Asian Sparkling Masters 2017: Results and Analysis

Judges profile:

Jeremy Stockman, a London native, is the general manager of Hong Kong’s biggest wine retailer Watson’s Wine. Stockman has built a formidable career in wine, running his own consultancy business in Australia before taking on his current stint at the Hong Kong retailer. Stockman previously worked for Coles Group in Australia, Vintage Cellars and Wine Rack in London and was a frequent judge for Australia’s most respected wine shows including the Royal National Wine Show, McLaren Vale Wine Show and Royal Sydney Wine Show.

Anty Fung, general manager of Hip Cellar, is a DipWSET, Certified Sommelier and Certified Specialist of Wine. She currently divides her time managing professional wine storage Hip Cellar and a speakeasy F&B concept AnOther Place; developing portfolio depth for online wine trading platform WWXplorer and teaching WSET courses at MWM Wine School by Debra Meiburg. Anty has diversified her global understanding of wine and F&B management with work exposure in Hong Kong, Las Vegas and Maldives. When not drinking wine, she lavishes her attention on her corgi Yoda.

Francesca Martin is the founder and director of BEE Drinks Global, a wine and spirits consulting company. Martin has spent more than 12 years in brand management, PR, winemaking and marketing. Over the years, she has worked for some of the most renowned names in the global wine industry including Francois Lurton in Argentina, Miguel Torres in Spain, Liberty Wines and Steven Spurrier in the UK and ASC Fine Wines in Hong Kong. A WSET diploma holder and a certified WSET educator, Martin is currently studying for Master of Wine exam.

Derek Li, Chief Sommelier of Duddell’s, has over 10 years of experiences in hospitality industry working at Mr. & Mrs. Fox for Swire Group and Michelin-starred Italian restaurant L’Altro priot to joining Michelin-starred Duddell’s last year. Now charged with caring for one of Hong Kong’s most interesting wine lists, Derek aims to foreground both unique and innovative wines together with classics sourced the world over. Forever on the hunt for greater understanding and a keen desire to strengthen his practice, he is now the holder of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (W.S.E.T) Level 4 Diploma in Wines & Spirits and Advance Sommelier of The Court of Master Sommeliers. 

Malaysian by heritage, Yu-Kong Chow is a Hong Kong based consultant with a professional background in Strategy and Management Consulting. Chow has been advising clients from financial services to petrochemical and from FMCG to retail and hospitality sectors, across the region. His diverse experience spans the MNC, SME, Government and start-up spectrum. In recent years, he has ventured into Wine and F&B Consulting owing to his lifelong passion for the sensory perception of taste. Chow is regularly invited and participates as a wine and spirits judge for award competitions and wine boards. 

Eddie McDougall, an award-winning winemaker and TV personality in Asia, is the creator of TLC’s popular The Flying Winemaker TV series. A trained winemaker with a diploma in Wine Technology and Viticulture from the University of Melbourne, McDougall has more than a decade of winemaking experiences working with wineries such as Vietti and Innocent Bystander. McDougall just successfully launched his first ever Asian Wine Festival last year, showcasing some of the best wines made in Asian countries from Japan to Bali in Indonesia.