An interview with Saiko Tamura Soga, ASI Vice-President Asia & Pacific
2025 was a year of profound momentum across the Asia & Pacific region as it was marked not only by headline competitions and major ASI gatherings, but also by the quiet, determined work of our national associations strengthening the foundations of their local communities. From Australia to India, Hong Kong to Indonesia, the Asia & Pacific region continued to evolve in scope, ambition, and cohesion.
This year was a busy one in Asia as it was full of events including contests, educational events and more. Over the course of the year the best sommeliers of the region continued their exemplary performances, but we also witness new voices emerge both in terms of success at contests but also behind the scenes. In 2025 the collaborative spirit that defines Asia & Pacific sommellerie reached new heights as showcased at our major events such as ASI Bootcamp and the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of ASI & Pacific, as behind every event was a dedicated team of volunteers, educators, judges, coordinators, and partners whose contributions shaped the success of the entire region.
1. ASI Bootcamp Asia & Pacific 2025
No explanation is needed to understand the importance of the ASI Bootcamp to the global development of sommellerie. The 2025 edition once again demonstrated the power of structured education to elevate an entire region. Sommeliers from across Asia & Pacific gathered for days of intensive technical training, tasting calibration, service drills, and mentorship from some of the world’s leading educators.
Yet what mattered just as much as the curriculum was the community it fostered. Bootcamp continues to serve as a launchpad for emerging talent: an environment where young sommeliers gain confidence, forge international friendships, and develop the mindset needed to compete on the world stage.
This year marked a milestone: for the first time, Singapore hosted an official ASI event. The Sommelier Association of Singapore not only delivered a flawlessly executed programme, but also infused it with warmth, hospitality, and true Singaporean spirit.
What stood out most was their ability to create an atmosphere of connection. Sommeliers from across Asia & Pacific were welcomed not merely as visitors, but as part of a broader regional family. The event showcased Singapore’s organisational strength, but also its generosity along with the readiness of its members to bring people together, spark conversation, and build lasting friendships.
For a first-time host, it was a remarkable achievement, and one that will be remembered as a turning point for the association.
2. ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025
The region’s most prestigious competition once again showcased the extraordinary skill and professionalism that have come to define Asia & Pacific. As expected, the calibre of performance was exceptional, the standards uncompromising, and the atmosphere electric with possibility.
But the success of the 2025 contest was also a testament to the teams behind the scenes, as Malaysia continued to strengthen its reputation as one of the region’s most reliable and member associations. After successfully hosting the inaugural ASI Bootcamp in Southeast Asia in 2022, the Sommelier Association of Malaysia once again rose to the challenge by hosting the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025.
Their hallmark remains the same: extraordinary teamwork and boundless creativity. The Malaysian team demonstrated not just technical proficiency, but also a clear passion for showcasing hospitality and cultural identity.
Beyond the competition itself, their work exemplified what a committed national association can achieve through collaboration, enthusiasm, and vision.
3.Best Sommelier of India 2025: A Young Association Rising Fast
Few stories this year symbolise the region’s growth as vividly as India’s. The Sommeliers Association of India, founded only one year ago, accomplished what many older associations take years to achieve including host its first-ever national competition, having their national champion compete internationally at the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific, and impressively have a membership that exceeded 200 in its inaugural year. The success of the 2025 Best Sommelier of India competition reflects both the hunger for wine education in the country and the determination of its young leaders. Sending champion Jai Singh to compete at the international level was an especially meaningful moment. A moment that signalled India’s arrival as a promising new force on the world sommelier stage.
Three Sommeliers Who Defined the Region in 2025
Among the many outstanding professionals shaping Asia & Pacific this year, the three finalists of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025 represent the diversity, ambition, and evolution of the region.
These three finalists represent more than individual excellence. Together, they tell a story of progress, of expanded diversity, rising new markets, strengthened community networks, and the confidence of a region ready to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the world.
Asia & Pacific is vast with a wealth of cultures, languages, and histories. But I am glad to say in 2025, the region while celebrating its diversity moved forward with a shared sense of direction towards greater professionalism, broader representation, and a deeper commitment to shaping the global future of sommellerie. All of which is exemplified by the three candidates that stood on the podium of the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific.
1.Reeze Choi (China)
Reeze’s victory at the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific 2025 was another chapter in a career marked by exceptional discipline and technical mastery. His performance reaffirmed his status as one of the region’s most accomplished sommeliers but also highlighted his continued growth as a mentor and representative for Asia & Pacific on the global stage.
2. Y Ying Yong (Malaysia, Singapore)
History was made this year when Singapore resident, Malaysian-born Y Ying Yong became the first female finalist in the ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific’s history. Her achievement signals a powerful shift, and proof that the profession is becoming more inclusive, diverse, and reflective of the future of hospitality in Asia.
Her presence in the final was both symbolic and substantive but not unexpected as Y Ying’s career has been on a stratospheric trajectory over the past few years. This breakthrough at the continental level will undoubtedly inspire the next generation of women sommeliers across the region, and an indication of Y Ying Yong’s continued ascendency to becoming a world recognized name of sommellerie.
3. Ratmir Akhmetov (Kazakhstan)
Ratmir Akhmetov’s third place finish in the final of ASI Contest Best Sommelier of Asia & Pacific marked a historic moment for Central Asia. The 2022 champion of the Best Sommelier of Kazakstan contest and an ASI Diploma Gold recipient became the first finalist from Central Asia at this esteemed contest. In doing so he demonstrated that talent and determination can emerge from every corner of the region. His success shines a light on a region with tremendous potential and growing interest in professional beverage education.
