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Nearly twenty years ago, when we first began running courses in Asia, we were incredibly fortunate to meet someone truly extraordinary—Tommy Lam.
Affectionately known as the Godfather of Sommeliers across Asia, Tommy has been a constant source of wisdom, encouragement, and inspiration. His deep understanding of the region’s hospitality landscape, tireless dedication to education, and unwavering belief in raising standards have helped shape the careers of countless young Sommeliers.
Tommy has guided us through the nuances of cultures and languages in many cities and several countries, in the often confusing Asian market.
Tonight, in Shanghai, we gathered to celebrate a truly meaningful milestone—awarding our 2,000th sommelier certification since we began offering courses in Asia nearly two decades ago.
What began as a small and hopeful step into a new region has grown into a thriving, dynamic community of wine professionals across the continent. This achievement reflects the growing passion for wine in Asia and is a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone who has been part of this journey—our students, educators, supporters, and industry partners.
To mark the occasion, we shared an unforgettable dinner, thoughtfully paired with some of China’s finest wines — a showcase of the exceptional quality and diversity now emerging from the country’s vineyards. Each wine was handpicked and presented by some of China’s top Sommeliers — many of whom are proud alumni of our programme and have gone on to shape the region’s wine and hospitality scene with excellence and integrity.
It was a night not just of celebration, but of reflection — on how far the Asian Sommelier has come, and on the incredible community that has grown around this shared pursuit of knowledge, service, and passion for wine.