & Spirit Journalist / Educator / Consultant, Wine is Beautiful Consultancy

Pierre Brunelli MS, Group General Manager, Roganic and The Baker and the Bottleman

Rex Leung, Head Sommelier, Hansik Goo and Whey

Ringo Lam, Head Sommelier, Hong Kong Cuisine

Sarah Wong, Wine Columnist

Tersina Shieh, Wine Marketer, Winemaker & Columnist

Wingate Ng, Head Sommelier, Testina & Plaa

Ronald Khoo, Wine & Spirits Manager, Catering Centre of Excellence, Cathay Pacific

Spirit Judges 2022

Andrew Wong, Wine & Spirits Division Manager, Liquid Gold

Eddie Nara, Spirits Educator & Consultant, Barrel Concepts

Devender Kumar, Hotel Beverage Manager, Mandarin Oriental

Hannah Melville, Scotch Whisky Brand Ambassador, Pernod Ricard

Jack Cheung, Group Beverage Director, Hong Kong Parkview Group

Masahiko Endo, Bartender in Chief, Mizunara The Library

Masayuki Uchida (Kishibe), Director / Bartender, BUTLER Cocktail Bar

Matteo Salvatore Ceravolo, Business Development Manager - Italian Spirits, Certa

Samuel Kwok, Operations Director, CNY Bar

Ron Taylor, Independent Wine & Spirit Educator

Beer Judges 2022

Arielle Ng, Certified Judge BJCP

Fish Fung, Founder, Enso In Zen

Edward Li, Co-founder, Hong Kong Cannery

Freeman Ho, Whisky Specialist, Rare Finds Worldwide

Kenneth Ho, Co-owner, Cave the Beer Point

Irene Tiu, Certified Judge BJCP

Jadus Yan, Founder Tipsy Tap

Kevin Wong, Recognized Judge BJCP

Nick Ho, Founder, Beer Geeks Generation